Overview of restoration and management practices in the degraded landscapes of the Sahelian and dryland forests and woodlands of East and southern Africa§

The highest deforestation and forest degradation rates in Africa occur in the dry forests and woodlands where pressure for land is increasing, poverty is rampant, livelihood options are few and climate change effects are severe. This paper examines factors that cause land and forest degradation in the Sahel and dry forests and woodlands of eastern and southern Africa and highlights some successful restoration practices, technologies and approaches. In the Sahel, enclosures are used to protect young growing trees while in East Africa enclosures are implemented on degraded land as a mechanism for environmental rehabilitation with a clear biophysical impact. The choice of techniques for rehabilitating specific degraded areas depends first on the priorities and management objectives of stakeholders followed by the costs and benefits associated with available rehabilitation techniques and the economic, social, and environmental values of the land resources in their current and desired future states. In the Sahel, sustainable land management is considered to be an imperative for their sustainable development and the practices include soil and water conservation activities and structures. In all regions, natural forest rehabilitation has used both natural and assisted regeneration to promote the growth of especially indigenous species through coppice regrowth and root suckers rather than seeds. Assisted regeneration was especially prevalent in the Sahel where indigenous tree species have been identified to dominate the degraded sites during early stages of secondary forest succession. The success of any rehabilitation activities depends on community-based natural resources management. In addition, the forest policies and their related policies need to be enabling in order to address issues of concern, including (1) the full participation of communities, (2) clear land and tree tenure and (3) equitable benefit sharing.     

Design and pilot production of a “spiral-winder” for the manufacture of cylindrical laminated veneer lumber

A new spiral-winder was developed for continuous manufacturing of cylindrical laminated veneer lumber (LVL), and a suitable resin adhesive for this cylindrical LVL manufacturing system was investigated. This phase was followed by trial manufacturing and evaluation of cylindrical LVL with the optimum resin adhesive identified. The results are summarized as follows. (1) The shortest gelation time was recorded with a mixture of two commercial resorcinol based resins (DF-1000 and D-33) at a weight ratio of 2575. (2) Bath temperature had a remarkable effect on the gelation time of the adhesive mix. (3) High bonding strength was recorded by 2575 DF-1000/D-33 adhesive mix at a high press temperature despite a short pressing duration. Based on the results of items (1) to (3), 2575 DF-1000/ D-33 is recommended for use in the new spiral-winder. (4) The mechanical properties of cylindrical LVL could be improved by using 2575 DF-1000/D-33 with wider veneer width and longer pressing time. (5) The mechanical properties, especially the modulus of rupture, of the cylindrical LVL manufactured require further improvement for practical structural application.     

Experience and Problems of the Project of Sichuan Community Forestry

TheprojectofSichuanCommunityForestry,fundedbytheFordFoundationandassistedandguidedbyRECOFTC,isaseriesofactivitiesofresearch,practiceandpromotionofthebestmanagementandoperationalmodesimplementedintheareaoftheprojectofYangtzeriverprotectiveforest.Since1992,SichuancommunityforestryhascarriedoutsomepilotworksinQuxiancounty,PingchangcountyandButoucounty.1.ThethinkingandfeaturesofcommunityforestryCommunityforestryisacompletelynewthinkingandmethodofworksintroducedfromabroad.Itisaproductofcombi…     

State of Art and Knowledge of Urban Forestry in the Philippines

1 INTRODUCTIONUrban Forestry is an emerging science and art in thePhilippines. Its concepts and principles are quite similarwith traditional forestry being both resourcemanagement systems. However, urban forestrysobjectives are more focused on the protective,ameliorative, aesthetic and amenities rather than onproductive roles.As a resource management strategy, urban forestryinvolves wise use, management and/or manipulationof the resources that include individual trees and otherplants com…     

Effects of Forest on the Budgets of Water，Energy and Gases in the Environment

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May the Goddess of the Changjiang River Stay Forever——Review of the protection of Chinese river dolphinss and cowfisheses

Withitsuniquelyfavorableecologicalenvironment,theChangjiangRiverbreedstheChineseriverdolphinsandcow-fishes.Thedistributionoftwocetaceananimalsinthesameriverisrarelyseenintheotherriversoftheearth,highlightingthedistinctivecuttingedgesoftheChangjiangRiverin…     

