Live fences and landscape connectivity in a neotropical agricultural landscape

Live fences are common elements in neotropical agricultural landscapes and could play important roles in the conservation of biodiversity by enhancing landscape connectivity, however, little is known about their abundance and spatial arrangement. The objectives of this study were to characterize the abundance and spatial patterns of live fences in a fragmented landscape dominated by pastures in Río Frío, Costa Rica, to determine their contribution to landscape structure and connectivity and to examine their role as tools for landscape conservation planning. Live fences accounted for 45.4% of all fences in the landscape and occurred with a mean density of 50.5 linear meters per hectare. Although live fences covered only a small total area of the landscape (<2%), they had an important effect on landscape structure and connectivity, increasing total tree cover, dividing pastures into smaller areas, creating rectilinear networks that cross the landscape and providing direct physical connections to forest patches. Simulations showed that the conversion of all existing wooden fences to live fences would greatly enhance landscape connectivity by more than doubling the area, density and number of direct connections to forest habitats, and reducing the average distance between tree canopies. Our study demonstrates that live fences play key roles in defining the structure and composition of neotropical agricultural landscapes and merit consideration in both conservation efforts and agricultural policies designed to enhance landscape connectivity and promote biodiversity conservation.     

Estimating carbon sequestration potential of existing agroforestry systems in India

India launched National Agroforestry Policy on 10th February, 2014 which has the potential to substantially reduce poverty in rural India and revive wood based industry, besides integrating food production with environmental services. The policy is not only crucial to India’s ambitious goal of achieving 33 per cent forest and tree cover but also to mitigate GHG emissions from agriculture sector. Dynamic CO2FIX-v3.1 model has been used to estimate the carbon sequestration potential (CSP) of existing agroforestry systems (AFS) for simulation period of 30 years in twenty six districts from ten selected states of India. The observed number of trees on farmers’ field in these districts varied from 1.81 to 204 per hectare with an average value of 19.44 trees per hectare. The biomass in the tree component varied from 0.58 to 48.50 Mg DM ha^?1, whereas, the total biomass (tree and crop) ranged from 4.96 to 58.96 Mg DM ha^?1. The soil organic carbon ranged from 4.28 to 24.13 Mg C ha^?1. The average estimated carbon sequestration potential of the AFS, representing varying edapho-climatic conditions, on farmers field at country level was 0.21 Mg C ha^?1yr^?1. At national level, existing AFS are estimated to mitigate 109.34 million tons CO₂ annually, which may offsets one-third (33 %) of the total GHG emissions from agriculture sector.     

Growth,survival, carbon rates for some dry tropical forest trees used in enrichment planting in the Cerro Blanco protected forest on the Ecuadorian coast

Deforestation principally to establish cattle pastures has created large expanses of land dominated by exotic grass prior to the establishment of the Cerro Blanco Protected Forest in Ecuador. A dry forest restoration program was carried out from 2008 to 2017. Tree planting sites were cleared in parallel lines through abandoned pasture and secondary vegetation using manual labor. Native tree species were produced in a nursery on site and used in yearly plantings during the rainy season. A total of 637 hectares were planted at an average stocking density of 1,000 trees per hectare. Growth data was collected from trees planted in nine sites from 2008 to 2017. Mortality rates were determined from a sample of 400 trees of twenty-two species. Survival of all species was greater than 50%. Ten species had survival rates greater than 90%. Vitex gigantea, with high survival rates, also had significantly greater growth rates than the other species (p < 0.0001) and showed the greatest yearly accumulation of total carbon (2.07 Kg C yr ^?1 stem^?1). Other species with high growth rates were Cordia alliodora and Centrolobium ochroxylum. This restoration program demonstrates that the dry forest restoration with timely maintenance and protection from fire and grazing is possible with intensive tree planting of native species.     

