Comparison of temporal and spatial changes in three major tropical forests based on MODIS data

Numerous studies have shown that intact tropical forests account for half of the total terrestrial sink for anthropogenic carbon dioxide.Here,we analyzed and compared changes in three main tropical forest regions from 2000 to 2014,based on time-series analysis and landscape metrics derived from moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer data.We examined spatialpattern changes in percentage of tree cover and net primary production(NPP)for three tropical forest regions—Amazon basin,Congo basin,and Southeast Asia.The results show that:the Amazon basin region had the largest tropical forest area and total NPP and a better continuity of TC distribution;the Southeast Asia region exhibited a sharp decrease in NPP and had comparatively separate spatial patterns of both TC and NPP;and the Congo basin region exhibited a dramatic increase in NPP and had better aggregation of forest NPP distribution.Results also show that aggregative patterns likely correlate with high NPP values.     

Evaluation and scenario simulation for forest ecological security in China

Continuously growing populations and rapid economic development have led to the excessive use of forest resources,and the forest ecosystem is threatened.In response,forest ecological security(FES)has attracted attention.In this study,an integrated dynamic simulation model was constructed using the system dynamic method,and it was used to evaluate the FES in China from 1999 to 2014.A scenario analysis was then used to evaluate the changes in the FES under five forestry policy scenarios for the 2015–2050 period,including the baseline,afforestation policy,harvesting policies,management policy,investment policy,and a policy mix.The results showed that the evaluation values of the FES increased during the period from 1999 to 2002,the period from 2004 to 2010 and the year 2014,and they decreased in 2003 and during the period from 2011 to 2013.During the 2015–2050 simulation period,the FES improved continuously.In particular,China would enter a new stage when the economic systems,social systems and ecosystems were in harmony after 2040.To improve the FES and the current status of the FES,a scenario analysis showed the most suitable scenario to be Scenario 5 from 2015 to 2020 and Scenario 2 from 2021 to 2050.To relieve pressure,the most suitable scenario would be Scenario 5 from 2015 to 2040 and from 2046 to 2050,and the most suitable scenario would be Scenario 4 for 2041–2045.A policy mix(Scenario 5)would be most efficient under current conditions,while the effects of all the benefits of the forestry policies would weaken over the long term.The integrated method can be regarded as a decision support tool to help policy makers understand FES and promulgate a reasonable forestry policy.     

Estimating aboveground biomass of Pinus densata-dominated forests using Landsat time series and permanent sample plot data

Southwest China is one of three major forest regions in China and plays an important role in carbon sequestration.Accurate estimations of changes in aboveground biomass are critical for understanding forest carbon cycling and promoting climate change mitigation.Southwest China is characterized by complex topographic features and forest canopy structures,complicating methods for mapping aboveground biomass and its dynamics.The integration of continuous Landsat images and national forest inventory data provides an alternative approach to develop a long-term monitoring program of forest aboveground biomass dynamics.This study explores the development of a methodological framework using historical national forest inventory plot data and Landsat TM timeseries images.This method was formulated by comparing two parametric methods:Linear Regression for Multiple Independent Variables(MLR),and Partial Least Square Regression(PLSR);and two nonparametric methods:Random Forest(RF)and Gradient Boost Regression Tree(GBRT)based on the state of forest aboveground biomass and change models.The methodological framework mapped Pinus densata aboveground biomass and its changes over time in Shangri-la,Yunnan,China.Landsat images and national forest inventory data were acquired for 1987,1992,1997,2002 and 2007.The results show that:(1)correlation and homogeneity texture measures were able to characterize forest canopy structures,aboveground biomass and its dynamics;(2)GBRT and RF predicted Pinus densata aboveground biomass and its changes better than PLSR and MLR;(3)GBRT was the most reliable approach in the estimation of aboveground biomass and its changes;and,(4)the aboveground biomass change models showed a promising improvement of prediction accuracy.This study indicates that the combination of GBRT state and change models developed using temporal Landsat and national forest inventory data provides the potential for developing a methodological framework for the long-term mapping and monitoring program of forest aboveground biomass and its changes in Southwest China.     

