Articles tagged with Forestry
Researchers found that high tree mortality in upper canopy can promote oak regeneration when maple is removed from understorey. Plantings on thinned forest plots showed fewer signs of drought stress, supporting oak growth.
A new study from Umeå University reveals that trees' circadian clocks regulate growth and seasonal events. Adjusting clock-associated genes could help trees synchronize with changing climates, improving forestry management. The study also has implications for global vegetation models predicting forest growth and carbon storage.
A recent WSSA research article reveals that focusing solely on deer or invasive shrubs yields little forest health improvement. Instead, managing both threats is necessary to promote tree regeneration and plant community restoration, according to a study spanning over 10 years in Ohio.
A new study found that both employed people with obesity and employer representatives acknowledge the impact of obesity on future health problems and perceive lifestyle change alongside anti-obesity medications as the most effective approach for maintaining weight-loss reduction. Cost of medication coverage remains a significant barrie...
Researchers developed a bamboo-based microreactor system for efficient enzyme immobilization, demonstrating high transformation rates and thermal stability. The innovative use of bamboo nanofibers offers a sustainable alternative to traditional methods.
A new study suggests that easing L.A.'s outdated tree planting rules could significantly grow the city's urban tree canopy without compromising safety. By relaxing restrictions near intersections, utility poles, gas lines, and other infrastructure, tree coverage in lower-income neighborhoods like Boyle Heights could increase by up to 26%.
Researchers developed an innovative strategy to optimize seed orchard layouts, minimizing inbreeding while maximizing genetic gains. Direct selection, focusing on elite individuals, delivered significant performance boosts in diameter, height, and volume.
Researchers challenge traditional view that cool temperate rainforests are fragile ecosystems, finding they depend on disturbance for survival. The study found Antarctic beech trees grew faster and recruited more successfully after higher disturbance levels.
Researchers highlight the underuse of Japanese bird banding data in avian movement research, revealing gaps in our understanding of East Asian migratory birds. The study proposes improving data accessibility and integrating traditional methods with modern tracking technologies to advance conservation efforts.
Researchers from UGA's Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources found that forest management efforts are supporting healthy bat populations. Bats rely on semi-open forest stands with varied stand structure for efficient flying and feeding, and a diverse mix of vegetation supports their survival.
A new study estimates China's natural forests will continue to capture carbon, but at a slowing rate. The research reveals significant regional differences in carbon storage potential, with younger forests showing the largest increase.
Researchers describe the complex genome of the highly valued white oak (Quercus alba), providing insights into fundamental questions about plant evolution and tree breeding. The study sheds light on the evolutionary history of oaks, including the extent of genetic diversity and population differentiation.
A new study reveals that understorey small trees and shrubs contribute significantly to biomass and diversity in African dry forests. The research found that these layers can hold substantial amounts of woody biomass, with species richness decreasing as overstorey biomass increases.
A CSU study reveals trees are contracting in response to climate change, failing to regenerate in hottest areas and not expanding into cooler climates. Human-assisted tree migration is proposed as a solution to help forests adapt to climate change.
A recent report by Colorado State University reveals that the state's forests are emitting more carbon than they absorb, primarily due to insect and disease impacts. The study estimated that Colorado's forests stored 1,558 teragrams of carbon between 2010 and 2019.
Researchers found that sustainability certificates improve cocoa yield and income for small-scale producers, but have no effect on biodiversity in plantations. The study suggests that further biodiversity conservation measures are needed to achieve tangible environmental benefits.
The National Champion Tree Program has launched a new data management system to track the country's largest trees, featuring over 1,200 species and providing detailed information on each tree's measurements and cultural importance. The program aims to protect and preserve these giant trees through public education and engagement.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology found that biochar significantly reduces DDT uptake by earthworms in contaminated soil, halving the toxin's presence. This method could enable farming on land deemed unusable due to environmental risks.
The Policy Engagement Forum brought together experts to discuss the Climate and Biodiversity-Smart approach to forest management. The conversation focused on policies conducive to CBS methodologies, addressing challenges such as climate-related risks, biodiversity decline, and administrative hurdles.
Temperate savannas in eastern China have been mapped for the first time, revealing their geographical distribution and extent. The research provides precise information on the spatial characteristics of these ecosystems, supporting conservation and utilization efforts.