Live fences as tools for biodiversity conservation: a study case with birds and plants

Live fences may act as tools for biodiversity conservation by providing habitat for native species and increasing connectivity in the landscape. We studied the influence of live fence characteristics on species richness and fence use by birds by examining both local and landscape factors. We studied three types of live fences: planted fences of a native tree, planted fences of an exotic, and spontaneous. They were either connected to forest fragments or isolated, and were all within a pasture matrix. Spontaneous and planted live fences maintain a diverse plant (77 shrub and tree species) and bird communities (98 species). Fence types strongly differed in vegetation composition and structure. We found that by analyzing each fence characteristic independently, there was no difference in bird richness or abundance. However, there was a significant correlation when plant richness, structure, and connectivity were analyzed together. This could be the result of some variables counterbalancing each other. Birds used fences for a variety of purposes including foraging, breeding, and moving across the landscape. Native birds and plants used live fences as habitat and refuge in a landscape where large forest tracts have been lost for decades. Live fences in conjunction with small forest fragments maintain a diverse array of plant and birds species that are a subsample of the species originally found in the landscape before extensive deforestation. We recommend the establishment of live fences, allowing growth of spontaneous understory.     

Differences in transpiration between a forest and an agroforestry tree species in the Sudanian belt

Average population growth in the African Sudanian belt is 3 % per year. This leads to a significant increase in cultivated areas at the expense of fallows and forests. For centuries, rural populations have been practicing agroforestry dominated by Vitellaria paradoxa parklands. We wanted to know whether agroforestry can improve local rainfall recycling as well as forest. We compared transpiration and its seasonal variations between Vitellaria paradoxa, the dominant species in fallows, and Isoberlinia doka, the dominant species in dry forests in the Sudanian belt. The fallow and dry forest we studied are located in northwestern Benin, where average annual rainfall is 1200 mm. Sap flow density (SFD) was measured by transient thermal dissipation, from which tree transpiration was deduced. Transpiration of five trees per species was estimated by taking into account the radial profile of SFD. The effect of the species and of the season on transpiration was tested with a generalized linear mixed model. Over the three-year study period, daily transpiration of the agroforestry trees, V. paradoxa (diameters 8–38 cm) ranged between 4.4 and 26.8 L day^?1 while that of the forest trees, I. doka, (diameters 20–38 cm) ranged from 9.8 to 92.6 L day^?1. Daily transpiration of V. paradoxa was significantly lower (15 %) in the dry season than in the rainy season, whereas daily transpiration by I. doka was significantly higher (13 %) in the dry season than in the rainy season. Our results indicate that the woody cover of agroforestry systems is less efficient in recycling local rainfall than forest cover, not only due to lower tree density but also to species composition.     

Bird communities in tropical agroforestry ecosystems: an underappreciated conservation resource

Tropical conservation and research focus primarily on protected areas and often ignore conservation values of surrounding agricultural lands. Understanding how species utilize agricultural land will maximize conservation efforts. We compared bird community composition in four habitats in northeastern Costa Rica: shade-grown cacao, live fences, riparian forest buffers, and preserved late-successional rainforest. Point counts over 2 months found 167 species from 36 families. Rainforest contained the most species unique to a habitat although richness per point was lower than in agricultural habitats. Half, 31, of the rainforest species did not occur in other habitats, while 106 species, mostly those preferring open areas, occurred in agroforest habitats but not rainforest. While agricultural habitats had fairly similar species composition to each other as determined by distance in an ordination, each also contained significant numbers, 9–30, of unique species. While intact rainforest remains central to conservation of tropical birds, agricultural lands with substantial trees, e.g., live fences, riparian buffers, and plantations with shade trees, can support a high richness of birds. These avian communities are not simply subsets of the rainforest species but include substantial numbers of unique species. Conservation contributions of these lands to species richness and complexity should be considered in conservation, and trees in these habitats preserved.     

汪清地区4种林分经营模式效果分析

本研究在汪清林业局选定4块样板林,分别对采育林后续经营、低质低效林改造、红松果材林培育、珍贵树种大径级材林培育4种经营模式进行检测和分析.结果表明:采育林后续经营样地平均胸径增长量比对照高0.23 cm,公顷蓄积增长量高3.70 m3,平均年生长量高1.85 m3;低质低效林改造经营样地平均胸径增长量比对照高0.20 ...     

