Earticle

The purpose of the study was to assess and compare the diversity of plant species (trees, shrubs, herbs) of natural forest and plantations. A total of 52 plant species were recorded in the natural forest, of which 16 were trees, 15 were shrubs and 21 were herbs. On the contrary, 31 species of plants including 11 trees, 8 shrubs and 12 herbs were identified in plantation forest. Shannon-Wiener diversity index were 2.70, 2.72 and 3.12 for trees, shrubs and herbs respectively in the natural forest. However, it was 2.35 for tree species, 2.31 for shrub species and 2.81 for herb species in the plantation forest. Jaccard’ similarity index showed that 71% species of trees, 44% species of shrubs and 43% species of herbs were same in plantations and natural forest.

The present study was carried out from September 2007 to February 2008 in Umfakarin natural forest reserve, South Kordofan, Sudan. The objective was to analyze the effect of different management strategies on yield of gum talha from Acacia seyal. A total of 493 single target trees were selected, based on their diameters, and assigned to tapping treatments in three different stand densities (making a total of nine treatments per stand density). The treatments are as follows: tapping date with three levels (first of October, 15 October and first of November) and two levels of local tapping tools (sonki, and makmak). Untapped trees were used as control. The first picking of gum was started fifteen days after tapping while the subsequent pickings were done in intervals of fifteen days. Yield per tree throughout the season was obtained by summing up the gum yield from all pickings. Yield throughout the season (from first to the last picking) were analyzed. General linear model (GLM) was used to test the effect of different tapping treatments on the yield of gum talha. Post hoc test after analysis of variance (ANOVA) based on Scheffe test was performed to examine the differences in gum yield as a result of different management strategies. The results showed that tapping has a significant influence on gum yield. Analysis of pick-to-pick yield indicated that only three treatments in dense stand density showed a decreasing pattern while the rest of treatments either have constant or unclear patterns. The results of the present study were based on a single season data and that may underscore the real effect of Acacia seyal stands´ management strategies on gum talha yield. Conducting gum yield experiments in permanent trial plots are highly recommended in order to analyze gum yield of seasonal time series.

The possibility of employing biomass of Salix viminalis cv. Q683 as a resource of bio-energy was evaluated. The chemical analysis of S. viminalis cv. Q683 leaf biomass showed components such as, extractives (2.57%), lignin (39.06%), hemicellulose (21.61%), and cellulose (37.83%), whereas, its stem was composed of extractives (1.67%), lignin (23.54%), hemicellulose (33.64%), and cellulose (42.03%). The biomass of S. viminalis cv. Q683 was saccharified using two enzymes celluclast and viscozyme. The saccharification of S. viminalis cv. Q683 biomass was influenced by enzymes and their strengths. The optimal enzyme combination was found to be celluclast (59 FPU/g substrate) and viscozyme (24 FBG/g substrate). On saccharification the glucose from leaf and stem biomass was 7.5g/L and 11.7g/L, respectively after 72 hr of enzyme treatment. The biomass and enzyme-treated biomass served as the feedstock for ethanol production by fermentation. The ethanol production from stem and leaf biomass was 5.8 g/L and 2.2 g/L respectively, while the fermentation of the enzymatic hydrolysates yielded 5 g/L to 8 g/L bioethanol in 72 hours.

Seeds of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge were collected from two plantations and two superior trees in Inner Mongolia; and one plantation and one superior tree in Liaoning, China in late August, 2011. Yellowhorn or goldenhorn is an important tree species, from the aspects of source of edible oil and biodiesel and pioneering capacity of degraded and desert land. Characteristics investigated were seed length, width, and weight; weight and volume of 1,000 seeds; and weight and volume of one-liter seeds. The seeds of Qingsonglingxiang No. 1, growing alone in an open space, showed the highest values in seed length (16.08 mm), width (14.48 mm) and weight (1.40 g), while those of Tree No. 160 in Ar Khorqin Banner were the lowest ones; that is, 11.48mm for length, 11.81 mm for width, and 0.73 g for weight, respectively. Traits of seeds varied quite much between trees and among areas; for example, Tree No. 38 and No. 160 produced quite different seeds in several traits, although they are adjacent to each other in the same farm. Weight of 1,000 seeds varied from 718.0 g to 1,010.1 g and volume from 0.76 L to 1.52 L. Weight of one-liter seeds were 522.3 g to 688.2 g, while the number of seeds were 603 to 935. Seeds which were soaked in the water at 4°C for 2 days showed the highest germination rate (89%) in a 30-day test, which was about 10% to 40% higher than those of non-treatment and dipping treatment at 36°C followed by keeping under room temperature for 2 days. 81% of seeds in the wet sand at room temperature germinated, while 23% of seeds deprived of seed coat germinated. It is necessary to understand seed traits to select superior clones or provenances for the increased, unfluctuating production of seed.

