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The complex processes of forest regeneration are important within the overall framework of forest measures aimed at establishing and maintaining forest vegetation, ensuring the continuity of timber production, and, not least, strengthening the ecological stability of forests. The importance of this paper lies in monitoring the artificial regeneration of species in lowland areas. The aim of this study is to analyze the evolution of species in the plantations established in 2014 within U.P. IV Cheveres, Lunca Timisu...

Windbreaks are key components of agricultural landscapes, mitigating wind erosion, protecting crops, enhancing microclimate stability, and supporting biodiversity. Despite their ecological and agronomic importance, spatially comprehensive inventories of windbreaks remain limited, particularly at regional and national scales. This study presents a semi-automated GIS-based method for identifying potential windbreak structures in the Malacky district of western Slovakia. Using the Land Parcel Identification System (L...

Sustainable Development Goal 15 ( Life on Land ) emphasizes the conservation and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems, yet monitoring biodiversity across large landscapes remains a challenge, particularly for species not yet under direct threat but that serve as indicators of ecosystem health. Terrestrial wildlife monitoring has traditionally relied on direct visual observations, such as point counts or mark-recapture methods; however, these approaches can be challenging to apply to highly vagile, cryptic, rare, ...

In 2021 there were approximately 227,360 ha of abandoned land in Latvia. Bauska district has very fertile soil and active farmers, but despite this, agricultural lands are being afforested. The aim of the research is to analyze and evaluate the reasons and results of afforestation of agricultural lands in Bauska district in order to assess under what afforestation conditions the forest is most successfully grown. Seven properties were afforested in 2019, with a total area of 23.48 ha. Each property was divided int...

In recent years, various crises have occurred around the world. There has been the financial crisis, the crisis related to the Covid-19 pandemic, the migration crisis, and now we are in times of armed conflict, and the crisis related to the war in Ukraine. Companies are operating in times of great uncertainty. In many of them, managers are abandoning policies focused on increasing profits and trying to ensure the possibility of continuing business operations. Changes in management policies are visible, shifting to...

Soil is an essential component of ecosystems, one of the most important natural resources and a significant factor in maintaining ecosystem health and biodiversity. Since 2002, the LUCAS (Land Use/Cover Area Frame Statistical Survey) project has been regularly implemented in the European Union to obtain data on changes in land cover and land use patterns, various environmental indicators, as well as indicators characterizing soil properties. Field studies were conducted and soil samples were taken within the frame...

Based on literature survey and M. Porter's diamond a system of internationally comparable indicators is substantiated, which characterizes the competitiveness of forestry at national level of fourteen European union (EU) member states. The indicators are as of 2022, and are: area of wooded land per capita; growing stock per hectare; net annual increment per hectare; roundwood removals under bark per hectare; output of forestry per hectare, labour productivity, net entrepreneurial income per hectare, gross fixed ca...

In recent years, wildfires have become more frequent, intense, and long-lasting due to the combined effects of climate change, including prolonged droughts, rising temperatures, and shifting weather patterns. These conditions, along with expanding urban development in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) zones, have increased risks to human life, infrastructure, and ecosystems. Tools that are used to simulate wildfires are very useful and effective in fire risk management. In this paper, and under the framework of the p...

Latvia is one of the most forested countries in Europe, with forests covering approximately 53% of the country s territory. Forest regeneration often involves the creation of monocultures, which can harm biodiversity and forest sustainability. Intensive planting and the replacement of natural forests with uniform stands increase the vulnerability of forest ecosystems in the long term. Increasing climatic stress is a primary factor contributing to the widespread presence of the European spruce bark beetle (Ips typo...

The efficiency of the possessed forest resources in relation to gross value added (GVA) produced in forestry of fourteen European Union member states (Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden) in 2022 is assessed by means of Data envelopment analysis (DEA), an input-oriented BCC model with variable returns to scale (VRS). On this grounds is established that in the forestry of 7 EU member states (Austria (0,89), Bulgaria (0,71), Croatia (0...