Distribution changes of woody plants in Western Iran as monitored by remote sensing and geographical information system: a case study of Zagros forest

The status of woody plants in dry-land systems is a fundamental determinant of key ecosystem processes. Monitoring of this status plays an important role in understanding the dynamics of woody plants in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. The present study determined the dynamism of the Zagros forests in Iran using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System techniques and statistical science. The results show that the density of trees varied from 10 to 53 % according to the physiographic and climatic conditions of semi-arid regions. The best and lowest correlation between vegetation indices and forest density were obtained for the global environmental monitoring index (GEMI; R ² = 0.94) and soil adjust vegetation index (R ² = 0.81), respectively. GEMI is used to monitor land use changes over a 10-year period. Results show that 2720 ha² of forest have been destroyed by human interference and tillage on steep slopes during this period which also resulted in the loss of the fertile soil layer. GEMI determined the areas with a biomass of trees and could normally separate border regions with low biomass density of trees from regions without canopy cover. The results revealed that assessment of forest and vegetation cover in arid and semi-arid arduous forest regions using satellite digital numbers and ordinary sampling is subject to uncertainty. A stratified grouping procedure should be established to increase the accuracy of assessment.     

Consumption Patterns of Fuelwood in Rural Households of Dolakha District,Nepal: Reflections from Community Forest User Groups

Biomass plays a vital role in the energy supply of many developing countries. It is the major energy source for the rural population of Nepal, where 70 % of the total energy is derived from woody plant biomass in the form of fuelwood. The main aim of this study is to describe the fuelwood consumption pattern and the role of community forests and trees on private farmland in biomass supply to rural households in Nepal. The study investigates whether demography and socioeconomic attributes of households affect fuelwood consumption. A household survey was conducted, along with measurements of fuelwood mass for six community forest user groups in Dolakha district of Nepal. Average daily household fuelwood consumption was estimated to be 8.4 kg, giving a mean annual consumption of 3060 kg per household. Per capita fuelwood consumption per day was found to be 1.7 kg. Total fuelwood consumption of households is significantly correlated with household size, ownership of cultivated irrigated terraces and number of livestock per household, and negatively significantly correlated with ownership of cultivated rain-fed terraces. Fuelwood consumption varies significantly between seasons. Among various sources of biomass energy, fuelwood from community forests contributes 23 % and trees on private farmland contribute 12 %. The rest is provided from other biomass sources, including the remains of fodder collected from private farmland vegetation, wood previously used for fences and trellises in private farmland, crop residues, and purchased fuelwood.     

Dry matter production,morphology and nutritive value of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dactylis glomerata</Emphasis> growing under different light regimes

Plant growth, morphology and nutritive value under shade can differ between temperate grasses. Therefore, the aim of this study was to quantify the dry matter (DM) production, sward morphology, crude protein (CP%), organic matter digestibility (OMD) and macro-nutrient concentrations (P, K, Mg, Ca and S) in a grazed cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) pasture under 10-year-old Pinus radiata D. Don forest. Four levels of light intensity were compared: full sunlight (100% photosynthetic photon flux density-PPFD), open + wooden slats (∼43% PPFD), trees (∼58% PPFD) and tree + slats (∼24% PPFD). The mean total DM production was 8.2 t DM ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in the open and 3.8 t DM ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in the trees + slats treatment. The changes in cocksfoot leaf area index (LAI) were related to variations in morphological aspects of the sward such as canopy height and tiller population. CP% increased as PPFD declined with mean values of 18.6% in open and 22.5% in the trees + slats treatment. In contrast, the intensity of fluctuating shade had little effect on OMD with a mean value of 79 ± 3.2%. The mean annual macro-nutrient concentrations in leaves increased as the PPFD level declined mainly between the open and the trees + slats treatments. It therefore appears that heavily shaded dominant temperate pastures in silvopastoral systems limit animal production per hectare through lower DM production rates and per animal through reduced pre-grazing pasture mass of lower bulk density from the etiolated pasture.     