A new report assesses water resources in the southern US states, finding that forestry best management practices can mitigate climate and land use effects on water quality. The study projects future scenarios of water stress due to extreme precipitation events, emphasizing the importance of adaptive management.
The Forestry Research journal has been recognized by international authorities for its quality and academic level, with its articles available free of charge on PubMed Central. The journal focuses on major forest species, including timber, ornamental, economic, and ecological trees.
Researchers in Lithuania have developed Forest 4.0, a smart forest data processing model that enables real-time monitoring of forest conditions, sustainable resource accounting, and transparent governance. The system uses IoT sensors and AI algorithms to detect tree diseases, illegal logging, and predict changes in forest ecosystems.
A new study by Umea University researchers found that mixed forests with multiple tree species are less prone to damage from fungi, insects, and fires. The results suggest that increasing the number of tree species in production forests could reduce forest damage risk and financial losses.
Research led by the University of Göttingen found enriching beech forests with commercially valuable native and non-native conifer species can enhance biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and economic performance. The study showed that mixing beech with Douglas fir resulted in positive gains, particularly for biodiversity and economic ...
The ForestPaths project evaluates the effects of current legislation on European forests, focusing on climate change mitigation and biodiversity. The study identifies 17 green initiatives with prominent relations to forest conditions, emphasizing conservation, active management, afforestation, and wood processing activities.
A new study reveals that external canopy structural heterogeneity has a stronger influence on species diversity-productivity relationships than internal heterogeneity. Researchers introduced a new index to quantify this external heterogeneity, which plays a key role in mediating biodiversity-forest productivity dynamics.
Researchers will map carbon distribution, identify high-risk areas, and inform fire suppression strategies to maximize carbon storage in the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge. The project aims to address the growing threat of permafrost thaw, which could release 1,700 billion metric tons of carbon.
Forest fires globally emitted half a billion tonnes more CO2 in the last two decades, with increased severity and extent driven by climate change. The study reveals alarming shifts in forest fire patterns, posing significant challenges for global targets to combat climate change.
The second ForestPaths Policy Lab brought together diverse stakeholders to share visions for forests by 2050, focusing on climate change, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Participants explored policy actions necessary to achieve these visions through modelling and pathway analysis.
Researchers found that seven common European forest trees have preserved their genetic diversity over millions of years, defying expectations. This resilience is attributed to unique characteristics such as long generation times and pollen dispersal capabilities.
A recent study applied transition matrix growth models to simulate the effects of various management strategies on forest ecosystem services and multifunctionality in northeastern China. The findings highlighted the significant impact of forest management on ecosystem services, which outweighed the effects of climate scenarios alone.
As stand age increases, Pinus massoniana consistently absorbs bioavailable phosphorus from the soil, reducing soil phosphorus availability. Phosphorus distribution affects various organs in four distinct forms, and resorption influences this process.
Coastal forests face uncertain future as sea levels rise, with trees more vulnerable to saltwater flooding than marshes. Tree ring analysis reveals nuanced effects of flooding, temperature, and precipitation on tree growth, highlighting species- and site-specific factors.
Researchers developed DIAMANTE, a data-centric semantic segmentation approach to detect forest tree dieback events in satellite images. The approach trains a U-Net-like model on labelled remote-sensing datasets and achieves reasonable accuracy for early disease detection, reducing false alarms.
A new study investigates genetic diversity and population structure of common walnut (Juglans regia) in Central Asia. The research reveals moderate genetic diversity across the region, with a core genetic diversity region in the western Himalaya.
Rewilding efforts in Europe could help countries meet conservation goals with 70% of opportunities in colder climates. Passive and active strategies are proposed to create self-sustaining ecosystems.
A new study by the University of Exeter and Oxford found that integrated forest restoration plans deliver over 80% of benefits in all three areas - capturing carbon, nurturing biodiversity, and supporting human livelihoods. Socioeconomically disadvantaged groups benefit disproportionately from this approach.
Researchers found that mature trees increased wood production by an average of 9.8% under elevated CO2 levels, supporting their role as medium-term carbon stores and natural climate solutions. This increase was not accompanied by a corresponding rise in leaf or fine-root production.
Researchers used tree regeneration patterns to predict changes in US forests' carbon stocks, finding that 29% will lose and 55% will replace carbon. This study identifies vulnerable areas and prioritizes strategies for resilient forest management.
