A computerized database as decision support tool for the selection of agroforestry tree species

Whether in agroforestry in temperate or tropical zones, choosing the right species is one of the most crucial stages of experiments and for reforestation, erosion control or land-improvement projects.Over the last decade, ICRAF has developed a tool to help researchers, extension workers, foresters and others in the decision process. The Multipurpose Tree & Shrub Database (MPTS) contains information about more than 1,000 species. Most of these species are grown in the tropical and subtropical zones, but many of them have a potential for temperate areas as well.MPTS contains first-hand, site-specific information about multipurpose tree species. This information makes it possible for the user to compare his or her site conditions with the site conditions described in the database, and allows him/her to draw conclusions about the possible species performance. MPTS also contains secondary information from publications.Candidate species are searched by entering keywords from a list of 19 correlated criteria, such as soil information, expected services or wood and non-wood products. Detailed information about the selected candidates (e.g. morphology, management, environmental responses) is provided.Beyond this, MPTS is a quick reference tool for the multiple use of tree and shrub species. In future it will include a comprehensive guide to germplasm information. Current activities include the implementation of an interactive use-interface and links to related databases.     

推广种植乡土树种,发展社区经济

西双版纳有着丰富的乡土植物资源,当地居民有着采集野生林产品及种植四旁树的悠久历史,没有大面积种植乡土树种的习惯。中德技术合作西双版纳热带林保护与恢复项目通过示范和资助开展了乡土树种的育苗和种植活动,取得了一定的成果,并对今后工作提出了建议。     

粤西地区23个阔叶树种早期生长比较

对南亚热带森林群落恢复标准化示范区23个阔叶树种的早期生长进行了调查与分析。结果表明：23个阔叶树种在本地区有极强的适应性,且在树高、胸径、冠幅生长上均存在着极显著差异,为树种选择提供了依据;米老排、黎蒴栲生长速度最快;红锥、灰木莲、山杜英、锥栗、枫香、樟树生长较快;非洲桃花心木生长速度中等;其他树种生长较慢。     

The role of indigenous trees for the conservation of biocultural diversity in traditional agroforestry land use systems: The Bungoma case study: In-situ conservation of indigenous tree species

In order to precisely assess the role of agroforestry for the conservation of (agro-)biological diversity there is a need to adjust sampling methods used in plant sociology. This study is on the contribution of agroforestry land use to the in-situ conservation of indigenous trees within a typical East-African smallholder farming system in Western Kenya. A modified approach to measuring species richness and abundance is presented. The selection of tree-rich structures was done according to management patterns rather than considering syntaxonomic classifications from the vegetation science point of view. This approach, which is better suited to the strongly human-influenced vegetation of agroecosystems, employs between-management unit diversity measures to help evaluate abundance and constancy of species in particular management units. The predominant off-farm vegetation patterns are riverine forests, rocky hillsides, hedgerows, wooded grassland relicts, woodlands or colline forest relicts and tree groves whereas the noticeable tree-rich on-farm management units are homegardens, homesteads, life fences, coffee- and banana-groves and annual cropping fields. 98% out of all indigenous tree species known from Bungoma, occur in off-farm lands. 53% of the indigenous tree species occur in tree rich on-farm management units while 47% of the indigenous trees are dependent on the maintenance of off-farm lands. Hedgerows embody the most promising secondary vegetation structure that shows ample potential to accommodate a wide range of indigenous perennial species outside the natural vegetation formations. The pattern of distribution of various vegetation structures, and the mixture with diverse tree-based on-farm plots are interesting features in regard to floristic and eco-diversity on a landscape level. In this respect, three areas that show different population densities and distinct agro-historical conditions were compared. In regions of particular high population density the degree of association of various functional land use forms and woodland structures – each characterised by its own floristic make-up – is comparatively high. In contrast, in regions with less population but that were settled at a later date, one encounters fewer stands of woody plants with lower numbers of species. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Properties and flammability of major tree species in the Beijing area

