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Annals of Silvicultural Research
Journal Prestige (SJR): 0.337

Citation Impact (citeScore): 1
Number of Followers: 0

This is an Open Access Journal

Open Access journal
ISSN (Online) 2284-354X
Published by Council for Agricultural Research and Economics

[1 journal]

Comparison of TLS against traditional surveying method for stem taper
modelling. A case study in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests of
mount Amiata
- Authors: Chiara Torresan, Francesco Pelleri, Maria Chiara Manetti, Claudia Becagli, Cristiano Castaldi, Monica Notarangelo, Ugo Chiavetta
  Abstract: Traditionally, taper equations are developed from measurements collected through a destructive sampling of trees. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) enables high levels of accuracy of individual tree parameters measurement avoiding tree felling. With this study, we wanted to assess the performance of two approaches to calibrate a taper function: using stem diameters extracted from TLS point clouds and measured at different tree heights with the traditional and usual forest instruments. We compared the performance of four taper equations built with data collected by TLS and traditional survey in a European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests of mount Amiata (Tuscany Region, Italy). We computed the volume of stem sections 1.00 m long by integrating the most performing TLS-based taper equation and by the Huber, Smalian and cone formulas applied on the diameter and height values measured with the traditional field surveys. We conducted the analysis of error distribution in volume estimates computed integrating the most performing TLS-based taper function along the stem. We tested if the differences in the volume estimate of the two methods were significant. Schumacher and Hall (1933) equation was the most performing taper function both in case of using TLS and traditional surveyed data , being the TLS-based function more performant (rRMSE = 9.17% vs 6.90%). Its performance did not increase when diameter values were extracted from TLS point clouds with a higher frequency (i.e. 25.0 cm vs 1.00 m). By integrating the TLS-based Schumacher and Hall (1933) function, the sections with the highest error resulted from 5.00 to 7.00 m of stem height (i.e. RMSE from 14.72 to 19.14 dm3 and rRMSE from 13.00 to 17.76%). This study case represents the first attempts to develop a taper equation for European beech of mount Amiata using values of stem diameter and height extracted from the TLS point cloud. The results demonstrated that TLS produces the same stem volume estimates as traditional method avoiding falling trees.
  PubDate: 2021-03-15
  DOI: 10.12899/asr-2198
  Issue No: Vol. 46, No. 2 (2021)
Lessons learned from the past: forestry initiatives for effective carbon
stocking in Southern Italy
- Authors: Francesco Iovino, Antonino Nicolaci, Pasquale Antonino Marziliano, Franco Pignataro, Giovanni Sanesi
  Abstract: Calabria (Italy) is a particularly interesting region of the Mediterranean basin from the perspective of forest management due to the extension of reforestation activities aimed at soil conservation. According to international agreements, these reforestation activities fulfill other functions as well, including carbon storage. Thus, Calabria was selected as a representative area for a study on the different typologies of forest plantations to verify the effects of these functions. Results showed a significant increment in carbon stock compared to the previous land use (i.e. arable land and pastures) and how the average carbon stock per hectare varies in relation to the species considered at the above- and below-ground levels. Carbon stock was higher in conifers (Calabrian pine, Douglas fir) and lower in broad-leaved trees (Turkey oak, European chestnut). The study analyses demonstrate how, based on different intensities of thinning, the carbon eliminated by trees is reconstituted over time in quantities larger than those eliminated by cutting. This latter aspect is relevant, as forest management allows the partial removal of biomass produced without negatively affecting carbon stock. Consequently, reforestation and sustainable forms of forest management are powerful strategies for mitigating the effects of climate change.
  PubDate: 2021-03-15
  DOI: 10.12899/asr-2192
  Issue No: Vol. 46, No. 2 (2021)
Taking the right care of scientometric indicators will take care of
research quality
- Authors: Piermaria Corona
  Abstract: Science has recently been accelerating at a fast rate (∼3.5% per year in the compound annual growth rate of the number of papers published in scientific journals, according to Scopus source). There are now more scholarly communications than ever before, and scientists have too many choices of journals to read, refer, and where to submit: therefore, the evaluation of the performance of each journal has become necessary to delineate impact and contribution of any journal in its respective field of interest and application.
  DOI: 10.12899/asr-2291
  Issue No: Vol. 46, No. 2
In memory of Paolo Cantiani
- Authors: Piermaria Corona
  Abstract: This issue is dedicated to the memory of Paolo Cantiani, associate editor of this journal and senior researcher at the CREA Research Center for Forestry and Wood (Italy), recently passed away. Studying for passion rather than for work, he dedicated himself to research on silviculture and forest management planning. A free mind and determined character, he avoided simplifications in favor of simplicity, often providing simple solutions to complex problems, as his studies on the silviculture of Turkey oak and black pine forests demonstrate. Naturally kind and discreet, he was quick to provide an answer to those who asked and to offer his help to those who needed it. The memory of his wise and gentle smile, as well as of his writings, will always remain with us. A big hug from us all who had the privilege of working with you.
