Forestry Ideas

3-18

Authors: Vasyl Gumeniuk, Dmytrii Holiaka, Olexandr Soshenskiy, and Volodymyr Koren

The study presents the assessment of fire effect produced by surface forest fires on the herbal plants, the possibility of natural forest regeneration and Scots pine stands of the Poliskyi Nature Reserve. Five-year succession of forest herbs following the fire of 2009 was evaluated by analyzing its species’ composition, cоenotic structure, similarity, constancy and dominance of species in the burned area and comparison with similar unburned forest. The consequences for herbal plants mostly depend on the type and intensity of a wildfire. The response of the herbal layer to fire factor varies from small revertible short-term changes to degradation or even complete distinction. Surface fires stimulate emergence of Scots pine regeneration. On stand level, fires cause the deterioration of trees’ health and the reduction of stand growth. The mathematical model for severity of fire and tree health was developed. Key words: fire severity, natural regeneration, post

29-45

Authors: Dmitry A. Danilov and Dmitry A. Zaytsev

We studied the influence of average temperatures and precipitation of the growing season on the formation of macrostructural elements of radial growth in Scots pine and Norway spruce stands of Leningrad region located in the boreal zone of the European part of Russia. Denroclimatic studies were carried out using the results of wood samples analysis from forest stands on two-layer soils collected during 60 years. The digitized parameters of wood samples were processed in a GIS system, which made it possible to obtain an array of generalized dendrochronologies. A rank correlation analysis of the data obtained was carried out using the Spearman’s test. To simulate the combined effect of the amount of precipitation and average temperatures on the formation of the structural elements of radial growth, the method of the quadratic function was used. Depending on the composition of a stand, there was a different response to the selected meteorological factors during the study period. In pine stands, the effect of the average temperature of the growing season on the amount of annual radial growth was greater than in spruce stands. In spruce and pine stands with the participation of deciduous species, the structural elements of wood were more meteosensitive. The use of the quadratic function method made it possible to assess the combined effect of the total precipitation and average temperature of the growing season on the elements of radial growth of pine and spruce in the stands under study over the period of the experiment. Stands with various proportions of pine predominantly responded in the same way to changes in external factors associated with the climatic features of the region, which indicates the priority of their use in dendrochronological studies.

59-67

Authors: Alexey Andreychev

A new method of studying the activity of European mole Talpa europaea (Linnaeus, 1758) with use of digital portable voice recorders is developed. European mole demonstrates polyphasic activity pattern – three peaks of activity alternate three peaks of relative rest. Moles are found to have activity peaks from 23:00 to 3:00 h, from 6:00 to 9:00 h and from 15:00 to 18:00 h, and three periods of rest: from 3:00 to 6:00 h, from 9:00 to 15:00 h and from 18:00 to 23:00 h. Mole’s rest is relative since animals show low activity during periods of rest. Average daily interval between mole passes is 2.5 h. Duration of audibility of continuous single European mole pass by the microphone varies from 11 to 120 seconds. On average, it is 37.5 seconds.

74-88

Authors: Kateryna Myronchuk, Yaroslav Henyk, and Marta Kurnytska

Object of the study are hedgerows in settlements of Ukrainian Bukovynian Carpathian region (Chernivtsi region of Ukraine). The species and quality composition, spatial, age and ecological structure and ornamental value of hedges. The formation of hedges as an element of landscaping the urban ecosystems of the Ukrainian Bukovynian Carpathian region occurred due to the influence of a number of objective (natural and anthropogenic) and subjective factors (traditions, socio-economic conditions and long-term plans for the development of the region, financing of activities for the formation and care of plantings in green spaces). The dendroflora of hedges of urban areas is represented by 32 species of woody plants from 24 genera and 15 families. Carpinus betulus L., Buxus sempervirens L., Cornus alba (L.) Opiz. and Ligustrum vulgare L. are most often used to form hedges. The vast majority of hedges is formed from one species (Chernivtsi – 98.3 %, other towns and villages – 71.1 %), and they are mainly single-row (Chernivtsi – 83.8 %, other towns – 58.2 %, villages – 70.2 %). In the settlements of the region, trimmed hedges predominate (Chernivtsi – 92.1 %, other towns and villages – 75.5 %). Most hedges are mean-height hedges (Chernivtsi – 65.8 %, other towns and villages – 66.9 %). For the formation of a curb hedge, Sріraea media Schmidt., Buxus sempervirens, Ligustrum vulgare are most often used. For first time, comprehensive studies of hedges in the settlements of Chernivtsi region of Ukraine (Bukovynian Carpathian region) were carried out according to their species composition, system, age and environmental structure, height and constitution. The features of functioning in urban ecosystems are established. A comprehensive assessment was made regarding the quality status and ornamental value of hedges in the green zones.