In order to examine correlations among the properties of tree species and to quantify the relationships between these properties and flammability, the properties of 20 tree species, consisting of heat of combustion, extractive contents, ash content, moisture content and basic density, were measured via experimental methods. In the first instance, the results show that, there are significant correlations between heat of combustion and extractive contents, ash content and basic density. Second, heat of combustion can be presented effectively in terms of linear regression models with extractive contents and ash content as independent variables. Third, a flammable model was developed based on four properties of tree species as independent variables, i.e., heat of combustion, extractive contents, ash content and moisture content. Finally, the flammability of 20 tree species is compared, ordered and ranked based on this flammable model. The conclusion is that flammability can be predicted from properties of tree species, which are significantly correlated among themselves. __________ Translated from Forest Resources Management, 2008, 4: 83–88 [译自:林业资源管理]     

Forage potential of eight woody species: intake and growth rates of local young goats in the highland region of Rwanda

Eight woody fodder species adapted to the highlands of Rwanda were evaluated in terms of dry matter intake in one experiment. Animals were offered a daily diet comprising 4.0 of fresh matter of Setaria splendida grass supplemented with or without one of the eight fodder species tested. In all cases, total daily feed intake was increased by the addition of woody fodder. Daily intake of the woody fodder was high for Acacia koaia, Mimosa scabrella and Acacia koa at 43.7, 42.6 and 41.9 g/kg BW^0.75, respectively. The dry matter intake of the other five species (Alnus acuminata, Chamaecytisus palmensis, Hagenia abyssinica, Acacia mearnsii and Acacia melanoxylon) ranged from 18.9 to 30.1 g/kg BW^0.75 per day. In another experiment, a basic daily diet of 4.0 kg of fodder (in fresh weight) was given to each animal. This ratio comprised S. splendida supplemented with M. scabrella and incorporated at 0 (control), 45% and 66% (fresh weight basis) of the total daily diet. Improved weight gain was obtained when setaria was supplemented with M. scabrella with daily weight gain of 31, 47 and 51 g/animal for 0, 45 and 66% M. scabrella, respectively.     

The domestication and commercialization of indigenous trees in agroforestry for the alleviation of poverty

New initiatives in agroforestry are seeking to integrate into tropical farming systems indigenous trees whose products have traditionally been gathered from natural forests. This is being done in order to provide marketable products from farms that will generate cash for resource-poor rural and peri-urban households. This poverty-alleviating agroforestry strategy is at the same time linked to one in which perennial, biologically diverse and complex mature-stage agroecosystems are developed as sustainable alternatives to slash-and-burn agriculture. One important component of this approach is the domestication of the local tree species that have commercial potential in local, regional or even international markets. Because of the number of potential candidate species for domestication, one crucial first step is the identification of priority species and the formulation of a domestication strategy that is appropriate to the use, marketability and genetic potential of each species. For most of these hitherto wild species little or no formal research has been carried out to assess their food value, potential for genetic improvement or reproductive biology. To date their marketability can only be assessed by their position in the local rural and urban marketplaces, since few have attracted international commercial interest. To meet the objective of poverty alleviation, however, it is crucial that market expansion and creation are possible, hence for example it is important to determine which marketable traits are amenable to genetic improvement. While some traits that are relatively easy to identify do benefit the farmer, there are undoubtedly others that are important to the food, pharmaceutical or other industries that require more sophisticated evaluation. This paper presents the current thinking and strategies of ICRAF in this new area of work and draws on examples from our program. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

淹水胁迫对落羽杉等4个树种苗木生长的影响

采用人工控制模拟大田淹水,研究了淹水胁迫下乌桕、落羽杉、山核桃、水松4个树种在生长和形态特征上的响应。结果表明:(1)水松、落羽杉表现出较适应淹水的典型反应,在淹水茎部产生皮孔的膨大和不定根,试验结束时水松、落羽杉受淹的根系表现正常;乌桕、山核桃则表现出淹水胁迫下受到明显的伤害,叶片变小、叶片数量减少,叶片萎蔫、失绿、坏死、脱落;乌桕受淹根系部分腐烂,而山核桃受淹根系大部分腐烂,腐烂程度较乌桕严重。(2)涝处理不同程度地抑制了树种的苗高、地径、生物量、根干质量的积累,涝害指数、叶面积指数能够在一定程度上反映树种的耐涝性。(3)4个供试树种耐涝性可分为3个等级,抗涝型为水松、落羽杉,中等抗涝型为乌桕,不抗涝型为山核桃。     

