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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...

In spite that the Hylocomiosa is the second most widespread forest site type in Latvia, the correlations between soil properties, stand structure and ground cover vegetation remain insufficiently studied. The hypothesis of soil heterogeneity within a single forest site type was in ground to research the connection between the woody and ground cover vegetation and the soil parameters within the area of single forest sub quarter. The research was conducted in a young growth of Scots pine, which was characterized usi...

Wind damage causes tree uprooting and breakage, so significantly altering the forest stand structure and stability. The Tervete Nature Park is one of the most important recreational forests in Latvia. However, storms over the last three years have changed the structure of the forest stands in park. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the amount of wind damage and the factors influencing it in forest stands. Fieldwork included the inventory of uprooted and broken trees along a transect line, recording dendrometri...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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) ...

The litterfall (fallen leaves, flowers, fruits and twigs) in the forests represents part of dead plant mass. The quantity and quality of litterfall in forests plays an important role in their state. Through it, a large part of chemical elements is returned to the cycle of the ecosystem, it is an essential carbon depot, it affects regeneration, soil moisture, fertility, composition, fauna and flora. The study presents data on stocks of chemical elements in annual literfall of Western Stara planina. The sample plots...

From a lithological point of view, the studied territory - Central Heating System of Rovinari is made up of deposits and in the depression quaternary deposits are found, belonging to the holocene (gravel and sand). In the Jiu - Motru River the deposits contain 4-6 layers of lignite, of low thickness, so the area was affected by coal extraction. From the point of view of the hydrographic network, except those of the lower order, the waters passing through the region belong to the basin of Jiu and Tismana. These wat...

Bilberries selected from U.P. V. Higigel were investigated for their antioxidative potential using 2,2-dyphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging. In order to determine the total content of polyphenols, the method described by Tamas-Krumpe Octavia and collaborators in 2010 [1] was chosen, consisting in the use of Folin-Ciocalteu reagent 0.2 N and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and the use of gallic acid in different concentrations as a standard. The spectrophotometric determination method based on the formation of the...

Forests play an important role in carbon storage and global carbon cycling. The processes of litter decomposition, movement within the soil, and incorporation into different soil layers play a crucial role in the functioning of forest ecosystems. These activities are important in regulating the cycling of soil organic matter and the storage and release of carbon into the atmosphere. Soil carbon and carbon input via litter has been well-recognized, however studied relatively less compared to other carbon pools, but...

The status, abundance and diversity of soil microbial communities are one of the main basic indicators for the assessment and monitoring of forest ecosystems. In the context of the important role that microorganisms play in forest ecosystems, it is crucial to study and monitor their abundance in soil habitats. In order to supplement the knowledge about the soil microbial communities in the different soil horizons, we studied 16 soil profiles from the territory of Vitosha Nature Park. The soils from tested areas 1-...

This article presents the concept of using neural networks in the recognition of fungi for use in a mobile forest ecosystem inspection robot. There are many dependencies regarding the occurrence of fungi in the vicinity of specific tree species. The presence of some fungi may be the result of a developing tree disease. The possibility of quick recognition of the fungus species using an autonomous mobile robot will allow for faster detection and prevention of the disease in entire ecosystems. An attempt was made to...

The competitiveness of product being offered is very important for company's competitiveness and successful business development. In Bulgarian forestry the main product is timber. It provides more than 85% from the revenues of state enterprises (DP), which are established with art. 163 from Forest Act (ZG), for management of state forest territories. Because of that the goal of this paper is to offer and verify practically applicable approach for complex quantitative assessment of competitiveness of timber, which ...

The territory of Ukraine is characterized by the occurrence of a large number of wildfires, mainly in mixed and coniferous forest ecosystems of Polissia, Forest-Steppe and Ukrainian Carpathians. The frequency of occurrence and destructive consequences of natural fires in forest ecosystems require the adoption of prompt measures aimed at their prevention, localization and liquidation. Monitoring plays the main role in the process of preventing wildfires, since observation, collection, analysis and assessment of qua...

The plant soil relation in an extreme environment was studied with the aim of determining the physiological and/or ecological mechanisms involved in overcoming environmental constraints. In our work we have studied different aspects such as diversity, colonization strategies, dynamics, etc. of the vegetation that appears in a mining environment. The alteration of the soil in these places comes from very varied activities in addition to the chemical peculiarities of the extracted minerals. In short, we can consider...

In this paper, we intended to analyze non-native plant species that spread uncontrollably and have a visible and quantifiable impact in the analyzed area. The analyzed plant species demonstrate a strong invasive character, overwhelming the native plant species. This fact leads to a loss of biodiversity at the local level, but especially to production loss of the useful biomass on the invaded land surfaces. The aim of this paper is to show a practical method of analysis and evaluation of economic losses at the loca...

Forests rank at the top of the natural assets of Romania, both because of their rich biodiversity, and their livelihood-sustaining role. In the ex-socialist countries that entered the tumultuous early-democratic era and faced many socio-economic adjustments, the monitoring of this valuable biome becomes critical for its sustainable management. This study aims to examine 20 years (2001-2020) of forest canopy loss in the Moldavian counties in Romania, using the spatial dataset provided by the GLAD laboratory and the...

We investigated the changes in element content and distribution in peat profile in a study aimed to monitor the geochemical changes accruing in the process of peat accumulation. Changes in the chemical composition of peat ash and underlying sediments have been studied in the central part of the Ubinskoye bog in the foreststeppe zone of Western Siberia. Two parallel peat cores were sampled to a depth of 310 cm. The upper peat layers are characterized by oxidative environment and increased concentrations of elements...