Agroforestry and agrovoltaics are emerging as key strategies for sustainable land use, combining economic, environmental and social benefits. The integration of digital technologies, AI and blockchain-based solutions increases the transparency, efficiency and scalability of agroforestry projects. Ukraine, with its strong agricultural sector, faces challenges related to climate change, resource depletion and war-induced environmental damage. The study is based on a comprehensive analysis of scientific literature, s...

Albania faces increasing wildfire pressure amid hot, dry summers, where extreme temperatures and prolonged drought intensify fire danger. To assess how meteorological fire-danger signals correspond to real wildfire outcomes, this study examines the coherence of the Fire Weather Index (FWI) with two key indicators fire occurrence and fire extension using daily data for July August 2017 2021. FWI values were derived from EFFIS daily rasters for all twelve qarks. At the same time, fire counts and burned-area data wer...

The growth course properties of grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) on different site types are still insufficiently researched, especially, if to compare the forest and abandoned agricultural lands. Due to the species relatively high prevalence in private forest areas in Latvia, which according to the forestry statistics data, equaled 11% in 2023, it has crucial significance to the economy. The paper analyses 40-year-old grey alder stands on abandoned agricultural land, forest land, and forests along the rivers...

This study presents a hexagonal-based geoinformation approach for monitoring forest ecosystems and detecting anomalous changes in Ukraine, where forest resources are under severe anthropogenic and military pressure. Using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, vegetation indices were processed to classify vegetation dynamics and identify areas of significant degradation. A hexagonal spatial partitioning method was applied to improve spatial accuracy, reduce edge effects, and support the quantitative assessment of forest co...

Green space is an integral part of human life. Many aspects of the population's activity and well-being are associated with this process. Green space is equally important for both rural and urban settlements. Tbilisi, Georgia, is a city where the loss of green space has recently intensified due to excessive urban sprawl. However, this growth is not well planned in most cases. Accordingly, analysis of green space dynamics is crucial for strategic planning in Tbilisi. However, there is a lack of similar data for Tbi...

Sclerocarya birrea (marula) is a key multipurpose species in West African agroforestry and silvopastoral systems, essential for ecological stability, biodiversity conservation, and rural livelihoods. This study examines phenotypic variation in growth traits of S. birrea in northern Ferlo, Senegal, across three sites: Amaly, Tessekere, and Labgar. Field measurements focused on morphometric parameters influencing tree growth, including diameter at breast height, canopy diameter, and total height. Multiple regression...

As a result of rapid climate change, forest ecosystems are transforming, leading to insect outbreaks, such as the large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis L.). In Europe, the pine weevil is considered one of the most significant pests of coniferous trees, causing substantial financial losses estimated at around - 120 million annually. To limit or reduce the impact of this pest, it is essential to take preventive measures; otherwise, in unprotected stands, the extent of damage can reach 60-80%. Damage caused by the weev...

In the more developed European countries, because of the importance given to the poplar species, research in this field has increased, while feeling the need to set up an international coordinating forum. Due to the particularly rapid growth, poplar crops soon produce an important quantity of wood mass that satisfies to an increasing extent the wood needs of society. The wood of this species, with special characteristics, has multiple industrial uses: Timber and light packaging, fibro-woody plates and plywood, fur...

The goal of present paper is to study the influence of investments and forest resources on gross value added in forestry. To achieve this goal are used comparable data from Eurostat for the period 2015-2022 for 12 European union (EU) member states: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Sweden. A panel regression model with fixed time effects is specified. The dependent variable is the gross value added per hectare (euro/ha) and as regressors are used...

This study aimed to investigate carbon storage dynamics in pure pine, oak, and mixed forests within a one-hectare area. Tree samples were collected to measure their weight, size, and density. Each type of forest was estimated how much carbon is hold per hectare. The findings revealed significant differences in carbon storage capacities among them. Pure oak forests emerged as the top carbon reservoirs, with 57% of their trees' mass comprising carbon. Pure pine forests followed closely with 51% carbon storage. Inter...