Variability of the seeds and cones and key taxonomic charactersselection of Larix in Northeast China

IntroductionLarisoIgensiSHenryandLarisgmeIinii(Rupr.)Rupr.areboththenativetreespeciesinChina,buttheirdiStributingcentersarenotwithintherangeofChina.LarisoIgen$isismainlydistributedinNoFthKoreaandadjacentNortheastChinaandRussia(Dylis1961).lnChina,itsdistributingcenterisintheChangbaiMountains.Nevertheless,LarisgmeliniiismainlydistributedintheFar-EastandEastSiberiaofRussiaandNortheasternChina.ItsdistributingcenterinChinaisintheDaxing'anMountains.Thecharac-tersofthesexuaIreproduction…     

The Property of Soil Loss and the Time Distribution on Forest Stand in Granite Region of the Three-gorges of the Yangtze River

本文研究了长江三峡花岗岩地区林地土壤流失特性．结果表明由鳞片状面蚀导致的土壤流失量月分布与月降雨量的分布趋势基本一致，二者呈现出较为明显的线性相关关系．植物盖度≥０．７０的林地土壤流失多集中发生在６～９月份，土壤流失量在５０００ｔ·ｋｍ－２·ａ－１以下．盖度＜０．７的林地土壤流失年内分布时间多在３～１０月份，土壤流失量为５００～６０００ｔ·ｋｍ－２·ａ－１．     

Effect of the seeds provenance and treatment on the germination rate and plants growth of four forest trees species of C?te d'Ivoire

The rapid rate of deforestation in Cote d'Ivoire has led to loss of plant species diversity and also threatens some commercial tree species with extinction.Some reforestation and afforestation has been completed.However,for some species,the numbers of surviving transplants has declined.Hence,it is necessary to develop properly adapted and resilient genotypes that can effectively support the programs of forest restoration.In this context we evaluated the effects of the provenances of seeds and of various treatments on the germination rates and on plant growth of four commercial trees species(Pycnanthus angolensis,Terminalia superba,Mansonia altissima and Pterygota macrocarpa).We analyzed these parameters for seeds of three provenances(Daloa,Akoupe and Daoukro) of four species and for thirty plants aged 6 months per provenance.Time to begin germination and time to reach maximum germination were similar among species,and were not influenced by either treatment or provenance.Untreated seeds and those soaked for 24 and 48 h in water at room temperature yielded the highest germination rates,irrespective of species or provenance.The one exception was P.angolensis, for which no germination was recorded.Within species,some provenances produced higher germination percentages than did others.No clear relationship was computed between the germination rate and the morphometric characteristics of the seeds which varied significantly between provenances.Plant growth and morphological variability also depended greatly on provenance.Genetic factors might be implicated,therefore provenance trials should be undertaken and evaluated.Furthermore,molecular analysis should be undertaken to confirm the implications of genetic factors and allow for genetic selection.     

Annual volume increment of the European forests—description and evaluation of the national methods used

Key message

In order to obtain the necessary information for decision making etc., it is of increasing importance to be able to assess increment in a reliable way. Only repeated measurements on permanent sample plots in national forest inventories can provide accurate and comprehensive information on the various components of annual increment. Such inventory systems are increasingly employed in European countries. The felling/increment ratio, characterizing wood use sustainability, should be expressed as the ratio of felled living trees (excluding dead trees) and net increment.

Context

Reporting of gross and net annual increment is an element of international forest resource assessments and crucial for sustainable forest management. A number of approaches exist for the estimation of increment and its various sub-components.

Aims

The main objectives of the study are to assess in detail what methods European countries have used and are planning to use in the future for international reporting of increment. Also, the usefulness of the various approaches for the assessment of increment is evaluated.

Methods

A questionnaire asking about their assessment methods was distributed among the UNECE/FAO national correspondents of all European countries and members of the UNECE/FAO Team of Specialists on Monitoring Sustainable Forest Management. Databases of the Temperate and Boreal Forest Resource Assessment 2000 and of the State of Europe’s Forests 2011 were also used. Furthermore, the methodological background was described on the basis of relevant literature sources and some examples for country groups presented.

Results

Countries have indicated what methods they used for assessment of various increment components, and the percentage of countries, forest area, and growing stock corresponding to these replies has been calculated. With regard to gross annual increment, these metrics represent about one third for inventories based on permanent sample plots, but this percentage is on the increase.