皖南丘岗地区火炬松人工林伴生树种的选择与配置

简要介绍了试验林地的概况,选择了25个树种进行试验,并按各树种林分平均胸径、平均树高、平均单株材积和平均单位面积蓄积的年平均生长量进行排序。对主要伴生树种的生长发育过程作了说明,指出伴生树种选择应遵循的原则以及混交形式,同时提出把建立林道和营造生态防火林带相结合。为皖南丘岗地区火炬松人工林提出可供选择的主要伴生树种。     

Germplasm collections of endangered agroforestry tree species: the case of Prosopis africana in the semi-arid lowlands of West Africa

The International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) coordinates a research network in the Semi-arid Lowlands of West Africa (SALWA) in four countries: Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali and Senegal. Prosopis africana, an important agroforestry tree species is seriously threatened in this eco-region. ICRAF organized seed collections of this species for long-term conservation and subsequent utilization by small-scale farmers in the West African Sahel. Prior to the collection, ICRAF, the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) organized a planning workshop with collaborating national research institutes. Out of this workshop came a consensus on the strategy, logistics and choice of collection sites. To collect as much genetic diversity of P. africana in the SALWA region as possible, 34 collection sites were selected: 15 in Niger, eight in Mali, seven in Burkina Faso and four in Senegal. The main aim of the collection was to capture the genetic diversity within P. africana before the valuable genetic resources are lost. This paper reviews the methodology and results of the germplasm collection. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Response of arthropod biodiversity to foundation species declines: The case of the eastern hemlock

Widespread declines of foundation species, such as many corals, kelps, and overstory trees, are of grave concern because, by definition, these species create and maintain habitat that supports other species. Nevertheless, past responses to their declines, many of which were caused by invasive species, have been late and ineffective, underscoring the need to predict changes in biodiversity and ecosystem function associated with species invasions and foundation species losses. One predictive, but under-used, approach is to compare the species and functions associated with the afflicted foundation species to its projected replacement communities. The taxa associated with the foundation species and subsequent successional stages would be expected to decline and increase, respectively. We used this approach to generate hypotheses for how arthropod diversity might change in response to extensive losses of eastern hemlock trees caused by the invasive, hemlock woolly adelgid (insect: Hemiptera, Adelgidae). Our all-strata survey of the arthropods in an eastern hemlock forest and its expected replacement climax community in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, mixed hardwood forest, suggests that eastern hemlock losses might initiate increases in arthropod abundance, alpha diversity, and 23 arthropod taxa, might produce no change in evenness or composition of arthropod functional groups, but might trigger decreases in beta diversity and seven hemlock indicator taxa. These predictions are consistent with observed trends in arthropod responses to hemlock losses in other studies, and thus might be useful for targeting early monitoring, management, and conservation efforts. This research is exploratory, however, and tests of these predictions across larger spatial scales will be necessary to determine the generality of the findings.     

The contribution of agroforestry systems to reducing farmers' dependence on the resources of adjacent national parks: a case study from Sumatra, Indonesia