Remote sensing (RS) imagery is widely used to assess and detect environmental changes in various areas and the numerous methods resulting from natural and human activities. To understand landscape change, including the role of windbreaks in agricultural regions, RS datasets are essential. Detected by the CORINE Land Cover (CLC) project, agricultural landscapes have undergone changes such as an increase in complex cropping patterns by 164.19% and in pastures by 15.3%, but a decrease in coniferous forest by 10.19% a...

The research aims to examine the pace of growth of lodgepole pine, the amount of damage caused by biungulates and the quality of trunks for lodgepole pine provenances growing in the western part of Latvia in the areas around Ugale and Kuldiga, identifying the most damage-resistant and promising provenances for cultivation in Latvia. In Latvia, foresters and plant breeders have been working for years to increase the quality and productivity of local tree species, while assessing various forest stand management patt...

The research aims to identify changes in the biometric measurements and demographic structure of game ducks living on Lake Engure. Game management in Latvia as well as the entire Northern Europe is an important segment of the economy, which has rich and ancient traditions. Although a small segment of society perceives game management as the killing of animals, which is not the case, it should be understood that it represents an economic activity resulting in limiting the animal population, which can increase rapid...

Out of the 36 "hot spots" of global biodiversity, Georgia is part of the Caucasus and Iran-Anatolian hot spots. In the Caucasus ecoregion, two refugia have been identified: the Colchic and Hyrcanian. Adjara is part of the Colchis Refugium, it is the richest floristic region in the Caucasus in terms of the number of plant species per unit area. In the flora of Adjara, up to 1837 species of plants are recorded. The genus Hypericum L. stands out for its variety of species, it is represented by 18 species in Georgia, ...

In Ukraine, as well as all regions of the world, deforestation processes are taking place. Monitoring forests in real-time is one of the key ways to solve the problem of deforestation. Satellite technologies make it possible to do this promptly and in time and space. In this research, the online platform Google Earth Engine was used, which provides access to remote sensing data and geospatial data sets with analysis capabilities. The research was conducted for the period 2001-2023 at the regional level and each ad...

Climate change manifest itself as increased natural disturbances. These effects can be reduced by planting adapted forest reproductive material. Such plantation ensure the source of raw material for bioeconomy, but are affected by dendrophagous insects, including pine weevil (Hylobius abietis). This species is estimated to cause 120 million EUR financial losses annually. Untreated coniferous seedlings have very high mortality, therefore pesticides are applied in nurseries, before delivering the plants to forest. U...

Today about 10% of Latvia's territory is occupied by peatlands (645,100 ha), but the extraction of peat happens in only 4% (25,739 ha) of the total. In regulatory documents peat bogs are mentioned as having a very high probability of flammability (in the context of climate change and other natural elements: drought, heat, lightning and deliberate or unintentional human activity). This indicates the need to improve fire safety by conducting research and improving regulatory frameworks. The aim of the study was to a...

Forest ground vegetation biomass plays a significant role in carbon (C) storage and contributes to the overall carbon pool of forest ecosystems. Ground vegetation, including understory plants, shrubs, and grasses, not only affects carbon sequestration through photosynthesis but also contributes to the carbon cycle as it decomposes and release carbon into atmosphere and soil. This process adds to soil organic matter and affects it carbon dynamics. Understanding the above and below-ground biomass of forest ground ve...

This review provides an overview of the diversity of macromycetes (fungi with visible fruiting bodies) in Mtirala national park beech forests, highlighting their ecological roles and significance within these ecosystems. Mtirala National Park is a protected area in Adjara region, Western Georgia. It is part of the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mtirala National Park Colchic broad-leaved and mixed forests include sweet chestnut and Oriental beech woods. Mount Mtirala is one of the m...

This study examines the impact of the risk of illegal logging on landscape permeability in a region where 8,060 km? of the total area is covered by forests. According to official data, 29% of this forested area is located in zones at risk of illegal logging. Given that forests play a crucial role in maintaining landscape permeability and ecological connectivity, the study employs the CSI index, which integrates the risk of illegal logging, to assess how these activities affect the ecological integrity and function...

