Monitoring reduced impact logging (RIL) activities in sustainably managed forest areas in the Amazon is a costly and complex, yet crucial endeavor. One viable monitoring option is the use of airborne ...laser scanning (LiDAR), which enables estimating forest structure parameters over large areas in a reduced timeframe with high accuracy. In this study, we propose and assess the applicability of five monitoring indicators for RIL based on Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data acquisition in areas under forest concession. Five Annual Production Units (APUs) were investigated within the Forest Management Unit (FMU) III of the Jamari National Forest, located in the Southwest of the Brazilian Amazon. These sites were surveyed by LiDAR in 2014 and 2015 (one year after the exploration). Digital Terrain Models (DTMs), Surface Models (DSMs), and Canopy Height Models (CHMs) were generated for each APU. The proposed indicators were: i. Detection and identification of crown removal in dominant and co-dominant trees above 30 m; ii. Gap detection in the forest canopy; iii. Impacts of Reduced Impact Logging on the Understory; iv. Changes in the vertical canopy profile; and v. Affected areas within Permanent Preservation Areas (PPAs) and restricted areas. There was a 3.95% reduction in the occurrence of taller canopies after RIL, and a higher occurrence of small gaps (λ > 1), with λ values (2.34) being higher in the area with the oldest logging history (APU 1). Gini coefficient values in all APUs were below 0.5, indicating a low intensity of disturbances in the forest canopy. The shape (γ) and scale (β) parameters of the understory and canopy were not significantly correlated with variables related to selective logging. Restricted areas were considered for the allocation of roads, trails, log landings, and places with slopes equal to or >15%, and the indices of areas affected by RIL in PPAs and restricted areas were <2%. The proposed indicators using LiDAR data show great potential for monitoring managed areas in the Amazon and can be utilized by concession companies and government oversight.
•Lambda (λ) values >1 across all areas indicated that gaps of up to 150 m2 were predominant.•Gini coefficient < 0.5 across all APUs, indicating low disturbance in the forest canopy.•The most notable impacts of Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) were attributed to the opening of skid trails.•Permanent Preservation Areas and Restrictive Areas remained unaffected by RIL activities.•LiDAR -derived indicators were found to be suitable for monitoring low-intensity logging in tropical forests.
Research has proved the significance of forests in controlling carbon emissions, however, our research sheds light on the management of existing forests to combat climate change. To examine the role ...of forestation and forest investment activities, dynamic spatial techniques are used for 30 provinces of China. The results suggest that forest investment and management not only reduce carbon locally but also in neighboring provinces. Furthermore, the findings of the current study confirmed that forest investment is the most viable practice to control carbon emissions in China instead of just increasing total forest area. Reforms regarding the management of forests would be a good policy for both pollution reduction and employment generation.
Present study contributes to the existing literature by introducing the role of urban income and urban expenditure to control the carbon emission, especially produced by urbanization. Additionally, ...investment in industrial treatment plant is used to study its impact in carbon reduction. By using the data of 30 Chinese provinces over the period of 2005–2015, we have reported that urbanization and industrialization are main culprits of the carbon emission, whereas the higher urban income leads to decrease the carbon emission that has been caused by urbanization, as mentioned by the negative coefficient of urban income. Moreover, the investment in industrial treatment plants help to reduce the industrial carbon emission. Post-policy estimations have confirmed that forest management can be a useful measure to eradicate the carbon emission. Overall, the findings confirm that higher urban income, industrial carbon treatment plants, and forest investment activities are useful to control the precipitous increase in carbon emission. Given results enhance the existing literature as well as deliver the policy implications to curtail the environmental degradation process.
The European Union's (EU) Green Deal gives increased attention to the sustainability of international product cycles by implementing 'due diligence' requirements. We examine the difficulties in the ...implementation of the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) in two countries with weak management capacities such as Romania and Ukraine. We find that domestic and transnational civil society actors can support the implementation of due diligence requirements mainly by challenging the dominant position of private and state actors engaged in cutting deals with the EU-based wood industry, as well as contributing to increasing politicisation, raising awareness and public mobilisation.