Researchers developed allometric equations to estimate above-ground biomass and carbon stock distribution among subtropical savanna components. The study found that soil holds the highest proportion of carbon, emphasizing its importance as a carbon sink in mitigating climate change.
A new model reveals that phosphorus limitation reduces tropical forest productivity responses to rising CO2 concentrations. The study found that combined nitrogen and phosphorus limitations diminish CO2 fertilization effect on gross primary production and net ecosystem production by significant margins.
The Western Fire & Forest Resilience Collaborative will engage a research team to study wildfire challenges and solutions in Colorado, leveraging fieldwork, remote sensing, and modeling to inform fire management strategies. The funding from Lyda Hill Philanthropies will help minimize devastating fires and maintain resilient forests.
A study proposes changes to simplify licensing for landowners in the Atlantic Rainforest biome, making conservation policy more effective. The current legislation allows for the destruction of valuable forests due to its subjective and imprecise criteria.
Households in Liberia that participated in forest-based activities reduced their food scarcity by 84 percent. The research also found that forests can capture carbon and advance sustainability goals for low- and middle-income countries, reducing hunger and improving well-being.
A new study reveals widespread decline in Western US forest carbon storage, likely caused by drought and fire. The research provides a framework for evaluating future changes and informing management strategies to mitigate carbon loss, highlighting the need for proactive forest management practices.
A recent study in China found that different tree species respond to extreme droughts in distinct ways. Native maple-oak forests and introduced poplar plantations showed varying levels of vulnerability to drought stress.
A study reveals that mixed forests store more soil organic carbon than pure forests due to higher wood debris storage. However, the quality of SOC in deep soil is better than surface soil. The findings highlight the importance of mixed forest and plant debris in maintaining forest carbon sequestration.
Researchers have found that climate change is driving tree species towards colder and wetter regions across Europe and North America. The study analyzed data from over two million trees and found that no single trait of the tree species could explain these changes.
Fine roots' lifespan varies across tree species, with evolutionary history playing a key role in shaping global patterns. Phylogeny, root traits, and environmental factors regulate fine root lifespan, with gymnosperms having longer lifespans than angiosperms.
Researchers found that reducing surface and ladder fuels through thinning, coupled with prescribed burning or pile burning, can significantly reduce future wildfire severity. The study's findings support the effectiveness of proactive ecological forest management in changing fire behavior and mitigating wildfire severity.
A new machine-learning system can automatically produce detailed maps from satellite data to show locations of likely beetle-killed spruce trees in Alaska. This helps forestry and wildfire managers make critical decisions as the beetle infestation spreads, affecting approximately 2 million acres across Southcentral Alaska.
A collaborative research study found that frequent, low-severity fires support Mexican spotted owl habitat, while high-severity fire is detrimental. This finding suggests that restoring historic fire regimes could benefit both owl conservation and forest resilience.
A new study found that removing hedgerows and field margins decreases the diversity and abundance of arthropods, which can lead to reduced natural pest control. The research suggests that using flowering plants in field margins and implementing agri-environmental measures can be effective ways to increase farmland biodiversity.
A worldwide analysis of voluntary carbon offset programs identified trends in renewable energy, forestry, and other technologies. Forestry and land management projects initially increased due to REDD+ programs, but shifted towards nature-positive solutions after 2016.
A new study reveals no consistent pattern between tree diversity and forest productivity at different elevations; biodiversity can increase or decrease productivity in various regions.
A comprehensive global dataset shows that phylogeny plays a crucial role in shaping wood density patterns. Wood density varies significantly among different biomes and climatic zones, with higher values found in drier regions. Phylogenetic signal explains 84.3% of total variation, while environmental factors account for only 2.7%.
A new study by the University of Plymouth found that saturated soils in upland regions could negatively impact the survival rates of young oak saplings and acorns. The research highlights the importance of considering soil conditions when creating temperate rainforests to combat climate change.
In Central Italy, traditional land management practices like leaf litter raking and sheep grazing reduced wildfire risk. However, these practices have been largely forgotten due to historical classism and sexism. The research highlights the importance of remembering these ancient practices in mitigating future wildfires.
A recent study by an international group found that forests with higher trait diversity adapt better to climate change and thrive. Higher productivity levels were maintained in diverse trees compared to monoculture forests.