Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: A. Majlingová
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Fire Protection, Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia
Author-Name: D. Schallerová
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Fire Protection, Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia
Title: Preliminary results of statistical analysis focused on the dependence between forest litter moisture and relative air humidity
Abstract: The results of the dependence of forest litter moisture on relative air humidity are presented in this paper. The dependence was studied applying the data obtained during a field survey in research plots situated in the Low Tatras Mountains territory. To process the statistical analysis the Statistica 8 software was applied. As a result of this analysis we expected to find the conversion index that can be used to calculate the fine fuel moisture based on the actual relative air humidity. The information on litter moisture (fine fuel component) is essential for the software for modelling fire behaviour. Results of analyses confirmed that the conversion coefficient between relative air humidity and forest litter moisture cannot be established, because the input data are highly variable. Therefore, the expected conversion factor confirming a significant dependence of litter moisture on air humidity was not obtained. On the contrary, the value of correlation coefficient was so low in all the measurements that it can be neglected.
Keywords: fine fuel moisture, Statistica 8, correlation coefficient, fire modelling
Journal: Journal of Forest Science
Pages: 493-500
Volume: 62
Issue: 11
Year: 2016
DOI: 10.17221/87/2016-JFS
File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/87/2016-JFS.html
File-Format: text/html
X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201611-0001.txt
Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:62:y:2016:i:11:id:87-2016-JFS

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: A.A. Vahedi
Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Forests & Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran
Author-Name: A.R. Bijani-Nejad
Author-Workplace-Name: Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization, Nowshahr, Iran
Author-Name: A. Djomo
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Geography and Planning, Faculty of Arts and Science, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
Title: Horizontal and vertical distribution of carbon stock in natural stands of Hyrcanian lowland forests: A case study, Nour Forest Park, Iran
Abstract: The Nour Forest Park located in the north of Iran is the most important Hyrcanian lowland forest which plays a significant role in the local/national carbon cycle. Since the forest is protectively managed, the distribution of C pools in the forest may give proper information for climate change negotiations. We investigated variations in above- and belowground C pools between three natural stand types that occur in the forest - Alnus glutinosa-Parrotia persica (AI), Acer velutinum-Parrotia persica (MI), and Ulmus glabra-Carpinus betulus (EH). The carbon stocks of trees, herbs and litter were measured in each stand based on a completely randomized design using nested plots. Soil organic carbon (SOC) stock was measured at two depths (0-20 and 20-40 cm). The mean organic carbon concentration of 20.61 ± 0.012% and of 31.13 ± 0.024% was directly measured for herbs and litter, respectively. The results of the paired t-test showed that there was no significant difference in SOC between the first depth (0-20 cm) and the second depth (20-40 cm) in AI stand though SOC was significantly different between the two depths in MI and EH stands. The carbon stock of above- and belowground biomass was not significantly different between the three stands, and carbon stock of litter was higher than that of herbs in each stand. Also, there were significant differences in the different carbon pools in each stand type; however, the different stand types did not differ in the proportion of carbon stored in different pools and in total carbon (i.e. C summed across all pools; P > 0.05). The findings in the different forest types showed that there was no high carbon stock variability suggesting that the horizontal and vertical distribution of carbon stocks in the forest could be in a balance, implying that the protective management could be a determining factor for the carbon balance in the forest. Regarding this issue, it is necessary to verify the variation of carbon stocks in non-protective and active forest management.
Keywords: above- and belowground biomass, carbon pool, climate change, ecosystem, soil organic carbon
Journal: Journal of Forest Science
Pages: 501-510
Volume: 62
Issue: 11
Year: 2016
DOI: 10.17221/49/2016-JFS
File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/49/2016-JFS.html
File-Format: text/html
X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201611-0002.txt
Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:62:y:2016:i:11:id:49-2016-JFS

