Forestry Ideas

3-9

Authors: Vasil Kolev

The populations of Maritsa barbel fish (Barbus cyclolepis Heckel, 1848) are under increasing anthropogenic pressure, necessitating constant monitoring and assessment of the demographic indicators of this endemic and protected species. The study empirically proves the utility of a hitherto theoretically-defined method of Marinov (1964) for determining the population sex structure. It uses the difference in the height of the anal fin between male and female the Maritsa barbels in order to determine the sex of a fish specimen. The empirical investigation, undertaken in order to test the method, utilized a large sample of 518 fish specimens, caught in the Chepinska River, outside of the spawning seasons, during the time period 2006–2010. The results are then compared with those, obtained from a smaller sample, caught in the same river in the years 2010–2011, during a period in which all mature individuals will have formed gonads. The comparative analysis of the results from the two samples proves the accuracy of the method for determining juvenile fish sex and thus provides a comprehensive representation of the sex structure of Maritsa barbel populations. Empirically proving the utility of the theoretical model entails two important conclusions for assessing the reproductive potential and estimating the stock size of the fish. First, this morphological peculiarity of the Maritsa barbel permits the accurate determination of its population sex structure throughout the year, not only during the spawning season. Consequently, no killing of fish from this endemic species would be necessary in order to monitor the populations.

20-36

Authors: Nikita Debkov

Some global markets’ demand towards sustainable forest management is contributing to the displacement of national governments as the central source of environmental rule-making authority. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a particularly innovative example of a voluntary nonstate market-driven governance mechanism. Hosting the largest proportion of the global forest resources the Russian Federation is particularly important arena for forest certification. A new Russian forest management FSC standard based on International Generic Indicators is planned for approval at the beginning of 2019. It is thus crucial to understand what this voluntary mechanism identifies as barriers to different aspects of sustainable forest management. We assessed the overall state of FSC forest management certification in Russia by analysing quantitative and qualitative variables of non-conformities exhibited regarding (1) regional specifics, (2) size of forest management units of certificate holders, (3) certification bodies and (4) type of evaluation. The current state of FSC forest management certification in Russia is characterized by the dominance of the certified area in the European part of the country, where its density is 3–4 times higher. The geographic location of various certification bodies has been established; in particular, LLC ‘Forest certification’ dominate in Siberia, ‘SGS Qualifor’ in Far East, and the rest are operating mainly in the European part. As a result of the analysis, no differences were revealed in the number of non-conformities exposed due to the size of forest management units and their geographical location. In most cases, there is no significant difference between the certification bodies. However, we reliably found a greater number of non-conformities exhibited by LLC ‘Forest certification’ in comparison with ‘NEPCon’. In addition, a significant difference is found between the number of non-conformities and the type of evaluation. Principles 6, 8, and 9 are more problematic, with a higher frequency of non-conformities.

49-55

Authors: Chrysto Myhailov, Gradimir Gruychev, and Nikolay Nenchev

The aim of the study is to establish the breeding success of Rock partridge (Alectoris graeca graeca Meisner, 1804), rearing in semi natural conditions. In 2014, in the western part of Stara Planina Mountain, we built light demountable aviary for raising Rock partridge. The location of the cage falls within the natural range of the Rock partridge. They were placed in typical of the species habitats. In each aviary with an area as about 300 square meters 4 males and 4–5 females were settled. Of a total of 73 nests surveyed for the entire study period in 22 (30.1 %) of cases nesting was unsuccessful. In 54 cases, the bird chose artificial nests or built nests around the facilities of the aviary. In 19 cases they chose natural places to build nests. The average clutch size during the experimental period 2014–2017 was 8.4±2.9 (2–13) (mean ± sd. min–max). The hatchability was 74.3 % ± 10.3 % (60–88.9 %) (n=11). The survival rate of fledglings to 90 days was 64.4 %. The breeding success was similar for wild Rock partridges. The average hatchability was higher than that recorded in captivity, but lower than in the wild.

