Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Mohsen Mostafa
Author-Workplace-Name: Mazandaran Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research,Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Sari, Iran
Author-Name: Shaban Shataee Jouibary
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Forest Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
Author-Name: Majid Lotfalian
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Sari, Iran
Author-Name: Amir Sadoddin
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Watershed Management, Faculty of Rangeland and Watershed Management, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
Title: Road network designing in a forested watershed using network connectivity indices
Abstract: Designing and constructing a road network is one of the most critical steps of the development process in managing natural resources. The current research is going to investigate the application of network connectivity indices to the analysis of road networks in the forested watershed. First, the road network suitability map (RNSM) was created to emphasize the technical and physiographic criteria and integrated management scenarios using a weighted linear combination (WLC) and analytic network process (ANP). Subsequently, three road network alternatives (RNA) were assigned based on the priorities in the RNSM. In order to try to determine the appropriate alternative, the network connectivity of the designed alternatives looked into the forest and non-forest land uses, as well as the whole study area, using the values of alpha (α), beta (β), gamma (γ), eta (η), network density (ND) and detour indices (DI) in the context of the graph theory. Results show that the road density of the RNA2 variant (11.56 m.ha-1) is shorter than the other alternatives and the existing road network (ERN). In addition, dealing with the whole study area, we realized that the index values which are related to the number two reflect a better status than the other alternatives of alpha, beta, gamma, eta and detour index, in which they were identified to be 0.44, 1.34, 1.16, 0.45 and 0.83, respectively. RNA2 is chosen as the appropriate road network according to the network connectivity, technical and physiographical criteria, along with integrated management scenarios. Further control measures and field surveys are recommended to achieve more relevant results.
Keywords: graph theory, indexes, network alternative, road network suitability map (RNAM)
Journal: Journal of Forest Science
Pages: 229-243
Volume: 69
Issue: 6
Year: 2023
DOI: 10.17221/8/2023-JFS
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Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Hamed Aalipour
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
Author-Name: Ali Nikbakht
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
Author-Name: Jahangir Khajehali
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
Author-Name: Mohammad Taghizadeh
Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Fars, Iran
Title: The beneficial role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on population rates of aboveground herbivory: Zyginella pulchra (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) in plane trees
Abstract: Herbivorous pests and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) coexist on the same host plant, having an indirect effect on one another. We established an experiment in a randomised complete block design with four treatments and six replications to examine the impact of AMF on the population and the damage caused to plane trees by the leafhopper Zyginella pulchra. Manure, manure plus fertiliser, manure plus fertiliser plus AMF, and non-inoculated plants (control) were all of the treatments. The findings revealed that while the nutritional content and soluble carbohydrate content were significantly enhanced by all treatments, they largely reached their peak in the AMF-inoculated plants. When compared to control trees that were not inoculated, the concentrations of N, P, and Zn were boosted by 39%, 81%, and 425%, respectively. AMF inoculation increased the population of Z. pulchra nymphs and adults compared to the control. However, the plants with AMF inoculation eventually suffered greater leaf loss as a result of this rise in the pest population. The findings show that while AMF enhance nutrient absorption and are necessary to improve the nutritional state of the host trees, they also enhance the absorption of pests that are thought to be harmful to plane trees. However, AMF colonisation improved the potential attractiveness of Z. pulchra to plane trees.
Keywords: insect attractiveness,  leaf damage, mycorrhizae, nutritional status, Platanus orientalis
Journal: Journal of Forest Science
Pages: 244-253
Volume: 69
Issue: 6
Year: 2023
DOI: 10.17221/158/2022-JFS
File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/158/2022-JFS.html
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Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Boubaker Khallef
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Earth Sciences , Institute of Architecture and Earth Sciences, University Abbas Ferhat, Sétif, Algeria
Author-Name: Rabah Zennir
Author-Workplace-Name: Planning, Urban and Environmental Analysis Laboratory, Land Planning Department, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Badji Mokhtar-Annaba University, Annaba, Algeria
Title: Forest cover change detection using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index in the Oued Bouhamdane watershed, Algeria - A case study
Abstract: The Algeria forest, particularly in the northeastern region, has undergone profound changes in recent years. The Oued Bouhamdane watershed has a great forest potential, which is threatened by several factors of natural and human origin, resulting in a decrease in forest cover. It requires adequate forest monitoring to support the sustainable forest management of this watershed, which is possible thanks to satellite imagery. The objective of this research is to study the spatiotemporal dynamics of the vegetation cover of the Oued Bouhamdane watershed between 2013 and 2022 using remote sensing data. This study is based on the use of Landsat 8 and 9 images for two dates in 2013 and 2022, and the calculation of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to identify changes in vegetation cover between 2013 and 2022. The calculation of NDVI and the realization of the vegetation change map showed a regression of the forest cover between 2013 and 2022 with a rate of -5.53% of the total of the study area with a general negative change of 28.62% of the study area. This regression is essentially linked to natural and anthropogenic factors. This work can be a valuable tool for sustainable management of the forest of this watershed; moreover, the method is also adaptable to other watersheds of the northeastern region of Algeria.
Keywords: remote sensing, GIS, indices, degradation, Landsat
Journal: Journal of Forest Science
Pages: 254-265
Volume: 69
Issue: 6
Year: 2023
DOI: 10.17221/192/2022-JFS
File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/192/2022-JFS.html
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Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Emanuela Lombardo
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Title: Analysis of the propensity of Italian and German forest owners towards forest certification for ecosystem services
Abstract: This study analyses the perception of the relationship between forest certification and the production of ecosystem services by Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) sustainable forest management (SFM) certification holders. In addition, the psychological constructs that govern the use of certification for ecosystem services are investigated. Specifically, online questionnaire surveys were submitted to a sample of Italian and German forest owners and managers to study reasons for and against and global motives to adopt certification for ecosystem services through the application of Behavioural Reasoning Theory (BRT). Results show that respondents believe that certification can better support ecosystem services related to 'regulation and maintenance' and the conservation of biodiversity. On the other hand, the application of BRT has only been partially useful in explaining the psychological factors towards the adoption of ecosystem services certifications. In any case, attitudes and reasons for certainly had a significant influence on the intention to adopt certifications. Apart from the scientific implications, these results have practical applications for policymakers who can focus on the dissemination of the certification of ecosystem services by trying to support through eco-policies, the attitudes and reasons for expressed by forest owners.
Keywords: behavioural reasoning theory, forest ecosystem services' certification, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), sustainable forest management
Journal: Journal of Forest Science
Pages: 266-276
Volume: 69
Issue: 6
Year: 2023
DOI: 10.17221/193/2022-JFS
File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/193/2022-JFS.html
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