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: I. De Meo
Author-Workplace-Name: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics - Agrobiology and Pedology Research Centre (CREA-ABP), Florence, Italy
Author-Name: F. Brescancin
Author-Workplace-Name: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics - Forest Monitoring and Planning Research Unit (CREA-MPF), Villazzano di Trento, Italy
Author-Name: A. Graziani
Author-Workplace-Name: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics - Agrobiology and Pedology Research Centre (CREA-ABP), Florence, Italy
Author-Name: A. Paletto
Author-Workplace-Name: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics - Forest Monitoring and Planning Research Unit (CREA-MPF), Villazzano di Trento, Italy
Title: Management of Natura 2000 sites in Italy: An exploratory study on stakeholders' opinions
Abstract: The Natura 2000 network includes the sites of community importance identified by Directive 92/43/EEC and the special protection areas defined by Directive 79/409/EEC. This network can be considered the cornerstone of the European Union (EU) nature conservation policy in order to ensure the long-term protection of endangered species in their natural habitats. The European Union has adopted an integration approach to the Natura 2000 network. The integration approach is based on combining human activities and nature conservation purposes in Natura 2000 sites and in neighbouring areas. Furthermore, the stakeholders' involvement in the site management is considered a fundamental point for the success of the network. The application of integration approach in Italy was different from one region to another, often presenting a framework where institutional actors collaborate with environmental non-governmental organizations and other groups. These stakeholders influence the Natura 2000 implementation with different strategies, increasing the complexity and unpredictability of the policy outcomes. The objective of this study is to analyse stakeholders' opinions concerning the coexistence of different human activities in the Italian Natura 2000 sites. In order to achieve this objective a semi-structured questionnaire was administered by email to 146 stakeholders. 56 stakeholders filled in the questionnaire and the collected data were statistically processed. The stakeholders assessed the importance of five human activities (nature conservation, environmental education, recreational activities, agricultural activities and forestry activities) in Natura 2000 sites through a pairwise comparison and identified the main opportunities and obstacles of the network. The results show that the most relevant activities are nature conservation and environmental education according to stakeholders' opinions. In addition, the respondents highlighted that the main opportunities are the possibility of access to EU funding and the enhancement of local green economy, while the main obstacle is the restriction of agricultural and forestry practices not adequately compensated.
Keywords: protected areas, nature conservation, human activities, conflicts, multi-stakeholders, questionnaire survey
Journal: Journal of Forest Science
Pages: 511-520
Volume: 62
Issue: 11
Year: 2016
DOI: 10.17221/52/2016-JFS
File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/52/2016-JFS.html
File-Format: text/html
X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201611-0003.txt
Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:62:y:2016:i:11:id:52-2016-JFS

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: D. Cibecchini
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Systems (GESAAF), School of Agriculture, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
Author-Name: A. Cavalli
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Systems (GESAAF), School of Agriculture, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
Author-Name: G. Goli
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Systems (GESAAF), School of Agriculture, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
Author-Name: M. Togni
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Systems (GESAAF), School of Agriculture, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
Title: Beech sawn timber for structural use: A case study for mechanical characterization and optimization of the Italian visual strength grading rule
Abstract: The potential use of beech (Fagus sylvatica Linnaeus) sawn timber for structures has been investigated. Beech stands in transition from coppice to high forest after thinning interventions have been sampled from different Italian sources. A sample of 160 beams of two different cross sections was extracted and tested, according to the normalized procedures for the characterization of wood for structures. The specimens were visually graded considering the strength relevant defects, according to the Italian standard. To determine the mechanical properties of the timber (namely strength and stiffness), four-point bending tests were performed and the main characteristic values were derived. The results of the study reveal that knot ratio was the principal defect that influenced both resistance and yields. The potential strength class D30 was achieved with the resulting characteristic values, although, due to the small number of samples tested, the reached class could not be formally assigned. To improve the effectiveness of the grading rule in the Italian standard, some modifications and a new grade were proposed for the beech sawn timber. Finally the D40 strength class could be theoretically reached, but with reduced yields.
Keywords: Fagus sylvatica, grade, modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, strength class, strength determining defect
Journal: Journal of Forest Science
Pages: 521-528
Volume: 62
Issue: 11
Year: 2016
DOI: 10.17221/93/2016-JFS
File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/93/2016-JFS.html
File-Format: text/html
X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201611-0004.txt
Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:62:y:2016:i:11:id:93-2016-JFS

Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: M. Trishkin
Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Natural Sciences, Syktyvkar State University, Syktyvkar, Russia
Author-Workplace-Name: School of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Science and Forestry, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
Author-Name: E. Lopatin
Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Natural Sciences, Syktyvkar State University, Syktyvkar, Russia
Author-Workplace-Name: Natural Resources Institute Finland, Joensuu, Finland
Author-Name: O. Gavrilova
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Institute of Forest, Engineering and Building Sciences, Petrozavodsk State University, Petrozavodsk, Russia
Title: The potential impact of climate change and forest management practices on Heterobasidion spp. infection distribution in northwestern Russia - a case study in the Republic of Karelia
Abstract: Heterobasidion spp. is considered as a major pathogen which causes butt and root rots and impairs the forest health. The increasing Earth's temperature could be favourable for Heterobasidion spp. in terms of the increased duration of dispersal period. The results of the field work showed that about 35% of visually observed stumps in the southern part of Karelia are rotten, although the laboratory analysis showed that 6% from the total number of observed stumps were infected by Heterobasidion spp. Moreover, there are evident long-term trends of increased average annual temperature and number of days per year with mean temperature above +5°C in the Republic of Karelia. It has positive effects on possible distribution of the pathogen and, consequently increased damage to the wood caused by Heterobasidion spp.
Keywords: butt rot, root rot, pathogen, decay, coniferous
Journal: Journal of Forest Science
Pages: 529-536
Volume: 62
Issue: 11
Year: 2016
DOI: 10.17221/90/2016-JFS
File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/90/2016-JFS.html
File-Format: text/html
X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201611-0005.txt
Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:62:y:2016:i:11:id:90-2016-JFS