This study was conducted to analyze the stand structure and growth characteristics along different elevations of Pinus koraiensis natural forests located at mean elevation 1,300 m (site1), 900 m (site2) and 600 m (site3) on Mt. Seorak. Mean DBH and height of P. koraiensis were 25.4 cm and 12.3 m in site1, while that of site2 and 3 were over 40 cm and 20 m, respectively. For this reason, there was 5 times difference of single tree volume between site1 and other sites(p<0.05). Mean ringwidth increment of P. koraiensis was 1.1 mm/yr in site1, 1.5 mm/yr in site2 and 2.6 mm/yr in site3. However, recent growth of ringwidth has increased by 8.6% in site1, whereas site2 and 3 have fallen by approximately 50% over the last 10 years. These results signify that the growth and distribution of natural P. koraiensis are effected by different climatic environment along elevations.

The purpose of this study was to understand the geographical and environmental distribution of animals and plants in Baekdudaegan region using field survey and GIS data. Crucial factors were selected and analyzed to understand the distributional characteristics of wild animals (16 species in 5 orders) and rare endemic plants (20 species in 12 orders). These crucial factors include stand factor (forest type, DBH class, and crown density), soil factor (bed rock, soil texture, and organic matter), geographical factor (elevation, slope, aspect) and climatic factor (temperature, rain fall, humidity). Finally, ten crucial factors were selected by statistical analysis and categorized for analyzing geographical and environmental features. Three orders such as Rodentia, Carnivora, and Artiodactula in wild animal showed the similar habitat characteristics with the small diameter and the elevation range from 801 to 1,000m. The Hydropotes inermis of Artiodactyla and Rattus norvegicus of Rodentia were different in the type of orders, but they had the similar habitat characteristics with the coniferous forest and loam. On the other hand, four orders such as Tubiflorales, Liliales, Ericales, and Rhamnales in the rare and endemic plants were showed high occurrence rate in the organic matter between 4 and 6%. The Rodgersia podophylla of Rosales and Gastrodia elata Blume of Microspermae were different in the type of orders, but they had the similar habitat characteristics with the stand factor and soil factor.

This study reviewed on the research trend of sources and utilization of the byproducts(Lignin) from bioethanol production process with lignocellulosic biomass such as wood, agri-processing by-products(corn fiber, sugarcane bagasse etc.) and energy crops(switch grass, poplar, Miscanthus etc.). During biochemical conversion process, only Cellulose and hemicellulosic fractions are converted into fermentable sugar, but lignin which represents the third largest fraction of lignocellulosic biomass is not convertible into fermentable sugars. It is therefore extremely important to recover and convert biomass-derived Lignin into high-value products to maintain economic competitiveness of cellulosic ethanol processes. It was introduced that lignin types and characteristics were different from various isolation methods and biomass sources. Also utilization and potentiality for market of those were discussed.

Forest in the our country is in the age that needs positive operation in order to foster economical forest. Multiple operations for making valuable forest should be conducted steadily and timely from afforestation to harvesting. In order to execute these kinds of forest operations, the construction of skid trail network that can be effectively used as a pathway for forestry machine and working space is necessary. To investigate facility effect of skid trail network, we executed the location of skid trail network through centroid method by GIS for 50ha of harvesting workplace in mechanized model forest located in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province. As a result of this research, skid trail density in this area changed from 79m/ha with current method to 42m/ha with improved method. It appeared that skid trail density with improved method is nearly half of current method even though the cutting area is the same as the current cutting area. Also, skidding distance changed from 117m with current method to 57m with improved method. It appears that skidding distance with improved method is nearly half of current method even though cutting area was enlarged in adjacent tending cutting area.

This study aims to assess MEE(management effectiveness evaluations) on PAs(protected areas) for forest genetic resources which play an important role in biodiversity conservation, and then to suggest better ways to manage PAs for forest genetic resources. This study applies same indicators of the MEE on PAs as the ones described in the prior study(Ryu et al. 2011). The indicators applied are composed of five elements, thirty-two indicators which all would be grouped into one element by each traits. Overall indicators belonging to the element of output and outcome are comparatively low. Especially the ones related to the change of biodiversity, degree of ecosystem health, variation of civil complaint and visitor satisfaction are ranked mostly low. The element of input shows the low rank on the number of staff and budget. The score of indicators related to the identification of the threats of PAs and local communities' supports turn out to be low in the element of Context. The element of process, however, has scored low on Staff management, Education/Awareness programs and Governance, while the law enforcement, management regulation and capacity to prevent forest disasters have made relatively high score. Meanwhile, all indicators in the element of planning have scored relatively high as compared to the indicators belonged to other elements. This study suggests to strengthen a few constructive proposals, such as facilitating efficient management framework for PAs, developing local community cooperation program, establishing survey, research and monitoring system, and registering PAs to the WDPA(World Database on Protected Areas) according to the IUCN categories.