101-113

Authors: Salomo Mbai, Epson Ndawedapo Noses, and Yonas Tesfamariam Bahta

Analysing and understanding the timber sector export performance is essential for value chain role players to formulate strategies and policies to enhance the competitive export position and ensure forest sustainability. This study’s main objective was to measure the export competitiveness of the Namibian timber (HS440799, HS4401, HS4402, and HS4403) and assess its implication for Forestry using secondary data (2001–2018), Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA), and Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage indices (RSCA). The result shows that Namibia had a revealed comparative advantage for 17 years; however, all below one (except for commodity HS4402 from 2010–2018) means that Namibia timber exports are not internationally competitive. Comparing the four categories of timber, in 2007, the sub-sector (HS4402) recorded the lowest RCA (0.00001) and the lowest RSCA (0.99998) for timber (HS4402) in 2007, the same year. On the other hand, the same categories of timber (HS4402) score the highest RCA with a value of 2.73 in 2015 and the highest RSCA (0.46) for timber (HS4402) in the same year compared to the other categories of timber. RSCA indices results for all commodities show that Namibia’s timber exports are not competitive for the study period. Timber’s comparative export pattern heavily depends on export volumes and values of timber exports. Timber export competitiveness is not sustainable, given the heavy dependence on natural forests. Namibia should re-structure timber harvesting protocols to include replacement or replanting every tree species harvested for timber production to ensure timber and forest sustainability. The country’s timber export sub-sector should focus more on adding value to timber than exporting to improved competitiveness. Further, the government should regulate the harvested wood and protect over-grazing, to promote timber and forest resources’ sustainable utilization.

119-127

Authors: Gradimir Gruychev

The study area is a low mountain; nevertheless it has substantial biodiversity, due to its specific location, xerothermic vegetation and positive average monthly temperatures. The study was conducted in the period 2014-2020. It determinates 35 percent of the avifauna and 58 percent of the breeding birds of Sakar Mountain. This study reports two new species for the area. It informs about 89 species assigned to a specific breeding category. Seven species assigned to a breeding category are new to the quadrant and have not been reported by previous studies. The breeding density of 13 bird species was established. The density decreases in two common birds in study area.

136-144

Authors: Panagiotis Michopoulos and Alexandra Solomou

The relations and the statistical comparisons of the available micronutrients Mn, Zn, Cu and Fe (DTPA extractable) were examined in alkaline soils of three forest ecosystems, i.e. pine, fir and maquis forest. Through a Principal Components Analysis (PCA) it was found that Mn and Zn had identical dependence on soil parameters. Both concentrations of these metals had negative relationship with pH, percentage of CaCO3 and positive one with the concentrations of organic C, N and Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) values. With the exception of CaCO3, Fe had the same dependence. Copper had a negative relation with CaCO3 and a positive one only with clay content and not with the organic carbon as would be expected. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showed that the soil under fir had the highest concentrations of Mn probably due to the lowest pH values and CaCO3 percentages. The soil in the maquis plot had the lowest concentrations of Zn and Fe because of the highest pH and lowest amount of organic C. Despite the lowest amount of organic C, the soil in the maquis plot had the highest concentration of Cu because of the nature of parent material.