70-90

Authors: Volodymyr Luk’yanets, Oksana Tarnopilska, Iryna Obolonyk, Serhiy Musienko, Vira Bondarenko, and Maryna Kolenkina

The study was carried out in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests in Gorodotske and Manevytske Forest Enterprises, which are situated in the Manevytsko-Volodymyretsky physiographic region of the Volyn Polissya zone in Ukraine. The aim of the study was to investigate the characteristics and health condition of Scots pine stands, infected by annosum root rot (Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref.), in the disease centres and in the part of the stands outside the centres (the control areas), as well as of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) stands in Volyn Polissya. We have found that the density of planted 43–75-year-old stands of Scots pine, established on formerly arable lands, was 32–66 % lower in the centres of the root rot disease than in the control areas. The growing stock volume was 20–62 % lower, respectively. The health index of the stands varied from 1.7 (weakened trees) to 3.2 (severely weakened trees) in the disease centres and from 1.3 (healthy trees) to 1.6 (weakened trees) outside them. We revealed that birch stands established on formerly arable lands were more resistant to annosum root rot and had better health status compared to pine stands. A set of factors was found to cause the root rot of Scots pine stands on abandoned agricultural lands, some of which were growing overstocked pure stands and their untimely (late) thinning.

119-135

Authors: Patience Tugume, Mukadasi Buyinza, and Esezah K. Kakudidi

Contribution of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) to rural livelihoods is vital but often ignored when drafting resource management policies. Information on the value of NTFPs for subsistence use and trade is often inadequate due to market failure. This potrays a wrong message that non-marketed products lack economic value and are not worth protecting. The study estimated the value of NTFPs from Mabira Central Forest Reserve used for subsistence and trade by adjacent communities. Data were collected through key informant interviews, questionnaire survey of 342 resource users and spot market analysis to establish the market value of used NTFPs. Mainly poor women and men aged below 61 years and with low education levels extracted NTFPs. The annual value of identified NTFPs was $ 860,470 of which $ 58,688 was attributed to subsistence use and $ 801,782 to cash income. NTFPs value varied significantly between products (F=1.67, df 16 p=0.05) and between villages (F=0.000, df 13, p<0.05) with charcoal offering the highest annual value ($ 327,686) and palm leaves – the lowest ($ 187). NTFPs from Mabira CFR have a high potential to enhance livelihoods of the poor, women and youth in the study area if sustainably harvested since availability of some plant species used for firewood and charcoal production were reported to be declining. These results indicate the need for urgent intervention measures for alternative sources of income and sustainable extraction of NTFPs to minimize pressure on the forest reserve.

147-159

Authors: Ludmila Malinova and Kameliya Petrova

To classify Cambisols on a second taxonomy level, the territory of Training and Experimental Forest Range Petrohan was differentiated into 48 relatively homogeneous territorial units based on soil formation factors. The dominant influence of acidic products over the basic ones in soil formation process has been proven. Cause-effect relationships were established between ‘рНH2O – exchangeable Ca’, ‘cation exchange capacity – exchangeable acidity’ and ′рНH2O – exchangeable Ca: exchangeable Mg′. The leaching has been advanced, and in some cases, it covers the entire soil profile depth. The high soil acidity defines the main qualifier as dystric for the Cambisols classification on a second taxonomy level.

171-181

Authors: Valentyna Meshkova, Valentyna Borysova, Maxym Didenko, and Vitaliy Nazarenko

The aim of the research was to estimate the spread of bacterial disease on European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), ocularly estimated by lens-shaped blisters, swellings and cracs of the bark in Pridonetsky and Vorskla-Pselsky forest typological sector of the Left-bank Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine. Studies were carried out in the year 2018 at 112 sample plots in Trostyanetske Forest Enterprise of Sumy region (Vorskla-Pselsky forest typological sector), Chugujevo-Babchanske and Skrypayivske Forest Enterprises of Kharkiv region (Pridonetsky forest typological sector). In spite of the fact that both the incidence and severity of ash bacterial disease symptoms are significantly higher for particular forestries and pooled data from Sumy region, the health condition index (HCI) of ash trees is greater for forestries of Kharkiv region. Therefore, ash stands in the inspected forestries of Sumy region are weakened, and in those of Kharkiv region are severely weakened. Ash tree mortality was rather low in them. The highest ash mortality was registered in Krasnyanske forestry (12.1 %) of Trostyanetsky forest enterprise. No significant correlation was proved between parameters of ash bacterial disease and altitude. Significant correlation was proved between the incidence and severity of ash bacterial disease symptoms, health condition index and mortality, diameter at breast height (DBH) and disease severity. However, only the correlation of incidence and severity of ash bacterial disease symptoms is high for Kharkiv region (rp=0.74, rs=0.95) and moderate (rp=0.54) or high (rs=0.73) for Sumy region. Obtained distinction in ash disease incidence and severity in different forest typological sectors data may be explained by climate features. Higher precipitation and moisture indices in Vorskla-Pselsky forest typological sector is favorable for ash bacterial disease. However, higher temperature together with lower humidity in Pridonetsky forest typological sector are unfavorable to ash and increases its susceptibility to other damage causes, particularly frost and insects.