Comparison of satellite images with different spatial resolutions to estimate stand structural diversity in urban forests

The structural diversity in urban forests is highly important to protect biodiversity. In particular, fruit trees and bush species, cavity-bearing trees and coarse, woody debris provide habitats for animals to feed, nest and hide.Improper silvicultural practices, intensive recreational use and illegal harvesting lead to a decline in the structural diversity in forests within larger metropolitan cities. It is important to monitor the structural diversity at definite time intervals using effective technologies with a view to instituting the necessary conservation measures. The use of satellite images seems to be appropriate to this end. Here we aimed to identify the associations between the textural features derived from the satellite images with different spatial resolutions and the structural diversity indices in urban forest stands(Shannon–Wiener index, complexity index, dominance index and density of wildlife trees).Rapid Eye images with a spatial resolution of 5 m 9 5 m,ASTER images with a spatial resolution of 15 m 9 15 m and Landsat-8 ETM satellite images with a spatial resolution of 30 m 9 30 m were used in this study. The firstorder(standard deviation of gray levels) and second order(GLCM entropy, GLCM contrast and GLCM correlation)textural features were calculated from the satellite images.When associations between textural features in the images and the structural diversity indices were assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient, very high associations were found between the image textural features and the diversity indices. The highest association was found between the standard deviation of gray levels(SDGLRAP) derived from RVIRAPof Rapid Eye image and the Shannon–Wiener index(Hh) calculated on the basis of tree height(R2= 0.64). The findings revealed that Rapid Eye satellite images with a spatial resolution of 5 m 9 5 m are most suitable for estimating the structural diversity in urban forests.     

尾巨桉萌芽更新不同密度处理对林分初期生长的影响

对尾巨桉不同处理更新3.2a生林分的生长调查,分析结果表明:在密度1 110株/hm2时,植苗更新林分平均胸径比萌芽更新林分高6.8%;平均单株材积比萌芽更新高11.4%;萌芽更新林分平均胸径随保留密度的增大而减小,方差分析结果表明不同处理尾巨桉林分胸径生长有极显著差异。萌芽更新林分平均单株材积随保留密度的增大而减小,萌芽保留1 110株/hm2平均单株材积比2 100株/hm2减小26.5%。在相同密度1 110株/hm2时,植苗更新林分每公顷蓄积比萌芽更新高23.1%。萌芽更新林分单位面积蓄积随密度的增大而增大,林分密度2 100株/hm2的林分每公顷蓄积量比密度1 110株/hm2高53.7%。     

内蒙古赤峰市敖汉旗大五家流域森林涵养水源功能与林分因子的相关性研究

以内蒙古赤峰市敖汉旗大五家流域内不同林分类型为研究对象,以林分涵养水源功能为目标,研究涵养水源功能与林分因子的相关性,旨在通过林分因子来评判森林涵养水源功能的高低。结果表明：平均树高、胸径、冠幅、冠层厚度、公顷蓄积量、年蓄积生长量、郁闭度、地被物盖度、下木盖度、群落结构的相关关系最密切,影响也最大,该10个林分因子可作为评价不同林分类型涵养水源功能高低的因子。与枯落物层涵蓄水分能力相关性较大的林分因子为胸径（0.734 7）、年蓄积生长量（-0.806 8）、冠层厚度（0.464 7）、冠幅（-0.674 6）、群落结构（-0.370 0）、地被物盖度（0.677 6）、公顷蓄积量（-0.617 9）、郁闭度（-0.587 2）;土壤层涵蓄水分能力相关性较大的林分因子为树高（0.592 1）、胸径（0.275 0）、公顷蓄积量（0.827 5）、郁闭度（0.317 3）、年蓄积生长量（0.767 7）、冠幅（0.749 0）。枯落物层有效拦蓄水量和土壤层有效涵蓄水量相关性较大的因子为郁闭度、公顷蓄积量、下木盖度、胸径、冠幅;林地总的蓄水量相关性较大的因子为地被物盖度、公顷蓄积量。     

Thermal comfort indices assessed in integrated production systems in the Brazilian savannah