In economic forests, the productivity of forest stands should be increased as much as possible, because the global demand for timber is growing every year. Planted forest trees can be realized using the advantages of selection, naturally regenerated - faster growth can be achieved by improving the growing conditions and limiting factors that reduce or delay the formation of growth. Data were collected in 6-year-old P.sylvestris forest stands Cladinoso-callunosa and Vacciniosa. The plots were established in an area...

The study of coenotic species in forest herb layers enables detection of ecosystem-level changes, with research in protected areas providing a foundation for long-term monitoring. This study assessed Stellaria holostea L. populations in forest phytocoenoses of Desniansko-Starohutskyi National Nature Park, typical of the Sumy Polissia region. Populations were surveyed in various forest types: Pinetum (sylvestris) convallarioso (majalis) - hylocomiosum, Pinetum (sylvestris) vaccinioso (myrtilli) - moliniosum (caerul...

Several species of Bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) are capable of causing significant amounts of tree mortality in conifer forests throughout much of the world and in the South Caucasian Mountain as well. In the paper, is discussed about species diversity of harmful bark beetles, which are damage and cause the decline of the Picea orientalis, in the conifer forest of Shuakhevi and Khulo municipalities of Adjara (Western Georgia), at an altitude of 700-1500 m a.s.l. This is one of the current problems in spru...

Understanding the principles of self-thinning forest ecosystems is essential for taking modern management techniques into practice. The spatial distribution of the surviving trees in a stand is influenced by a variety of factors, including tree mortality. In young forests, competition has a major role in determining spatial mortality; in older forests, random changes in the environment have a major role. The dynamics of the number of living and dead trees in the forests of central Lithuania will be addressed in th...

Landscape and ecosystem preservation represents an integrated approach for conserving healthy and interconnected ecosystems. In order to maintain high-quality habitats and maximising the ecosystem services is crucial to have a good bond between connected areas. On both the Romanian and European levels, the backbone of these interconnected areas is formed by Natura 2000 networks [1] The objectives of our study aim to address the Biodiversity 2030 Directive, which mandates the establishment of a coherent network of ...

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of plant parasitic nematodes in the main potatoe growing area in Ajara and to show whether altitu-dinal gradient affects nematode diversity and community structure along three contrasting altitudinal localities of Ajara: Kobuleti (10 m.a.s.l), Shuakhevi (450 m.a.s.l) and Khulo (950 -1800 m.a.s.l). The first part of this study is to assess for the first time the taxonomic and ecological structure of plant parasitic and free-living nematodes in agroecosystems of K...

Potatoes is the fourth important food crop worldwide after maize, wheat, and rice and are grown in more than 100 countries worldwide under temperate, subtropical and tropical conditions, however, they are considered as cool temperature crop. Potato is one of the most important food crops in Georgia and potato growing has always been the subject of great importance for settlement of food supply problems in country. Potato crops are severely affected by approximately forty soil borne diseases worldwide including tho...

The aim of the research is to find out how the forest ground vegetation changes in forest pasture where wild horses are allowed to graze, and what impact their grazing in the forest have on the vegetation and how the situation changes in a forest stand where animals are allowed to graze and, in a forest, stand of the same type without grazing. So far forest pastures practically have not been studied, but forest management using animals especially in private forestry is becoming more and more relevant. Almost no si...

Sunflower and maize are two crops of particular importance, especially in the current context of the food crisis, cultivated on large areas worldwide, used both for animal and human nutrition. This study proposed to test the effectiveness of several types of foliar fertilizers with urea, for the two previously mentioned crops, in the pedo-climatic conditions of West of Romania, and the type of soil chosen for experimentation was Cambic Chernozem. The chemical compounds used for fertilizing crops were different ure...

In recent years, the use of trail paths for recreation and tourism has seen remarkable growth in many countries. Trail paths have several benefits for the local community, people's physical and mental health, and for offsetting degraded grassland ecosystems. The objective of the study was to assess the effect of trail paths on grassland ecosystems in the Prefecture of Xanthi in northern Greece. The SWOT-AHP hybrid method was used. The criteria of the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) method ...