  DOI: 10.12899/asr-2330
  Issue No: Vol. 46, No. 2
Gaps and perspectives for the improvement of the sweet chestnut
forest-wood chain in Italy
- Authors: Francesco Marini, Luigi Portoghesi, Maria Chiara Manetti, Luca Salvati, Manuela Romagnoli
  Abstract: The paper provides a summary regarding the current state of silviculture and the use of sweet chestnut wood (Castanea sativa Mill.) in Italy. Existing opportunities for chestnut silviculture are very promising because sweet chestnut covers nearly 800,000 hectares in Italy, representing almost 2.6% of the total area of the country, including 7.5% of national forest areas. In some geographic areas, especially in central-southern Italy, sweet chestnut is the only driver of the sawmill economy. In Italy, this species is typically harvested to produce solid beams and poles. In the field of load-bearing structures, research and innovation in silviculture have provided solutions to the growing use of industrial technologies, and sweet chestnut has become integrated into European standards with the same relevanceas the most commonly most used wood species, such as Norway spruce. However, diversification in wood products is lacking in regions that produce sweet chestnut, as the sawmills tend to be very chestnut-centric, and in terms of the types of final products sweet chestnut is applied to. The typical end uses for sweet chestnut represents a major weakness associated with the massive exploitation of chestnut wood. In addition, the production of sawmills in Italy has decreased recently due to the crisis-driven reductions inactivity. This transition has affected the traditional building sector. The most common wood quality defects associated with sweet chestnut, which limit the use of this species for other wood products, are well known by producers. To boost the demand for this wood, efforts must be made to identify more versatile uses for this wood, promoting differential forest management systems to obtain stems that can be utilised in other types of final products. A list of possible actions is considered to increase the applications for this species, which represents one of the best opportunities to develop a short supply chain.
  DOI: 10.12899/asr-2203
  Issue No: Vol. 46, No. 2
The diversity of termite species on natural forest and agroforestry land
in Sulawesi tropical forests in Indonesia
- Authors: Zulkaidhah Zulkaidhah, Adam Malik, Abdul Hapid, Hamka Hamka, Hariyanty Hariyanty, Nurulhuda Rahman
  Abstract: The conversion of natural forest to agroforestry causes physical changes in the forest, which affects the availability of organic matter. Therefore, this could influence the diversity of termites which act as decomposers in forest ecosystems. This study aims to determine the effect on the diversity of termite species of changes in tropical forest due to conversion. The study was carried out in the Educational Forest area of Tadulako University, Indonesia. The observations of environmental biophysical conditions include vegetation diversity, biomass, soil physical and chemical properties. Furthermore, using the transect method, the diversity of termite species was monitored. The results showed that the diversity of termite species decreased along with the conversion, because 13 species were found in natural forests, while only seven species were found in agroforestry land. This implies that changes in the biophysical environmental conditions due to forest conversion of tropical rainforests significantly reduced the number and composition of vegetation types at all growth rates, necromass and litter biomass. This decrease affects the availability of soil organic matter and carbon. Furthermore, these changes led not only to the loss of individual species but also to the emergence of previously unrecorded ones such as Microcerotermes dubius.
  DOI: 10.12899/asr-2228
  Issue No: Vol. 46, No. 2
Modeling diameter distribution of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.)
natural forest in the Aures (Algeria) using the Weibull, Beta and Normal
distributions with parameters depending on stand variables
- Authors: Khellaf Rabhi, Abdallah Bentouati, Salima Bahri, Tahar Sghaier, Fazia Krouchi, Mathieu Fortin, Catherine Collet
  Abstract: 230 temporary plots located in Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) stands in the Aures (Algeria) were used for modeling its structure with three theoretical distributions, i.e., the Weibull; the normal and the Beta one. Parameters of the Weibull distribution were estimated using two methods: the maximum likelihood and the method of moments. Diameter distribution models were obtained by estimation of each distribution parameters and by their prediction using stand variables. Results revealed the efficiency of the Weibull distribution estimated with the method of moments. The parameter estimation method is more accurate compared to parameter recovery method despite the existence of strong correlations between parameters of the theoretical distributions and some population variables such as arithmetic or quadratic mean diameter and dominant height. Plot characteristics revealed the existence of several distribution shapes: symmetrical; dissymmetrical with left asymmetry and reverse I or J-shaped distributions.
  DOI: 10.12899/asr-2229
  Issue No: Vol. 46, No. 2
Effects of Four Afforestation Stands on Some Physical, Chemical and
Biological Properties of Soil in Northern Iran
- Authors: Adineh Ebrahimi Ashbella, Mir Mozaffar Fallahchai, Ali Salehi, Ali Ashraf Toularoud
  Abstract: Selected species for afforestation have different effects on soil quality in addition to differences in their growth. The aim of current study was to investigate the effects of afforestation with four tree species, including chestnut-leaved oak, loblolly pine, black alder and Persian maple on the soil properties in the northwest of Iran. For this purpose, eight sample plots of 400 m2 were conducted in the study area and diameter and total height of the trees were measured. Then, eight soil samples were taken from a depth of 0 to 30 cm of each stand and transferred to the soil laboratory to be investigated some physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil. Hence, a total number of 16 different soil parameters of the four stands were measured and compared using ANOVA. Besides, the correlation between different soil properties and their relationship with tree species was analyzed, using principal components analysis (PCA). The results showed that among the studied stands, the loblolly pine had a higher mean diameter, mean height, basal area and volume. Regarding soil properties, alder stand possessed the highest porosity and the lowest bulk density. The pine stand, however, was estimated to possess the highest value of basal respiration, substrate induced respirations, microbial carbon biomass, organic carbon, total nitrogen, C/N ration, absorbable potassium and the lowest pH value. Finally, the maple stand possessed the highest amount of absorbable phosphorus. Based on the results of this study, pine species due to its high diameter growth and positive effects on most soil properties is recommended for afforestation in Hyrcanian region and similar habitats in west Asia.
  DOI: 10.12899/asr-2263
  Issue No: Vol. 46, No. 2
Land use change towards forests and wooded land correlates with large and
frequent wildfires in Italy
- Authors: Davide Ascoli, Jose V. Moris, Marco Marchetti, Lorenzo Sallustio
  Abstract: It is commonly believed that wildfires in southern Europe have been favored by the encroachment of flammable vegetation on cultivated and grazed areas no longer managed as a consequence of deep socio-economic changes in rural areas. Using the whole of Italy as study case, this paper explores the hypothesis that wildfires selectively burn areas with specific land use changes (LUC) characteristic of agricultural land abandonment, especially in large (> 500 ha) and recurrent burnt areas. Additionally, we examined LUC within 200 m buffer areas around perimeters of large fires to explore if active land management may hamper the growth of large fires. To investigate the study hypotheses, pre-fire LUC were compared within six different geographic domains defined according to the burnt areas from 2007 to 2017 across Italy. Estimates of LUC between 1990 and 2008 came from the Italian Land Use Inventory (IUTI), which is based on photointerpretation of 1,206,198 sample points on high-resolution aerial images. The analyses reveal that LUC in all geographical domains reflect typical trends of agricultural land abandonment in southern Europe during the last decades: expansion of forests, shrubland and new settlements at the expense of agricultural land, grasslands and pastures. However, results show higher rates of pre-fire LUC in burnt areas than in the rest of territory considered available for burning. We found that higher rates of forest expansion and shrub encroachment on abandoned grasslands and pastures are related to a higher incidence of large and recurrent fires, respectively. Furthermore, areas surrounding large fires were less affected by pre-fire land abandonment than burnt areas and show higher increases in vineyards and orchards. Our findings suggest that land abandonment have probably increased fire proneness at national scale by expanding shrub and tree encroachment, and thus increasing fuel connectivity and fuel build-up. Therefore, we urge for a greater integration between fire management and rural development policies.
  DOI: 10.12899/asr-2264
  Issue No: Vol. 46, No. 2
Influence of voxel size and point cloud density on crown cover estimation
in poplar plantations using terrestrial laser scanning
- Authors: Nicola Puletti, MIrko Grotti, Carlotta Ferrara, Francesco Chianucci
  Abstract: Accurate estimates of crown cover (CC) are central for a wide range of forestry studies. As direct measurements do not exist to retrieve this variable in the field, CC is conventionally determined from optical measurements as the complement of gap fraction close to the zenith. As an alternative to passive optical measurements, active sensors like Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) allows for characterizing in situ the 3D canopy structure with unprecedented detail.We evaluated the reliability of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) to estimate CC using a voxel-based approach. Specifically, we tested how different voxel sizes (5-20 cm) and voxel densities (1-9 points/dm3) influenced the retrieval of CC. Results were compared against benchmark values obtained from DCP.The trial was performed in hybrid poplar plantations in Northern Italy. Results indicate that TLS can be used for obtaining accurate estimates of CC, but the choice of voxel size and point density is critical for achieving such accuracy. in hybrid poplars, the best performance was obtained using voxel size of 10 cm and point density of 8 points/dm3. The combined ability of measuring and mapping CC also holds great potential to use TLS for calibrating and upscaling results using coarser-scale remotely sensed products combined ability of measuring and mapping crown cover also holds great potential to use TLS data for calibrating and upscaling results using coarser-scale remotely sensed products.
  DOI: 10.12899/asr-2256
  Issue No: Vol. 46, No. 2