Effects of Environmental Changes on Forest Growth and Stability

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecophysiology and Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2022) | Viewed by 11892

Special Issue Editor

Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
Interests: adaptive forest management; carbon forestry; climate change; silviculture; water balance

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As we all know, since the 17th century, the human population and the use of natural resources have rapidly increased worldwide, and the environmental conditions that had been stable for more or less two thousand years have changed considerably—and this is what scientists call the “global climate change” (GCC). Among these environmental changes, we have air elevated [CO2], as the most likely initiating GCC factor, nitrogen deposition, increasing [O3], persisting effect of air pollution, changes in the bio-chemical properties of soil, weather extremes (high or low air temperatures, frequent droughts and floods, wind-storms, etc.). Forests, as the final evolution phase of terrestrial ecosystems, play an important role within the climatic system of the Earth from the viewpoint of mass and energy transfer. Forest ecosystems are affected by environmental changes across all developmental phases. Due to different forest management approaches, natural forest structures have been modified to meet the demands of society. The environmental changes can affect natural, as well as artificial, forest structures, their growth and development in many ways.

Therefore, the objective of this Special Issue is to introduce the most recent research results on the effects of environmental changes on forest growth and stability via a series of papers focusing on old-growth forests, managed forests and measures for adaptation to GCC or other changing environmental factors.

Dr. Radek Pokorný
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Adaptation Strategies
  • Carbon Sequestration
  • Ecosystem Services
  • Forest Growth and Productivity
  • Global Climate Change
  • Impacts of Disturbances
  • Risks
  • Timber Production
  • Vegetation Modeling and Predictions