Forests are an important natural resource in Sweden. They are used for multiple purposes, for example, providing economic returns from timber harvest, conservation of biodiversity, provision of wild ...berries and mushrooms and recreational benefits. People's perceptions of forests and forest use are currently under transformation due to drivers like globalization and urbanization. The aim of this study was to analyse in particular Swedish university student's visions of future forests using a newly developed survey method based on mind mapping. An online survey with mind map technique was used to collect data from university students in Umeå, northern Sweden. The study focused on features of forests, products derived from forests and activities in forests. The results indicate that students regard ecological, social and economic aspects of forests as important for future forests and the use of them. In particular, the role of non-wood forest products, like berries and mushrooms, as well as recreational features of forests were central to many of the students. The multitude of different visions suggests that forest management decisions of today, directing the future of forests, need to consider the multiple use of forests to be able to satisfy forest preferences also of younger generations.
There are growing concerns about illegal activities in the forestry sector and some work is in progress to understand the causes and consequences of noncompliance to forestry laws. However, most ...research on illegal forest activities deals with illegal timber harvesting with little efforts on other activities like Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP). In Cameroon, commercial exploitation of most NTFP is regulated by a permit system. However a majority of traders who sell these products do not have the necessary permits. The objective of this paper is to assess and use transactions costs economics (TCs) to explain why traders in Cameroon do not comply with regulations on permits. Results show that the process to obtain permits may require more than 26,000 USD and may require regular monitoring during a time span of more than 4years. Analyses of traders' perceptions illustrate that the major sources of high TCs in the forest sector are the perceived complex administrative procedures and information asymmetry on procedures and the requirements to obtain permits. The study concludes that it is the impracticality to abide to high TCs rather than the inclination to disobey the law that pushes traders to operate without permits.
Forests are an important natural resource in Sweden. They are used for multiple purposes, for example, providing economic returns from timber harvest, conservation of biodiversity, provision of wild ...berries and mushrooms and recreational benefits. People's perceptions of forests and forest use are currently under transformation due to drivers like globalization and urbanization. The aim of this study was to analyse in particular Swedish university student's visions of future forests using a newly developed survey method based on mind mapping. An online survey with mind map technique was used to collect data from university students in Umeå, northern Sweden. The study focused on features of forests, products derived from forests and activities in forests. The results indicate that students regard ecological, social and economic aspects of forests as important for future forests and the use of them. In particular, the role of non-wood forest products, like berries and mushrooms, as well as recreational features of forests were central to many of the students. The multitude of different visions suggests that forest management decisions of today, directing the future of forests, need to consider the multiple use of forests to be able to satisfy forest preferences also of younger generations.
Objective: This study identifies the overall perception of forest activities and different perspectives between pre-service childcare teachers and in-service childcare teachers. The purpose of this ...study provides the base line data for improving the perception of forest activities of preservices childcare and in-services childcare teachers. Methods: The study subjects included 131 pre-service childcare teachers and 122 in-service childcare teacher. To distinguish the differences between the two groups, a x2 test was used after using a t-test and cross analysis. Results: The results of the study are as follows: The pre-service childcare teachers and in-service childcare teachers showed many similarities in the perception of forest activities. Both groups highly recognized the educational effect and necessity of the forest activities. There were differences between the demand of pre-service childcare teachers and in-service childcare teachers in terms of the required quality and degree of intervention of the forest activity teacher and the choice of subject for the forest activities. Both groups showed no difference in the types, suitable weather, environmental aspects, and understanding of the forest activities. Conclusion: Through this study, it was possible to find out the parts to be included in the contents of the training course for pre-services childcare teachers and the education of incumbent childcare teachers, which is expected to have a positive effect on the study of forest activities for children by reflecting this in the curriculum.
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