There is much debate about the way conservation and development are best integrated to reduce the encroachment pressures of poor rural communities on the biodiversity resources of protected areas in the tropics. One frequently recommended instrument is to intensify farming systems in the adjacent areas, so as to decrease the need to harvest resources from national parks. This study examined this issue by analyzing the effects of different household land uses in villages near a national park on their propensity to harvest resources from the park. In the northern part of the Kerinci Seblat National Park (Sumatra Island, Indonesia) the park buffer zone is comprised largely of community or village forests and human settlements. The village forests were formerly managed as production forests and provided significant cash income to the village. They were converted into farmland, particularly to mixed-tree gardens or agroforests. Natural forest coverage has now declined to 10% of the former area within village forest land. We analyzed the characteristics of the mixed gardens and village forests, and their practical contribution to reducing farmers' dependence on the adjacent national park resources. Households with farms that were more diversified were found to have much less dependency on the national park resources. Households that farmed only wetland rice fields registered the highest value of forest products obtained from inside the park. Households that farmed only mixed gardens had an intermediate level of park resource extraction, while those that had farms composed of both components (i.e. wetland rice fields and mixed gardens) had a dramatically lower level of economic dependency on park resources than households in either of the other two categories.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Policy and institutional support for agroforestry: an analysis of two Ecuadorian case studies

Institutional and policy issues are now recognized as high priority items in agroforestry research. However, such studies based on actual field experiences seldom seem to have been undertaken. To help address this deficiency, a study was undertaken in Ecuador to evaluate institutional and policy impacts on agroforestry dissemination using two field projects as case studies.The projects were in contrasting ecological locations: the Amazonian lowlands (the Coca Agroforestry Project), and the Andean highlands (the PROMUSTA project). The impact of policy and institutional constraints (such as land tenure, research and extension support, marketing and pricing, and credit) on the implementation of these projects was assessed based on interviews with farmers and project officials as well as analyses of secondary data. The Coca project was found to be adversely impacted by the lack of extension, product marketing, and credit availability. The principal institutional constraints for the Andean project included legal obstacles to farm-land procurement, inadequate extension, little state-financial assistance, and limited affordable credit. The relevance of these issues was location specific: while access to land was not a serious constraint in the lowlands, it was a major issue in the highlands.The study validates the premise that policy and institutional evaluations should become an essential component of design and implementation of agroforestry projects. Although the components of a sound policy framework might be similar in most developing-country situations, it may not be possible to evolve universally applicable procedures for agroforestry-policy formulation because of the location-specificity of the promoted systems and the institutional issue related to their adoption.Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. R-03861.     

绿化树种对大气重金属污染物吸收净化能力的研究

研究测定了部分城市绿化树种对重金属大气铅、镉污染物的吸滞能力。结果表明:绿化树种对大气铅、镉污染物具有一定的吸收净化能力,并依污染气体和树种的不同具有明显差异;对铅吸收量高的树种有:桑树、黄金树、榆树、旱柳、梓树;吸镉量高的树种有:美青杨、桑树、旱柳、榆树、梓树、刺槐。     

Screening of 18 agroforestry species for highly acid and aluminum toxic soils of the humid tropics

A screening trial involving 18 agroforestry species were initiated on highly acidic and Al toxic soils of Nkoemvone, Southern Cameroon, with the objective of identifying fast growing species that can be suitable for improving short fallows. Selected growth parameters evaluated were plant height, stem and crown diameter, number of stems at 3, 12 and 20 months after planting (MAP), and biomass yield at the first pruning (20 MAP). Then 9 months regrowths were evaluated for the same parameters. Outstanding height and stem diameter were observed for Indigofera zollingeriana, Inga edulis, Grewia mollis and Pterocarpus santalinoides. They reached between 6 and 9 m height and between 8 and 10 cm diameter. The best height was correlated to the best stem diameter for I. zollingeriana (8.7, 8.6), I. edulis (7.7, 10.1) and P. santalinoides (6.4, 10.3). The same four species developed a crown of more than 5 m diameter and easily out competed weed in the alley. G. mollis, Glyphea brewis, Dactiladenia barteri and I. zollingeriana had a shrubby architecture; G. mollis had up to 17 stem before the first pruning. Inga edulis and G. mollisproduced the highest total biomass, with respectively 61 and 39 t/ha dry matter. Other species with more than 20 t/ha total mass were I. zollingeriana, P. santalinoides, and Xylia xylocarpa. The first pruning stimulated shoot development, and the response of the species was similar to before the first pruning. Therefore I. edulis, P. santalinoides, G mollis and I. zollingeriana had the best growth performances and can be recommended for introduction in short fallows provided their contribution to soil fertility processes is assessed. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

武定县干热河谷地区造林现状及发展对策

武定县干热河谷地区包括东坡乡等7个乡镇1365．9km^2,由于立地条件差,气候干热,因此造林成活率低。自1999年以来,随着中德合作造林、天保工程、退耕还林工程的实施,其造林成活率达91．9％,保存率89％。文章总结了历年造林中成功的经验、失败的教训,认为采取良种壮苗、树种选择、集水保墒、适时造林、加强抚育等措施,干热河谷地区的造林会获得成功。     

用层次分析法调整三都县林种树种结构

以最近的森林资源二类调查资料为基础,用层次分析法调整三都县的林种,树种结构,结果表明,调整后的林种,树种结构比调整前更适合于三都县的实际。     

Reforestation with native tree species using site preparation techniques for the restoration of woodlands degraded by air pollution in the Erzgebirge,Germany

Reforestation of woodlands with native species in the Erzgebirge, where large-scale deforestation has been caused by severe air pollution, was investigated. In an experiment, three tree species (Norway spruce, rowanberry, and birch) were studied with regard to fencing (no protection versus protection against game browsing) and site preparation techniques with eight levels: a control and seven amelioration techniques (soil cultivation, weed control, liming, and their combinations). Four criteria, survival, growth, production, and vitality, were used in assessing the success of the plantings. Repeated-measures analyses were performed to examine the development of the young plantations over an observation period of 7 years, and to determine whether this development was dependent on the experimental factors. Spruce showed high survival rates, reasonable growth and production, and good individual vitality. With the exception of survival, birch responded similarly to spruce. The low survival rate of birch resulted from the initial small size of the seedlings. By providing appropriate seedling material, both species could be used for reforestation. Seedlings of rowanberry were unsuccessful due to severe mouse damage, confirming the necessity of rodent control when planting cleared areas with this species is undertaken. Game browsing was not significant. None of the amelioration techniques had a major effect on the studied criteria of the three tree species. Slightly positive effects occurred only when spruce was limed and when birch received soil cultivation. Weed control by scything showed undesirable results, particularly for birch. For reasons of financial thriftiness, none of the amelioration techniques could be justified for the study area.     

舟山海岛珍稀树种保存研究现状及设想

珍稀树种的就地和迁地保存是生物物种多样性保护的最有效的措施之一,自1982年起,舟山市林科所和普陀山园林管理处就开始进行这一研究工作。本文将分布于舟山海岛12个珍稀濒危植物种中6个木本种的生境调查、繁殖及保存状况作一个总结性介绍,同时又将引进年限较长的43个外来珍稀树种近地保存研究现状按“已成功”、“可望成功”、“较难成功”3个类型进行评述,为深入有效地搞好此项工作,提出了今后的努力目标。     

Evaluating the potential of sentinel-2, landsat-8, and irs satellite images in tree species classification of hyrcanian forest of iran using random forest

ABSTRACT

Spatially explicit information on tree species composition of any forest provides valuable information to forest managers as well as to nature conservationists. In this study, the potential of three spaceborne sensors: (1) Landsat-8, (2) Sentinel-2, and (3) IRS-Pansharpened were compared by applying Random Forest (RF) classification algorithms to classify the three most common tree species: Pinus taeda, Alnus spp., and Populus spp., in Hyrcanian forest of Iran. Three RF models with optimized parameters of mtry and ntree were used for the classification of trees species. Based on our Overall Accuracy (OA) and Kappa Coefficient (KC) analysis, IRS-Pansharpened data showed the highest accuracy (OA = 84.9% and KC = 79.7%), followed by Landsat-8 (OA = 78.2% and KC = 70.6%), and Sentinel-2 (OA = 77% and KC = 70%). According to the Mean Decrease in Accuracy (MDA) criterion delivered as an output of RF, the near-IR spectral band was found on the top rank (high variable importance) as compared to all other spectral bands for tree species classification. The findings of this study can be used by the researcher, forest managers, economists and policy and decision makers in the context of sustainable forest management of Hyrcanian forest resources.