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1927 KiB  
Article
Comparison of the Biomass and Dendrometric Parameters of Norway Spruce with Its Different Representations in Young Stands at Lower Altitudes in the Czech Republic
by Kateřina Novosadová, Jiří Kadlec, Martin Kománek and Radek Pokorný
Forests 2023, 14(2), 185; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f14020185 - 18 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1239
Abstract
In forestry, it is still common to plant the seedlings of and cultivate Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) at lower altitudes; however, the climatic change that has been occurring increases evaporative demands in these areas. As a result, the spruce evidently [...] Read more.
In forestry, it is still common to plant the seedlings of and cultivate Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) at lower altitudes; however, the climatic change that has been occurring increases evaporative demands in these areas. As a result, the spruce evidently suffers from drought, withers and loses its power to grow, thus, influencing stem thickness and tree-height growth, as well as biomass production. Therefore, the growth and biomass production of young (5-, 15- and 25-year-old) Norway spruce stands at these altitudes (i.e., from 200 to 500 m a.s.l.) was surveyed, as a case study, across the Training Forest Enterprise “Masaryk Forest” Křtiny. There, 48 stands with a varied representation of spruce (i.e., up to 30%, 31%–60%, 61%–90% and over 91%) were analyzed. In each stand, 12 trees were sampled across all social status classes (i.e., sub-dominant, co-dominant and dominant) in detail. Basic dendrometric parameters (such as the total tree height, height of the crown base and stem diameter at breast height) and the amount of the above-ground tree organ biomass (i.e., stem, branches and needles) were investigated. Based on the trends found in the biomass production here and climate change predictions, we recommend that Norway spruce be cultivated only in zones from an altitude of ca 400 m a.s.l., with an annual precipitation of 700 mm and an average annual temperature of 7 °C, and its percentage representation in the stand be no more than 30%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environmental Changes on Forest Growth and Stability)
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13 pages, 1706 KiB  
Article
Developing a Yield Table and Analyzing the Economic Feasibility for Acacia Hybrid Plantations in Achieving Carbon Neutrality in Southern Vietnam
by Sang-Hyun Lee, Dong-Hyuk Kim, Jin-Heon Jeong, Seung-Hyun Han, Seongjun Kim, Hee-Jung Park and Hyun-Jun Kim
Forests 2022, 13(8), 1316; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13081316 - 17 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1590
Abstract
To achieve the goal of carbon neutrality, overseas plantation projects have been conducted in several countries, including Vietnam. In the present study, stand growth models and a yield table were developed and used to analyze the economic feasibility of Acacia hybrid plantations in [...] Read more.
To achieve the goal of carbon neutrality, overseas plantation projects have been conducted in several countries, including Vietnam. In the present study, stand growth models and a yield table were developed and used to analyze the economic feasibility of Acacia hybrid plantations in southern Vietnam. Diameter at breast height, tree height, and number of trees were determined in the field; basal area, mean height, dominant tree height, stand density, and stand volume were estimated using in situ data. The initial number of trees increased for five years and reached 4947 trees ha−1; tree numbers then decreased to 1987 trees ha−1 until the stands reached ten years of age. The highest current annual increment of stand volume was shown to be 46.23 m3 ha−1 yr−1 when stands were 7 years old. For 7 years of stand age, the net present value was USD 1566/ha, and the internal rate of return was 13%, exceeding the market interest rate (4%). Therefore, an A. hybrid plantation is a reasonable proposition for an overseas plantation project in southern Vietnam and the growth models will be useful for the management of an A. hybrid plantation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environmental Changes on Forest Growth and Stability)
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16 pages, 2583 KiB  
Article
Stimulation, Reduction and Compensation Growth, and Variable Phenological Responses to Spring and/or Summer–Autumn Warming in Corylus Taxa and Cornus sanguinea L.
by Kristine Vander Mijnsbrugge, Jessa May Malanguis, Stefaan Moreels, Arion Turcsán and Eduardo Notivol Paino
Forests 2022, 13(5), 654; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13050654 - 22 Apr 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1830
Abstract
Understanding species-specific responses to climate change allows a better assessment of the possible impact of global warming on forest growth. We studied the responses of the shrub species Corylus avellana L., Corylus maxima Mill. and intermediate forms, together stated as the Corylus taxa, [...] Read more.
Understanding species-specific responses to climate change allows a better assessment of the possible impact of global warming on forest growth. We studied the responses of the shrub species Corylus avellana L., Corylus maxima Mill. and intermediate forms, together stated as the Corylus taxa, and Cornus sanguinea L. upon periodically elevated temperatures in spring and/or in summer–autumn. Experiments were performed in a common garden, with Belgian and Pyrenean provenances for Corylus avellana and Cornus sanguinea. In the Corylus taxa, a warmer spring resulted in a reduction in height and diameter growth. Remarkably, the reduced diameter increment was restored with full compensation in the following year. The height increment for Cornus sanguinea was larger upon a warmer summer–autumn, concurring with a later leaf senescence. Our results suggest that Corylus is more sensitive to spring warming, influencing growth negatively, whereas Cornus is more sensitive to summer–autumn warming, influencing height growth positively. These deviating responses can be explained, at least partly, by their diverging ecological niches, with the Corylus taxa being more shade-tolerant compared to Cornus sanguinea. The warm spring conditions advanced bud burst in all studied taxa, whereas the warm summer–autumn advanced leaf senescence but prolonged its duration in the Corylus taxa, as well as delayed this phenophase in Cornus sanguinea. Little to no after-effects of the temperature treatments were detected. Although Corylus avellana and Cornus sanguinea plants originated from similar origins, their growth and phenological responses in the common garden diverged, with Corylus being more stable and Cornus displaying more variation between the Belgian and Pyrenean provenances. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environmental Changes on Forest Growth and Stability)
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21 pages, 6758 KiB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Evaluation and Driving Mechanism of Land Ecological Security in Yan’an, a Typical Hill-Gully Region of China’s Loess Plateau, from 2000 to 2018