157-168

Authors: Anzhela Dzyba

The paper considers the introduction of Pinus strobus L. to the Ukrainian Polissya for 200 years. The purpose of the study was to conduct an inventory of P. strobus in protected territories of the Ukrainian Polissya and to analyze its distribution, stand age structure, regeneration patterns, and application in different types of plantings. The study covers 26 protected man-made objects and natural areas and objects (botanical garden, 3 dendrological parks, 6 parks-monuments of landscape art, 8 natural monuments, 3 national natural parks, regional landscape park, 3 reserves, protected tract) in Ukrainian Polissya (Volyn, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Chernihiv, Khmelnytsky regions). The age of Pinus strobus ranges from 35 to more than 200 years. In the protected areas grow 120- to 200-year-old ancient Pinus strobus trees, with a number of its specimens ranging from 1 to 16. In 80 % of protected entities, Pinus strobus was represented by one specimen as a solitary or in groups mainly mixed with Pinus sylvestris L.; in 5 objects Pinus strobus grows in pure and mixed plantations of natural monuments. The condition of plants in 19 objects is good, in 5 - satisfactory, in two - unsatisfactory (harmed by the pest Pineus strobi Htg.). By self-seeding, P. strobus regenerated on 24 % of the territories of nature-protection entities; in one entity it has naturalized. It is proposed to use the best specimens of Pinus strobus as genetic material for further application in forestry and park gardening.

182-194

Authors: Heorhiy H. Hrynyk, Leonid S. Osadchuk, Liubov M. Kondratiuk, Olena M. Hrynyk, Volodymyr M. Gryb, Victoriia I. Melnyk, and Artur F. Likhanov

The task of the study is to establish and justify the required amount of sawn timber, which must be measured to determine the conformity of the entire batch of sawn wood to the specified size on the basis of statistical processing of a sample of sawn timber from the total batch. It is established that the batch is homogeneous in width and thickness, and differs in length of a sawn timber. The values of variation coefficients for length of a sawn timber are much lower than similar values for thickness and width. Given the nature of the grouping of sawn timber particles around the central stage in terms of thickness, width and length, it can be argued that the samples are similar. Student’s t-test was used at the p-level to check the difference between the mean values of individual samples. Measurement error (ME) for almost all indicators of the studied sawn timber is in the range of 0.1-5.0 %, which indicates that the experiment was performed with sufficient accuracy. In fact, 144 units of lumber were selected from 5 packages, which is more than 125 of the minimum required to establish the batch conformity of size and quality characteristics. Using the values of SE, ME and SD, calculated for individual samples, it was found that to correctly determine the deviations, including measurement accuracy and appropriate moisture content errors, it is sufficient to use from each individual sample no more 24 pieces of the appropriate sawn timber types. Using the recommendations for checking the conformity of sample to acceptable quality level for the total batch of a sawn timber, which was 2207 pcs in 5 packages, was confirmed the sufficiency of usage of the sample of 125 pieces from 5 packages.

210-232

Authors: Christine Wulandari, Samsul Bakri, Melya Riniarti, and Supriadi Supriadi