The objective was to evaluate the animal thermal comfort indices from two integrated crop-livestock-forestry (ICLF) systems. For this, temperature–humidity index (THI), black globe temperature and humidity index (BGHI), and the radiant thermal load (RTL) were assessed. Two ICLF (ICLF-1 and ICLF-2) systems and one control system were established. On the ICLF systems, the arboreal component was the eucalyptus tree (Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla; H13 clone), planted in simple wide-spaced rows. The ICLF-1 system had a tree spacing of 14 × 2 m with 357 trees per hectare, and the ICLF-2 had a tree spacing of 22 × 2 m with 227 trees per hectare. The control system had five scattered native trees per hectare, pertaining to Gochnatia and Dipteryx species. The forage component in all three systems was piatã-grass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. BRS Piatã). The experimental design was a randomized block in a sub-subplot design scheme with four replications. The presence of shade provided by the trees offered better conditions of animal comfort when compared with the condition of full sun. The ICLF-1 system, with higher tree density, provided better indicators for thermal comfort, THI, BGHI, and RTL when compared with the condition of full sun, while ICLF-2 was no different than ICLF-1 for BGHI.     

Impacts of participatory forest management on forest conditions: Evidences from Gebradima Forest,southwest Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

This study examines a participatory forest management program and its impacts on forest conditions in Gebradima Forest, southwest Ethiopia. Vegetation data were collected from both participatory forest management (PFM) and nonparticipatory forest management (non-PFM) forest blocks. A total of 54 plots (27 from each forest block) measuring 20 m × 20 m were employed to collect species composition and structural data. Results indicated that a total of 51 different woody plant species (49 at PFM and 43 at non-PFM blocks), representing 31 families were recorded, with 41 species were shared for both forest sites. Species diversity and evenness were higher in the forest with PFM (H´ = 3.29, E = .85) compared to the forest without PFM (H´ = 2.97, E = .79). The overall mean values of tree/shrub and seedling density per hectare, diameter class (≤ 20 cm) were also significantly (p < .05) higher in PFM forest than non-PFM forests. However, no significant variations were observed in sapling density per hectare and basal area between the two studied forest blocks. It can be concluded that PFM had a positive effect on forest conditions compared with a similar forest without PFM. Hence, it is important to scaling up PFM in neighboring forests.     

Urban forest assessment in Bangkok,Thailand

The objective of this study was to conduct an urban forest assessment for Bangkok and pilot the appropriateness of adapting the i-Tree Eco International software in Thailand. Urban forest structure, function, and value were estimated from 184 stratified random sample plots. A total 48 tree species were encountered and the three most common that contributed 34.1% of total tree population were Polyalthia longifolia Sonn. (15.7%), Mangifera indica L. (13.0%), and Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth. (5.4%). The majority of trees (approximately 70%) were <23 cm in diameter. An estimated 2.5 (0.4 SEM) million trees with a canopy cover of 8.6% (1.3 SEM) exist in the Bangkok study area. These trees store an approximate total of 309,700 (73,726 SEM) metric tons of carbon and sequester 16,271 (2965 SEM) metric tons of CO₂ annually. Additional research is needed to develop functional relationships for urban trees in Thailand to overcome a current limitation for using i-Tree Eco in Thailand to estimate structural and functional value of urban forests. Study results also provide land-use planners information on the current urban forest resource and the potential for future urban greening.     

Biophysical quantification of biodiversity and ecosystems services of forest ecosystems in the Western Ghats: a case study of Uttara Kannada District,India

Biodiversity and ecosystem services play key roles in future economic strategies seeking to promote development and prosperity. This study assesses the status of biodiversity and flow of ecosystem services from selected forest types in the Western Ghats. At the sampling sites, the number of tree species ranged from 16 to 79 per hectare depending on the forest type. The estimates for Shannon–Wiener index for trees in the evergreen, moist deciduous and dry deciduous forest plots were 3.02, 2.9 and 1.54, respectively. The total biomass carbon stocks in evergreen, moist deciduous and dry deciduous forests in the study area was 229, 221 and 189 t C/ha, respectively.Analysis of dependency patterns of local communities on forest resources indicated a high dependency on provisional services such as fuelwood, manure and fodder. The study records the highest dependency rates for fuelwood,ranging between 72 and 100% for the three forest types and indicates that forest ecosystems underpin the well-being of the population dependent directly and indirectly on them.     