Broadleaved forest distribution in Europe and in Latvia is relatively small. Small-leaved lime Tilia cordata Mill. stands are even rarer, so it is important to study and protect them, as well as to assess their biodiversity and future potential. The aim of research is to investigate and assess the vegetation in lime forest stands. In total, 12 plots have been established for long-term monitoring of lime stands. In the sample plots, the survey of growing trees, dead wood, the inventory of vegetation species and the...

Climate change is a topic of worldwide relevance, not only because of the recent heat waves affecting the globe as a whole but also because of the importance of conserving the ecologically balanced environment itself. Climate is a vital aspect of human survival and ecological balance. With this in mind, the world is turning its attention to Brazil and the Amazon rainforest, the target of recurrent attacks that have resulted in high percentages of deforestation. It is known that since the signing of the Amazon Coop...

The article presents the results of satellite remote sensing to assess the consequences of hostilities in nature protected areas. Since February 24, 2022, 20% of the nature reserve fund of Ukraine has suffered from the war. The real level of damage to the objects of the nature reserve fund as a result of the war cannot be estimated. After all, active hostilities continue, and restrictions are created for environmental activities in the temporarily occupied territories. Therefore, remote monitoring is the only tool...

It is well known that woodpeckers and their distribution is mostly affected by deadwood. However, in Latvia there have not been any studies about how other forest structural components like growing trees and vegetation can affect distribution of woodpeckers and their choice of habitats. In recent years estimation of ecosystem services has become popular in Latvia and it is used in nature conservation matters. The aim of the research was to analyse structures characterizing the habitats of broadleaf forests and ide...

Forests provide humanity with essential raw materials, and the demand for these materials is growing, especially in conditions where it is necessary to replace the use of fossil resources with renewable ones. Latvia-s import of timber from Russia and Belarus has increased 8 times in 2021, when comparing 2013, reaching 33% of timber import value. Current geopolitical situation and supply chain sustainability calls for necessity to evaluate possibility to reduce the dependency on the timber import from Russia and Be...

Forest ecosystems are essential when dealing with climate change mitigation goals. Carbon stock of forest stand can hold substantial amounts of carbon as well products made from wood provide substitution effect, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Silvicultural practices, such as drainage, have proven to be highly efficient of enhancing tree volume, aligning with climate change mitigation goals. As forest drainage disruption for rewetting of drained areas gains momentum with appealing goals such as enhancing biolog...

The main objective of this study is to analyze the demographic structure and spatial distribution of Quercus canariensis populations in the Ouled Bechih forest in northeastern Algeria. Knowledge of these parameters is an essential step in their sustainable management. Sample inventory plots measuring 30m x 30m (900m2) were identified by random sampling. Tree diameter at 1.30 m above the ground and total height of Q. canariensis were measured for each tree in four inventory plots. The demographic structures were es...

Bogs of Darwin Biosphere reserve (southern NW Russia) represent sustain ecosystem balance on an outstandingly large scale. Dynamics of the bog metabolism and structure should be estimated both under the influence of the Rybinsk reservoir and beyond it (in terms of natural evolution), although these cannot always be distinguished clearly. Forested bog areas are most sensible ecosystems to trace decadal or centennial dynamics of the landcover. Longstanding observations of the geobotanical and forest structure have b...

In this study, we conducted the plant population investigations in the Goettingen forest, located in Low Saxony, Germany, from 2022 to 2023. Our research focused on six distinct populations of Stellaria holostea L. across six plots within the forest. These plots encompassed varying tree species and forest management conditions, including a young beech managed forest (Plot #1), a virgin beech forest (Plot #2), and four managed old beech forest plots (Plots #3-6) subjected to different anthropogenic influences. To a...

Identification and quantification of the factors that influence genetic diversity is particularly important for the representatives of the genus Quercus L. In this genus, the characterization of the genetic diversity correlations can serve as a basis for predictive models of its distribution. The adaptive and neutral genetic variability of four autochthonous oak species (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. - sessile oak, Q. pubescens Willd. - pubescent oak, Q. frainetto Ten. - Hungarian oak, Q. cerris L. - Turkey oak) ...