by Zhaoquan He, Xue Shang and Tonghui Zhang
Forests 2021, 12(12), 1754; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f12121754 - 12 Dec 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2000
Abstract
Forest landscape restoration and ecosystem of Loess Plateau have enhanced prominently, since the policy implementation (1999) of the Grain for Green Project in China. Land ecological security (LES) performs an extremely critical function for protecting vulnerable land resources and sustaining forest ecosystem stability. [...] Read more.
Forest landscape restoration and ecosystem of Loess Plateau have enhanced prominently, since the policy implementation (1999) of the Grain for Green Project in China. Land ecological security (LES) performs an extremely critical function for protecting vulnerable land resources and sustaining forest ecosystem stability. Predecessors’ studies substantially concentrate on biophysical and meteorologic variables using numerous grounded methodologies, little research has been launched on systematic natural-socio-economic-ecological relationships and how these contributions and regulations for LES evaluation. Here, pressure-state-response (PSR) model was used to establish the evaluation system of LES in regional-scale, and LES was classified into five levels measured by ecological security index (S), including high (S ≥ 0.75), medium−high (0.65 ≤ S < 0.75), medium (0.55 ≤ S < 0.65), medium−low (0.45 ≤ S < 0.55), and low (S < 0.45) level, for systematically analyzing its spatiotemporal distribution characteristic and response mechanism to explanatory variables in Yan’an, northwest China, from 2000 to 2018. The results demonstrated that: (1) LES status was mainly characterized by medium−high level and medium level, and maintained profound stability. (2) zone with medium−high LES level was mainly concentrated in western and southern regions, continuously expanding to northeast regions, and possessed the largest territorial area, accounting for 37.22–46.27% of the total area in Yan’an. (3) LES was primarily susceptible to normalized differential vegetation index, vegetation coverage, and land surface temperature with their optimal impacting thresholds of 0.20–0.64, 0.20–0.55, and 11.20–13.00 °C, respectively. (4) Normalized differential vegetation index and vegetation coverage had a significant synergistic effect upon LES based on their interactive explanation rate of 31% and had significant variation consistency (positive and negative) with LES, which were powerfully suggested to signal the intensification of the regional eco-security level in the persistent eco-greening process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environmental Changes on Forest Growth and Stability)
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16 pages, 3492 KiB  
Article
Evaluating Recent and Future Climatic Suitability for the Cultivation of Norway Spruce in the Czech Republic in Comparison with Observed Tree Cover Loss between 2001 and 2020
by Petr Čermák, Tomáš Mikita, Jan Kadavý and Miroslav Trnka
Forests 2021, 12(12), 1687; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f12121687 - 02 Dec 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1907
Abstract
The high portion of secondary Norway spruce in Central European forests constitutes a major problem because a significant part of these forests is moving further away from their original bioclimatic envelope. The precise evaluation and prediction of climatic suitability are needed for the [...] Read more.
The high portion of secondary Norway spruce in Central European forests constitutes a major problem because a significant part of these forests is moving further away from their original bioclimatic envelope. The precise evaluation and prediction of climatic suitability are needed for the implementation of forest adaptation strategies. We evaluated climatic suitability for the cultivation of Norway spruce in the Czech Republic forests, making use of the Random Forest combined learning statistical method. The evaluation presented was based on a comparison with the climatic normal period 1961–1990; change analysis was carried out for the period 1991–2014 and projected for 2021–2040 and 2041–2060. We found that suitable conditions for Norway spruce will remain only in 11.3% by area of Czech forests in the period 2041–2060 vs. 46.0% in the period 1961–1990. We also compared tree cover loss data (using Global Forest Watch) from 2001 to 2020 with statistics on salvage logging. In the period, the cover loss affected 19.5% of the area with more than 30% Norway spruce. The relationships between relative tree cover loss and the percentage of salvage logging caused by insects were conclusive and statistically significant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environmental Changes on Forest Growth and Stability)
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12 pages, 1892 KiB  
Article
Effects of Planting Density on Morphological and Photosynthetic Characteristics of Leaves in Different Positions on Cunninghamia lanceolata Saplings
by Zhijun Huang, Qingqing Liu, Bo An, Xiaojian Wu, Linjun Sun, Pengfei Wu, Bo Liu and Xiangqing Ma
Forests 2021, 12(7), 853; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f12070853 - 28 Jun 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2365
Abstract
The improvement of the stand yield and economic benefits of Cunninghamialanceolata (Lamb.) Hook, one of the most important plantation trees in China, has always been a concern. An appropriate planting density plays an important role in increasing productivity. To determine the optimum [...] Read more.
The improvement of the stand yield and economic benefits of Cunninghamialanceolata (Lamb.) Hook, one of the most important plantation trees in China, has always been a concern. An appropriate planting density plays an important role in increasing productivity. To determine the optimum planting density of C. lanceolata, we measured leaf morphology, gas exchange parameters, and photosynthetic pigments in replicate leaves on 4-year-old saplings grown in four canopy positions under a low (D1), medium (D2), and high (D3) planting density (approximately 900, 2505, and 6660 trees·ha−1, respectively). We then ranked trait variations using the coefficient of variation to explore the influence of planting density. Planting density significantly influenced the leaf morphology, gas exchange parameters, and the photosynthetic pigment contents of C. lanceolata. Medium planting density (D2) resulted in a larger leaf area and specific leaf areas, a higher net photosynthesis rate, and higher photosynthetic pigment contents. The responses of leaf gas exchange parameters had the most plastic traits that responded to planting density. An appropriate planting density and leaf position might improve C. lanceolata leaf morphology and physiological attributes, which in turn would facilitate growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environmental Changes on Forest Growth and Stability)
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