森林经营规划编制体系的探讨

森林经营规划编制是森林经营工作的重要内容,为指导区域森林经营工作科学有序开展及森林经营方案编制提供主要依据。针对我国森林经营规划编制体系不完善、森林经营工作无遵循等情况,国家林业局组织编制了全国森林经营规划,并对省级、县级森林经营规划编制工作提出要求。文章就我国森林经营规划编制体系进行探讨,从国家级、省级、县级3个层面分析我国森林经营规划编制指导思想及关键技术,以及新时期我国森林经营工作的重点及发展方向,为各地编制森林经营规划、科学进行森林经营管理提供参考。     

An assessment of hydrological functions of forest ecosystems to support sustainable forest management

Forests are among the most important ecosystems that provide various hydrological services including water production and protection because the vast majority of the water available on the earth comes from forested catchments. The forests provide quality and continuous water yield as well as protective services such as flood control, soil protection, landslide protection, avalanche protection, and prevention against rock falls, which are related to water. However, the quality and quantity of all the forest functions are influenced by forest ecosystem structure and composition such as forest type, tree species, age class distribution, biomass, leaf area, basal area, crown closure, and stand development stages. This study provides an assessment of hydrological services of forest ecosystems through the systematic review of relevant literature till 2018. It mainly focuses on water-forest relations and explains how forest ecosystem structure and composition affect water production, quality, and sustainability. Then, a general framework relating to the integration of hydrological services into forest management is concluded in the context of sustainable management of natural resources.     

Effects of density and structure on production in the communal forests of the Mexican Sierra Madre Occidental

The Sierra Madre Occidental in the Mexican State of Durango, is home to about 5 million ha of species-rich forest ecosystems. Local communities depend on these forests for their livelihood. The preservation of the species richness and productivity of this unique resource requires improved understanding of the effects of forest structure and density on production. The community structure was analysed for three species groups (all species; 12 species of Pinus; and 16 species of Quercus). Based on data gathered in 580 remeasured observational field plots, the main results of this study were as follows: (1) two distinct clusters were identified in each species group, (a) the dominant species with a smaller range of growth rates, and (b) the remaining species which have a smaller maximum size and a greater variation of growth rates. (2) Density (expressed as basal area per hectare) and the percentage contribution to the total basal area of all pine species have a significant effect on forest production (expressed as volume increment per hectare per year). (3) Potential production is surprisingly high (in excess of 20 m³ ha^?1 y^?1 for some stands) in these forests, but the high potential cannot be realised in many areas because of reduced basal areas caused by overharvesting. (4) The available evidence does not confirm the findings of a recent study that suggests a continuous increase in production with increasing richness. Our observations show that production attains a potential maximum at intermediate levels of richness (between 7 and 9 species per 0.25 ha) and declines with further increases in species richness. This study represents a comprehensive analysis of the effects of density and structure on the community forests of the Sierra Madre Occidental based on a large set of permanent field plots where all trees have been mapped.     

不同树龄次生甜槠木荷林的树种组成与空间结构比较研究

为了进一步揭示次生甜槠Castanopsis eyrei木荷Schima superba林的林分空间结构特征,在浙江省遂昌县垵口村的20～25年生、35～40年生、55～60年生3个次生甜槠木荷林分别设置了面积为50 m×50 m的样地,进行了每木调查和坐标定位。通过样地Ripley聚集度分析和点Ripley聚集度分析,对3个样地中的优势树种及林分整体的空间格局进行对比分析。结果表明:随着树龄的增加,不同年龄的次生甜槠木荷林的上层乔木立木数量逐渐增加,下层乔木立木数量逐渐减少,树种数量相对稳定,但各层树种组成变化明显,其中上层木中甜槠、木荷、青冈Cyclobalanopsis glauca 3个优势种的比例从20～25年生时的20.41%增长到55～60年生时的73.53%;从空间结构看,20～25年生甜槠木荷林林分呈现聚集分布,35～40年生甜槠木荷林林分呈现半聚集半均匀分布状态,55～60年生甜槠木荷林林分呈现均匀分布。     

种子大小和枯落物覆盖对黑松种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

2017年5月10日,将烟台沿海防护林内20～30年生黑松Pinus thunbergii母树的种子分为大粒、中粒和小粒播于花盆中,研究枯落物覆盖厚度(1 cm,2 cm,3 cm,4 cm)对种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响,以阐明沿海黑松防护林幼苗建立的机制。结果表明:种子大小对发芽率、发芽指数有着极显著影响(P<0.01),对平均发芽时间、活力指数没有显著影响。大粒种子比中小粒种子有着低的发芽率和发芽指数。在生物量分配和根系特征上种子大小没有显著影响,但对幼苗高度和地径有显著的影响(P<0.05),都是大粒和中粒种子大于小粒种子。枯落物覆盖厚度对于种子萌发有显著影响(P<0.05),发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数都随枯落物厚度的增加而增加,平均发芽时间则逐渐降低;但对幼苗生物量、生物量分配和根系特征无显著影响。相关分析表明,苗高和地径与发芽指标、幼苗生物量分配相关性不显著,但与比根长和比根表面积成显著正相关。因此,种子大小和枯落物覆盖厚度是影响沿海黑松防护林天然更新的重要因素。