Community Forestry Program in Indonesia (called HKm: Hutan Kemasyarakatan) as the scheme for recovering forest degradation from encroachment has been operating for 13 years now, but until nowadays there is no available guideline for fostering its sustainability (SUST). HKm Authority, however, still have 22-24 years remain to foster the program before the scheme due. It is in needing both economic and tree biodiversity indicators of every HKm’s member land as the guidance for sustaining the program. The income as the economic indicator itself is commonly affected by the endogenous and exogenous variables. This research aimed at determining the roles of: (i) endogenous and exogenous variables on income agroforestry yield (INCM), (ii) INCM on tree biodiversity performance (BIODV), and (iii) BIODV on the HKm’s SUST. Data collected by interviewing 230 members of HKm Jaya Lestari located in Way Kanan Regency-Lampung, Indonesia in February-May 2018. These HKm members consisted of four ethnic groups which the two are as the native (Semendonese and Lampungese) that more adaptive to agroforestry cultivation, whereas the remains (Javanese and Sundanese) are the offspring of people moved from Java Island under colonization program by Dutch Administration since 1905. We employed Ordinary Least Square regression postulate model to investigate the first purpose and Loglinear Regression to examine the second and the third purposes. Minitab Version 16 software was applied for the models’ goodness-fits test and parameter optimization at 90 and 95% confident level. The research suggests: (i) endogenous variables with positive effect on INCM were the family size, participation in extension activities, land holding acreage, the tribes whose Sundanese and Semendonese were higher than Javanese, and with negative effect was the land elevation; whereas the exogenous variable affected negatively the rural facility construction and nursery demonstration plot activities; (ii) the higher INCM the higher BIODV, but (iii) the better BIODV the lower SUST will be. For the sake of pursuing SUST, it recommends to continue fostering HKm members by managing the endogenous variables in order to rise up INCM, and then multiply BIODV as well as to broaden HKm members’ awareness on voluntary planting some wooden trees that have been adaptive or endemic at local region such as iron wood (Fagraea fragrans Roxb), cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl), and Shorea javanica.

245-255

Authors: Silvena Boteva, Anelia Kenarova, Viktoriya Kancheva, Michaella Aleksova, Roumen Dimitrov, and Galina Radeva

Heavy metal pollution of soils may change their chemical and microbiological status. Changes in the function of decomposer communities may cause disruption in soil nutrient cycling and primary productivity of an ecosystem. In the present study, bacterial capacity to utilize different carbon substrates under heavy metal stress was evaluated by using community level physiological profiling technique and Biolog EcoPlate™ method. Soil samples were taken from the vicinity of mine Chelopech along Cu gradient and co-pollutants Zn and Pb. Soil texture was classified as loam, soil pH was defined as acidic, and soils were determined as well nutrient abundant. Soil concentrations of Cu, Zn and Pb varied in the range of 51-860 mg.kg-1, 44-180 mg.kg-1 and 31-175 mg.kg-1, respectively. Both, the capacity of impacted bacterial communities to utilize organic carbon substances and bacterial functional diversity decreased under the heavy metal stress. Bacteria from un-polluted soils preferentially utilized carbohydrates and polymers, whereas the heavy metal stressed bacterial communities preferentially used proteinogenic and non-proteinogenic carboxylic acids. The highest levels of adverse impacts were recorded both at seriously polluted soil, and on the utilization of amines and carbohydrates. Local variability of soil properties might modify the effects of heavy metals. It can be concluded that the EcoPlate™ method can be used to evaluate community functional variability in relation to different levels of heavy metal stress, as statistically significant results have been obtained.

271-279

Authors: Olena Demchenko

Under Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, 11 Viburnum species and 5 cultivars of different geographical origin are cultivated. The vast majority of species is property of a limited number of botanical gardens. There is no information about the ecological properties of most of the introduced taxa of genus Viburnum L. in condition of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Therefore, the study of the ecological properties of various species of this genus under these conditions is relevant. The purpose of the study is a comparative analysis of the ecological properties of species belonging to the genus Viburnum L. in relation to the formation of their taxonomic composition in collections and rational use in greening and gardening. The following ecological indicators of the species were investigated: the duration of the dormant period, winter hardiness, drought resistance and water retention capacity. It was established that the winter hardiness of the species is satisfactory and does not depend on the duration of the period of deep dormancy. Monitoring the winter hardiness of uneven-aged plants of the same species made it possible to trace the change in resistance in ontogenesis. An increase in winter hardiness in all species is observed during the transition from juvenile to mature state, which is reflected by the value of the winter hardiness coefficient. Drought resistance of most species is high, exceptions are Viburnum lantana Aureum' and Viburnum burejaeticum Rgl. et Herd. Water retention is higher in evergreen species and resistance to dehydration is higher in V. opulus L. and V. rufidulum Raf. The studied species are promising and quite suitable for further implementation under Right-bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine.