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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Forestry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 February 2024) | Viewed by 14574

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Andreja Đuka

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Guest Editor

Department of Forest Engineering, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: wood harvesting systems; forest opening; life cycle analysis and environmental suitability of wood harvesting

Dr. Ivica Papa

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Guest Editor

Department of Forest Engineering, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: forest roads planning and design; forest roads maintenance/reconstruction and determination of their rehabilitation methods; optimization of primary forest road traffic infrastructure

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The core of planning in forestry is sustainability and the promotion of five important 5E-criteria: environmental, economic, energy efficient, ergonomic and esthetic. This is because of the various roles forests have in everyday life. Forestry directly and indirectly affects society, and lately, the importance of forests is more obvious than ever, as we are experiencing climatic extremes and climate change. Efficient management in forestry includes cross-disciplinary actions because it combines various experts from forest operations, silviculture and ecology, forest protection and wildlife management, forest inventory, modelling and remote sensing to forest genetics and dendrology all with the same goal—achieving and maintaining healthy and stable forest eco-systems.

The goal of this Special Issue is, therefore, to combine cross-disciplinary areas of forestry, highlighting sustainability, innovation and latest research in the following:

Forest operations (harvesting, biomass, road network planning, ergonomics and work safety, training and certification, supply chains, environmentally friendly forest operations, life cycle assessment, machine design and mechanisation).
Forest inventory and management (remote sensing, modelling and digitalisation, sensors, dynamics of the sustainable management, management of small private forests, etc.).
Forest protection (forest fires, wildlife management, zoology, entomology, phytopathology, etc.).
Forest genetics and dendrology (quantitative and population genetics, conservation of genetic resources, stress physiology, dendrology, etc.).
Forest ecology (silviculture, phytocoenology, pedology and forest karst melioration with nature protection, etc.).

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Andreja Đuka
Dr. Ivica Papa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

forest operations
remote sensing
forest fires
entomology
stress physiology
dendrology
silviculture
phytocoenology

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 2111 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Group- and Single-Tree-Selection Cuttings on Runoff and Sediment Yield in Mixed Broadleaved Forests, Northern Iran

by Hassan Samdaliri, Meghdad Jourgholami, Ali Salajegheh, Hadi Sohrabi, Rachele Venanzi, Rodolfo Picchio and Angela Lo Monaco

Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 1830; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051830 - 23 Feb 2024

Viewed by 505

Abstract

Silvicultural treatment and the forest harvesting operations using different methods can lead to an increase in the production of runoff and sediment by changing the canopy and soil surface where they are conducted. In order to investigate this issue, sampling plots were established in the Namkhaneh district of the Kheyrud forest with three replications for every treatment: control stand and tree harvesting systems using single-selection cuttings and group-selection cuttings. The amount of runoff and sediment was collected and estimated from precipitation over a period of one year. Also, some soil physical properties such as bulk density, penetration resistance, sand, silt, and clay content, soil moisture, and soil organic matter were measured. The results showed that tree harvesting systems has a significant effect on runoff, the runoff coefficient, and sediment but the season (growing season and fall) and the combined effect of tree harvesting systems and the season have no significant effect on the runoff coefficient and sediment. The mean runoffs of each rainfall event for the control, single-tree, and group-selection treatments were 5.67, 8.42, and 10.28 mm, respectively, and the sediment amounts were 3.42, 6.70, and 11.82 gr/m², respectively. Furthermore, the total annual erosion amounts of the control, selection, and grouping treatments were 0.427, 0.838, and 2.178 t/ha, respectively. The bulk density, penetration resistance, and percentage of sand and silt were positively related and the percentages of clay and organic matter were negatively related with the amount of runoff and sediment. In the method of individual selection cuttings, the damage to the forest in terms of the amount of runoff and soil erosion was less than for the group-selection cuttings. Forest harvesting by the selection method (single-selection and group-selection) has caused different changes in the vegetation canopy. The final summary of our results could be the advice to predominantly use the single-selection method in high-slope stands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Operations and Sustainability)

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17 pages, 10616 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Purpose Accessibility of Mountain Area Forests for the Purpose of Forest Management and Protection of the State Border

by Doroteja Krivić-Tomić, Ivica Papa and Mijo Kožić

Sustainability 2023, 15(24), 16935; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152416935 - 18 Dec 2023

Viewed by 688

Abstract

The planning and implementation of surveillance of state territory in forested border areas, especially mountainous areas, is considered to be highly complex. This is illustrated by the example of the difficulties the European Union faced in controlling the 2015 European migration crisis. Thereby, Croatia has the difficult task of protecting the borders of the Union because a particular problem on the Western Balkan Route is the so-called bottleneck to Slovenia in the area of the Municipality of Donji Lapac, which consists of the green border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Consequently, by using the example of planning multi-purpose forest roads, the aim of this paper is to propose the inclusion of the road network of border management units of mountain areas in the control system of the state’s green border, which, in this paper, includes its surveillance and protection by land for the purpose of national security. The research was conducted on the example of the Visočica–Lisac border management unit in the Municipality of Donji Lapac. The results of the research indicate a possible solution to the control of the border management unit by establishing a two-level surveillance system. The higher level consists of strategically defined surveillance points and corresponding multi-purpose forest roads designed on a tactical level. At this level, the priority is protection or, more precisely, defense of the state border. The lower level consists of tactically determined surveillance points with corresponding multi-purpose forest roads designed on the operational level. In addition to protecting the state border, this level would also have the task of protecting the forest, that is, monitoring the area of the management unit. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Operations and Sustainability)

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24 pages, 3542 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Forest Fires, Stakeholders’ Activities, and Economic Impact on State-Level Sustainable Forest Management

by Stjepan Posavec, Damir Barčić, Dijana Vuletić, Višnjica Vučetić, Ivana Čavlina Tomašević and Špela Pezdevšek Malovrh

Sustainability 2023, 15(22), 16080; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152216080 - 18 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1099

Abstract

In Europe, forest fires are a serious and constant threat. They destroy forests and forest land, causing damage, financial loss, and long-lasting impacts on forest ecosystem services. There are several ways to decrease the number of forest fires, including continuous investment in fire prevention measures and the intensive implementation of adaptive sustainable forest management measures, which need additional financial resources. In many cases, forest management activities in karst forests are not implemented in a timely manner and in coordination with other stakeholders. A comprehensive study about the impact of forest fires on different economic activities (tourism and protected areas) is not currently available. In this study, the legislative framework in Croatia was analysed in relation to the fire protection activities and jurisdictions of different institutions. From data collected in the period 2013–2020, the first-age class afforestation costs and growing stock assortment value were calculated, and the non-wood forest functions were estimated. The aforementioned data were further compared to the Fire Weather Index (FWI) and Seasonal Severity Rating (SSR) of fire seasons. The total estimated damage is EUR 326,810,724.72. The research emphasises the need for the implementation of cross-sectoral forest policy measures. The state forest company should allocate more financial resources for biological forest restoration in the future. Forest management practices should implement climate-adaptable silviculture measures to preserve forest and forest land. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Operations and Sustainability)

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14 pages, 3830 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determining the Optimal Sample Size for Assessing Crown Damage on Color Infrared (CIR) Aerial Photographs

by Jelena Kolić, Renata Pernar, Ante Seletković, Anamarija Jazbec and Mario Ančić

Sustainability 2023, 15(22), 15918; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152215918 - 14 Nov 2023

Viewed by 609

Abstract

One of the priorities in sustainable forest management is monitoring the health status of trees and stands. From the aspect of remote sensing (RS), the best way of doing this is by interpreting color infrared (CIR) aerial photographs; however, this raises the issue of sample size. For this reason, to apply this method in practice, it is indispensable to determine an appropriate sample size to ensure sufficient reliability of the health status assessment of trees in CIR aerial photographs. This research was conducted in lowland forests of pedunculate oak in Croatia. To determine damage in the photographs of the main tree species, a systematic sample with varying dot grid densities—100 × 100 m, 200 × 200 m, 300 × 300 m, 500 × 500 m, 1000 × 1000 m—was used with combinations of different numbers of interpreted trees per sample. Damage indicators were also calculated based on tree distributions obtained by interpreting four trees, two trees and one tree in different sample sizes. The results of the testing showed that there were no statistically significant differences between different sample densities and numbers of interpreted trees in relation to mean damage assessment. Regardless of the fact that there were no statistically significant differences during damage assessment, it was found that by lowering sample densities, starting with 200 × 200 m, the number of trees and the number of sample points per particular sub-compartment significantly decreased, and so did the desired accuracy. Consequently, the participation (distribution) of particular species and damage degrees in the sample were lost, which significantly affected the overall tree health assessment. In contrast, grid densities of 100 × 100 m with one interpreted tree at the raster point proved to be the optimal sample size. This confirms the fact found in earlier research, that is, that the selected sample should have several spatially well-distributed points with a smaller number of trees in the point, and samples with larger numbers of trees in a smaller number of points should be avoided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Operations and Sustainability)

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19 pages, 9097 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Invisible Frost Stress on Introduced Dalbergia odorifera: A Bioassay on Foliar Parameters in Seedlings from Six Provenances

by Xiaowen Li, Yu Liu, Sheng Yang, Jinwang Wang, Haitao Xia, Xiaojin Liu and Qiuxia Chen

Sustainability 2023, 15(19), 14097; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914097 - 23 Sep 2023

Viewed by 769

Abstract

Valuable trees are frequently taken from their original habitat and introduced to a different location in the pursuit of better economic development. Global climate change imposes a higher probability of warm spells during chilly seasons; these may increase the threat posed by frost to newly introduced, valuable species. In this study, Dalbergia odorifera was cultured as a valuable tree species that was introduced from an original provenance in Sanya (1° N) to the northern mountains in Pingxiang (22° N), Guangzhou (23° N), Zhangpu (24° N), Xianyou (25° N), and up to the northernmost limit in Wenzhou (28° N). Seedlings of these six provenances were tested in a field study conducted in Wenzhou (control) to examine their resistance to local frost stress and to detect the driving forces related to meteorological factors in the winter–spring period of 2015–2016. The leaves sampled over seven days exhibited the typical characteristics of frost impairment. The daily maximum temperature delivered warm spells, increasing by ~7 °C. The daily minimum temperature (−4.3 to −2.0 °C) did not reach freezing point until the early spring of 2016. The controlled seedlings showed lower malondialdehyde content than those from the southern locations, and no mortality occurred. Invisible frost stress was caused by low nitrogen utilization during the earlier stages during warm spells, as well as damage to membrane integrity during the later stage when the minimum temperature suddenly declined. A warm spell was found to impose a negative driving force five days before a sudden chill, which led to frost having an impact on superoxide accumulation and electrical leakage. We conclude that the D. odorifera seedlings that dwell effectively in Wenzhou obtained stronger resistance to local frost stress than those from the southern locations. Low cell membrane integrity and high electrical leakage in leaf cells accounted for the frost damage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Operations and Sustainability)

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15 pages, 297 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Participation of Bulgarian Furniture Manufacturing in Global and Local Value Chains as a Factor Supporting Their Innovation Activities

by Daniela Ventsislavova Georgieva, Nikolay Neykov, Andreja Pirc Barčić, Petar Ćurić and Kristina Klarić

Sustainability 2023, 15(17), 13260; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151713260 - 4 Sep 2023

Viewed by 934

Abstract

Innovations can offer key advantages to companies, but in some EU regions, the design and development of innovation measures are still relatively novel concepts. The aim of this study was to analyze the collaborations of innovative Bulgarian furniture manufacturers with external stakeholders and the used information channels as factors for the development and implementation of innovation and participation in global value chains over their innovation activities. Out of 3890 Bulgarian companies, the number of companies included in the target group was further reduced to 85 firms due to missing information on some variables. The data for the present study were collected using a large-scale questionnaire distributed on the spot during the months of March and April 2022. Logistic regression was used to reveal the real contribution of the collaborations and the information sources to the ability of companies to innovate. The research results indicated that in Bulgaria, the furniture sector is not considered very innovative, and Bulgarian furniture manufacturing companies do not rely on collaboration with the IT and mechatronics sectors. These companies do not want to participate in GVCs, as they refer to them in relation to supply chains. Therefore, they are less dependent on chain shocks. Companies prefer to hide their innovations for further protection, which might be the reason for the lack of cooperation between the furniture manufacturing companies and academia, NGOs, and other relevant institutions. The findings of the study contribute to new insights into the literature on the participation in GVCs as a factor for collaboration with different stakeholders and hence for product and process innovation development within the furniture industry companies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Operations and Sustainability)

15 pages, 3581 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Successive Planting of Eucalyptus Plantations on Tree Growth and Soil Quality

by Qiongling Dai, Tianhui Wang, Penglian Wei and Yunlin Fu

Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6746; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086746 - 17 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1539

Abstract

The ultra-short-cycle successive planting of Eucalyptus plantations has caused environmental and social problems, and changing the rotation cycle is a very good option to solve this issue. However, the effects of successive planting on Eucalyptus growth and soil quality after changing the cultivation period are unclear. This study evaluated the effects of successive Eucalyptus planting on growth, soil nutrients, and bacterial and fungal community structure with an eight-year cultivation period. Eucalyptus plantations with different succession generations (first, second and third generation) were selected, and tree height and diameter at breast height were measured. Ten indicators of soil nutrients in different soil layers (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm) were measured, and soil bacteria and fungi were sequenced in high throughput. Results show that there is an upward trend in tree growth after three successive generations, reaching the highest timber yield in the third-generation plantation. Soil nutrients also showed changes, in the 0–20 cm soil layer, with decreased TN, NH₄⁺-N, NO₃⁻-N and AK and increased AP, particularly for OM and TP content. In the 20–40 cm soil layer, the content of NH₄⁺-N and NO₃⁻-N increased slightly and the soil’s OM, TP, and TK content increased significantly. The diversity of bacterial and fungal communities in different soil layers increased significantly, and the community structure composition changed. Bacterial and fungal community structures were mainly driven by pH, NH₄⁺-N, TP and AP factors and by OM, NH₄⁺-N, TP and TK factors, respectively. Thus, successive plantings of Eucalyptus plantations with a cultivation period of eight years is conducive to the growth of trees. Some nutrients of the soil were returned, and the soil microbial diversity increased. Successive planting has brought efficiency and economic benefits while maintaining the soil’s fertility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Operations and Sustainability)

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23 pages, 100499 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Altitudinal Distribution, Seasonal Dynamics and Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Infections in Hard Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Different Forest Communities in Inland Croatia

by Marko Vucelja, Stjepan Krčmar, Josipa Habuš, Vesna Mojčec Perko, Marko Boljfetić, Linda Bjedov and Josip Margaletić

Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 4862; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15064862 - 9 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1508

Abstract

Altitudinal distributions, population structures and seasonal dynamics of tick fauna at three localities in Continental Croatia (Medvednica and Papuk) and an alpine biogeographic region (Gorski Kotar) were studied. Sampling of questing ticks was performed twice a year (spring and autumn, from 2019 to 2021) at different altitudes (200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 m above sea level) using the flagging method. In total, 2942 ticks (53.9% larvae, 40.1% nymphs, 6.0% adults) were sampled and 2937 (99.83%) were determined as Ixodes ricinus, 4 (0.14%) as Haemaphysalis concinna and 1 (0.03%) as Ixodes frontalis. Ixodes ricinus was the only species found at all altitudes and sampling sites. The highest tick abundance was recorded at higher altitudes (800–1000 m asl.) on Medvednica and in Gorski Kotar within mixed forests of European beech and European silver fir, while on Papuk most of the ticks were sampled at lower altitudes (200 m asl.) in Sessile oak forest. From 27 pools containing 305 ticks, 1 (3.7%) was positive for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. was detected in 20% (1/5) of the pools containing nymphs and adults collected in Gorski Kotar (600 and 800 m asl.). Sequencing of the ospA gene and phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto genotype. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Operations and Sustainability)

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12 pages, 618 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Chainsaw Power on Fuel and Oil Consumption

by Slavica Antonić, Milorad Danilović, Dušan Stojnić and Srđan Dražić

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2795; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032795 - 3 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2083

Abstract

This research was carried out in a selection stand of beech and fir, where logging was performed with chainsaws of different powers. Two chainsaws of 3.9 kW were used for work on one area, while on the other one the applied tools were a combination of a smaller and a larger saw (2.5 kW and 3.9 kW). After logging, the consumption of energy products (fuel (gasoline and motor oil mix ratio 50:1) and chainsaw oil) was measured for each individual chainsaw by the method of refueling. It was found that the power of the chainsaw, i.e., the combination of chainsaws of different powers, significantly influences the consumption of energy products in a beech–fir mixed stand. By using a combination of one larger and one smaller chainsaw instead of two larger chainsaws, savings of about 26% for fuel and 24% for oil were achieved. The prediction analysis found that by using two chainsaws (of lower and higher power) instead of two higher power chainsaws (currently common mode of work) in beech stands for an estimated volume of about 1 million m³ year⁻¹, the savings could be about 54,000 L of fuel and about 19,000 L of oil. In monetary value, this is a saving of about EUR 120,000 year⁻¹, i.e., of about 2,500,000 MJ year⁻¹ of energy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Operations and Sustainability)

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8 pages, 222 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Technodiversity—An E-Learning Tool as an Additional Offer for the Master’s Degree and In-Company Training

by Jörn Erler, Raffaele Spinelli and Andreja Đuka

Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 15851; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315851 - 28 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1245

Abstract

In November 2021, a project proposal submitted by the TU Dresden and in which seven other partner institutions are involved was approved in the ERASMUS+ program Action Type KA220-HED. The aim of the project is to develop an e-learning tool that can be used to teach forest technology at the Master’s level. Project work develops along four main tasks: (1) Facts and methods (theoretical contents), (2) Scientific audiovisuals (descriptive contents), (3) E-learning platform (structure) and (4) Didactics (implementation). In this article, the advantages and disadvantages of e learning are discussed and the development of the course contents (facts and methods) is presented in detail. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Operations and Sustainability)

Review

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23 pages, 2689 KiB

Open AccessReview

Exploring the Role of ICTs and Communication Flows in the Forest Sector

by Alex Vinicio Gavilanes Montoya, Danny Daniel Castillo Vizuete and Marina Viorela Marcu

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 10973; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151410973 - 13 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2221

Abstract

The forestry sector has used technology to improve productivity and increase service quality, reducing labor in many processes. In this sense, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are having broad impacts on the forestry sector, from forestry to the marketing of forest products and the recreational use of forests. There is a wide range of technologies that can be implemented in forestry depending on the needs of each user. The objective of this study was to conduct a literature review in order to analyze the opportunities for improving ICT and communication flows in the forestry sector and to evaluate their applicability. This literature review was analyzed using the Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect databases. An overview of the importance of ICT and communication flows in the forestry sector, ICT tools, and their applications is provided. One-way and two-way communication flows coexist in forestry, integrating different communication channels, time, target audience, and message. It is clear that technologies have produced significant changes in all sectors of the forestry industry. We conclude that ICTs and communication flows contribute to forest conservation and management in the establishment of standards or policies that ensure conservation through monitoring and analysis of landscapes at different temporal and spatial scales. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Operations and Sustainability)

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