Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Shah Badri Mohd Nor Author-Workplace-Name: Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia Author-Workplace-Name: Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Author-Name: Ahmad Fariz Mohamed Author-Workplace-Name: Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Author-Name: Shamsul Khamis Author-Workplace-Name: Fraser's Hill Research Center, Natural and Physical Laboratory Management Center (ALAF-UKM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bukit Fraser, Pahang, Malaysia Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia Title: Forest certification management experience in Asia Pacific and Europe: A case study of Malaysia and Sweden Abstract: The forest certification is a voluntary programme to ensure that the timber harvested from forests is processed in a sustainable manner by following specific standards. The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) was introduced in 1999 using the bottom-up approach, and it gives flexibility for a country to set up their own PEFC standard based on current practices in sustainable forest management (SFM), regulation, and governance. This practice has led to the development of various PEFC standards for each country; thus, the impact of PEFC certification differs from country to country. In accordance with that, this study aimed to evaluate the PEFC standard application in developed and developing countries, namely in Sweden and Malaysia. The study also analysed the impact of forest certification on governance and economic aspects within Asia Pacific and Europe. The outcome of this study indicates that the PEFC standards developed by these countries showed similarities; for example, both countries are focusing on social and environmental requirements. Meanwhile, the differences were shown in the criteria, terms used, and the focus area. The impact analysis exhibited that countries are facing similar issues, especially market access and premium prices. This study revealed that each country develops different standards based on current practices, forest diversification, and regulations. Keywords: economy, governance, Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, sustainable forest management Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 269-285 Volume: 71 Issue: 6 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/3/2025-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3/2025-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-202506-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:71:y:2025:i:6:id:3-2025-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jiantao Zhou Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China Author-Name: Qiao Yang Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China Author-Name: Xin Peng Author-Workplace-Name: School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China Author-Name: Qiqian Wu Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, China Author-Name: Yan Peng Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China Author-Name: Yutong Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China Author-Name: Hualing Jiang Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China Author-Name: Fuzhong Wu Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China Author-Name: Kai Yue Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China Title: Forest transformation effects on the soil water-holding capacity depend on the forest characteristics and soil properties: A case study in the subtropical regions of southeast China Abstract: Forest transformation commonly occurs in subtropical areas due to extensive human disturbance. However, we know little about how forest transformation may affect the soil water-holding capacity. Here, we evaluated the effects of forest transformation from natural forests to secondary forests, Castanopsis carlesii plantations, and Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations on the soil water-holding capacity, including the soil water content (SWC), maximum water holding rate (Rt), capillary holding rate (Rc), and non-capillary water holding rate (Rn), and assessed the influences of soil properties and stand characteristics on the forest transformation effects. The results showed that (i) the soil water-holding capacity in secondary forests increased significantly (SWC: 27.3%; Rt: 50.9%; Rc: 36.9%; Rn: 14.0%), but decreased in the Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations (SWC: 24.6%; Rt: 47.0%; Rc: 34.0%; Rn: 13.0%), compared to the nature forests (SWC: 26.0%; Rt: 48.3%; Rc: 34.9%; Rn: 13.4%); (ii) the soil water-holding capacity was positively correlated with the soil porosity, soil total nitrogen concentration, stand density, but negatively influenced by the soil bulk density and diameter at breast height (DBH); and (iii) the stand density, DBH and litterfall amount were the major factors regulating the soil water-holding capacity after the forest transformation. Overall, these results indicated that the soil water-holding capacity would be strongly altered by the forest transformation, but it depends on the soil properties before the transformation and the characteristics of the transformed forests. Our findings will help to better understand the functions of forests in water source conservation under the pressures of human disturbances and environmental changes. Keywords: Castanopsis carlesii, Cunninghamia lanceolata, soil water relationship, stand characteristics, subtropical forests Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 312-322 Volume: 71 Issue: 6 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/8/2025-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/8/2025-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-202506-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:71:y:2025:i:6:id:8-2025-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Thanapol Choochuen Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand Author-Name: Jiří Foit Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Ponthep Meunpong Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand Author-Name: Warong Suksavate Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand Title: Climate change and topographic variations affect infestation by Xyleutes ceramica (Walker, 1865) (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) in teak plantations in Thailand Abstract: The teak bee-hole borer [Xyleutes ceramica (Walker, 1865)] is considered one of the most serious pests of teak (Tectona grandis) in Thailand. The present study investigates climatic and topographic variables affecting the infestation of teak trees by X. ceramica in 10 plantations and predicts the risk of infestation by the species under current and future climatic conditions in Thailand. At each plantation, 48 plots evenly distributed among twelve teak stands were sampled. The infested teak trees in the plots were assessed, and the coordinates of the tree positions were recorded. The maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model was used to assess the effects of environmental factors and predict the occurrence probability of the species using current and projected (2050) climate data based on the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios from multiple global climate models. According to our results, high accuracy values [AUC (area under the curve) = 0.852, TSS (true skill statistics) = 0.775] of the model prediction were obtained, and the infestation was found to be driven much more by climate than by topographic characteristics. Above all, X. ceramica was found to prefer moderate temperatures in a highly distinct seasonal climate. Additionally, relatively low amounts of premonsoon rainfall are also found to be favoured by the species. The predicted risk map revealed that the northern region is the core area of X. ceramica infestation in Thailand under current and future climatic conditions, but the severity of infestation is predicted to gradually decrease under the predicted future climatic conditions. Recommendations for management to minimise tree damage caused by X. ceramica are also presented in this study. Keywords: cossid moth, ecological requirement, environmental factor, global climate change, maximum entropy (MaxEnt), stem borer, Tectona grandis Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 297-311 Volume: 71 Issue: 6 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/15/2025-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/15/2025-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-202506-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:71:y:2025:i:6:id:15-2025-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jiří Kadlec Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Kateřina Novosadová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Martin Kománek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Radek Pokorný Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Influence of the amount of water on the growth of one species and four hybrids of Paulownia in the first year of cultivation in Central Europe Abstract: A lack or, conversely, an excess of water during the first growing seasons can bring about a slowdown in the growth of plants, their stagnation or even death. The necessary amount of water is not known for most hybrids of Paulownia. Therefore, one species and four hybrids were subjected to three regimes of watering to find out their impacts on plant height, radial growth, the amount of leaf biomass and leaf area. We planted 30 plants of each species/hybrid into plant pots under a shelter. At the end of the growing season, we measured the above-mentioned parameters. Our results showed that: (i) generally, a mean precipitation of 50 mm per month in the growing season ('per month') seems to be insufficient for optimal growth of Paulownia plants in the first years after planting; (ii) each species/hybrid reacts differently to the amount of water - P. Shan Tong grows better with 100 mm per month, P. tomentosa with 150 mm (and more) per month and the growth parameters of the others did not change (and remained low) with different amounts of water (P. Hybrid 9502, P. Bellissia® and P. Clon in vitro 112®). Keywords: crown projection area, height, leaf area, leaf biomass, radial growth Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 286-296 Volume: 71 Issue: 6 Year: 2025 DOI: 10.17221/19/2025-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/19/2025-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-202506-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:71:y:2025:i:6:id:19-2025-JFS