Carbon storage and density dynamics of associated trees in three contrasting Theobroma cacao agroforests of Central Cameroon

In Central Cameroon cocoa is mainly produced by household farming systems based on complex associations between cocoa and companion trees. Setup either on native/remnant forest or savannah, these agroforestry systems (AFS) are managed according their geographical position and local pedoclimatic conditions. In this paper, we investigated the effects of local management strategies on carbon (C) storage of live trees in three different cocoa production zones of Central Cameroon. In the 58 fields studied, 8,996 cocoa trees and 1,258 companions were surveyed. Tree sampling was non-destructive and to estimate C storage we used allometric models for above- and belowground biomasses. We measured abundance, height, diameter at breast height and determined species of companion trees. We distinguished between four cocoa plantation age categories (immature, young, mature and senescent) and three preceding systems (forest, forest gallery and savannah). We surveyed farmers’ use of each associated tree, allocated it to a functional category and asked if it had been introduced or conserved. Total C content of live trees was on average close to 70 t ha^?1. We found that it mostly relied on associated trees—cocoa trees contribution being ac. 2–12 % of live trees total C. The level of contribution to C storage of companions from different use categories differed between sites—trees producing food had contributed most in Bokito and Obala while trees used for shading or fertility contributed most in Ngomedzap. Dynamics of C storage in live trees was found to be independent from cocoa trees growth and age. When aging, AFS continuously lost companion trees and especially conserved ones putatively because of farmers’ selective logging. Yet, AFS apparently maintained equivalent C storage abilities with time. Hence, even if cocoa do not contribute significantly to C storage in our study, the systems into which they are included are able to significantly store C and may also contribute to other ecological services such as conservation.     

度量误差对全林整体模型的影响研究

唐守正(1991)提出的全林整体模型,是一项将生长收获模型作为系统来进行研究的重要成果,在此基础上展开了一系列的应用研究。李希菲(1991)年建立了大青山主要树种的全林整体模型并进行了精度验证,洪玲霞(1993)给出了由全林整体生长模型推导林分密度控制图的方法,唐守正等(1995)对用全林整体模型计算林分纯生长量的方法及精度分析进行了研究。建立全林整体模型时,首先对林分每公顷株数、平均直径、林分优势高、林分平均高和形高5个因子进行观测,然后利用最小二乘法,由自稀疏方程估计出自稀疏指数γ、自稀疏率β、完满立木度林分的密度指数Sf[…     

Forest Type,Diversity and Biomass Estimation in Tropical Forests of Western Ghat of Maharashtra Using Geospatial Techniques

Tropical forests are the world’s largest terrestrial storehouses of carbon and are recognized as rich, diverse and highly productive ecosystems. The present study was conducted to characterize the land use, diversity and biomass of tropical forest in Western Ghat of Maharashtra State in India through satellite remote sensing and GIS. The study has been designed and implemented to promote analysis on Western Ghat biodiversity resources including trees, shrubs and herbs based on inventorying, monitoring and mapping. Field measured biomass is integrated with spectral responses of various bands and indices of the Landsat TM satellite image for estimation of above-ground biomass in a 36,046 km² area of relic forest in the Central Western Ghat. The above-ground biomass from field-based inventory varied from 30.2 to 151.1 ton/ha in moist deciduous forest, 9.2–99.1 ton/ha in dry deciduous forest, 42.1–158.6 ton/ha in semi-evergreen forest, and 160.9–271 ton/ha in evergreen forest. The total above-ground biomass of the study area was estimated to be 95.2 M tons. A regression equation between field above-ground biomass and a Normalized Difference Vegetation Index was used for spectral modeling to estimate and prepare the above-ground biomass map in the region. A total 120 plant species in 81 genera and 31 families were identified in the study area. This study emphasizes the importance of relic forests for their biodiversity, carbon sequestration and total biomass.