Conclusion

The concept of the “control method” for forest management was developed more than 100 years ago but only utilized at the local level. The same methodology is now widely used at the national and regional level due to the implementation of modern national forest inventories using permanent sample plots. Care should be taken to utilize the data correctly for international forest resource assessments, in order to, e.g., avoid double counting of dead trees.

     

Characterization the Reaction of Isocyanate and Cellulose by XPS

The practical occasions for isocyanate bonding to woodare often that of heat, high moisture or rich water.When isocyanate reacted with functional groups inwood, such as hydroxyl groups, it formed thecarbamate that fulfils isocyanates powerful chemicalbonding. Meanwhile, it reacted with water or its vapourand formed polyurea, which is a completing reactionwith that of forming carbamate(Rowell, et al., 1981).As a result, this completing reaction correlates to thefinal bonding performance of iso…     

Introduction of the Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center

The Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center （HTIRC）, led by Dr. Charles H. Michler, is a collaborative effort between Purdue University, USDA Forest Service, State of Indiana, and the hardwood forest industry. Additional funding partners are the Van Eck Forest Foundation, National Science Foundation, ArborAmerica Inc., Steelcase Inc., Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen＇s Association, National Hardwood Lumber Association, Indiana Forestry and Woodland Owners Association and Walnut Council. The Center employees eight Ph.D. principal investigators who specialist in genetics and tree improvement, tree physiology, silviculture, entomology, nursery management and plantation establishment, and outreach. HTIRC＇s research and development is focused on fine hardwood species （Juglans, Quercus, Castanea, Prunus and Fraxinus） native to the central hardwoods region of the USA and the Center is providing graduate education to more than 22 MS and Ph.D. students Recent accomplishments include development of： 1） seed zones and genetic transformation protocols for Juglans nigra, 2） vegetative propagation methods for Prunus serotina, and 3） cold hardiness and advance mineral nutrition guidelines for hardwood nursery stock     

Issues Relating to Forestry and the Mitigation of Poverty

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Relation between the dynamic modulus of elasticity and the static modulus of elasticity,the modulus of rupture of mandarin peel–sawdust composite board

This study was conducted to determine the relation between the dynamic modulus of elasticity and the static modulus of elasticity, and the relation between the dynamic modulus of elasticity and the modulus of rupture of mandarin peel–sawdust composite boards. The result of this study was as follows: There was highly close linear correlation between the dynamic modulus of elasticity and the static modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture of the mandarin peel–sawdust composite boards with the density of 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 g/cm³, and the mandarin peel content of 10, 20, 30 and 40%, thus, the static modulus of elasticity and the modulus of rupture can be predicted from the dynamic modulus of elasticity measured by free vibration test using resonance frequency.     

Present research on the composition and application of lac

Lac is a natural polymer with atoxigenic, renewable, and naturally degradable characteristics. Nowadays, more and more attentions are paid to environment protection and resource conservation, so it has great significance to study the composition and application of lac. The paper summarizes the research of lac composition and emphasizes on the present research of lac resin. The applications of lac are also introduced. In addition, some suggestions are proposed, which is expected to provide some scientific references for further studies of lac.     

The severity and cause of leaf spot disease of Pongamia pinnata L. and fungicidal control of the pathogen

A survey on the symptom and severity of the leaf spot disease of Pongamia pinnata L. was conducted in the nurseries of the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong （IFESCU）, Bangladesh Forest Research Institute （BFRI） and Aronnak Nursery in Chittagong. The highest infection percentage and disease index were found in IFESCU nursery, followed by BFRI and the lowest was recorded in Aronnak nursery. The associated organism of leaf spot disease of P. pinnata was isolated from the diseased plant parts and the pathogenicity was established with the isolated fungus. Colletorichum gloeosprioides Penz was proved to be pathogenic. The inhibition of mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides was observed and identified as suitable fungicides （Bavistin, Cupravite and Dithane M-45） and doses （0.05, 0.10, 0.50, 1.00, 1.50 and 2.00）. The lowest and highest mycelial growth were respectively found on Bavistin and on Cupravite at the concentration of 0.05 after 8th day of incubation. It indicates that out of the three tested fungicides, Bavistin showed most effective, followed by Diathane M-45, and Cupravite was ineffective for its very little inhibition on mycelial growth.