Earticle

Forest timber production potential of any site is oftentimes measured quantitatively by site index, which is defined as dominant height of a particular stand at a specified age. A site index was developed for estimating site quality of monoculture Pinus caribaea plantations in southwestern Nigeria using a base age of 25 years. Dominant height data were collected from 60 Temporary Sample Plots (TSPs) of 20x20 m in plantations of 15 to 37 years. Linear and non-linear models as been widely applied in quantitative forest measurements were fitted to dominant height- age data and the best site index equation is : SI=Exp(InHd-23.495 (A -0.04). The site index curves constructed for the three sites (Omo Forest Reserve - OFR (J4), Oluwa Forest Reserve - OLFR and Shasha Forest Reserve - SFR) across the southwestern Nigeria using the chosen equation revealed that a 15 year old Pinus caribaea in the study area attained average dominant heights of 25, 22 and 21 m in OFR (J4), OLFR and SFR respectively. The site index equation and curves proffer veritable insight into better silvicultural options and management practices for the future plantations suitable sites.

This study was conducted during May to September in 2012 to investigate the distribution and diversity of beetles in Mt. Jangsan (634 m) located near Busan, Republic of Korea. The collection of beetles was repeated 11 times in the four areas classified according to altitudes 200 m, 400 m, 600 m, and over 600 m (approximately) on the south and north slopes of Mt. Jangsan. A total of 12 families, 20 species, and 4,343 individual beetles were collected. In the southern slopes, a total of 12 families, 20 species, and 2,264 individuals were collected, whereas a total of 12 families, 20 species, and 2,079 individuals on the northern slopes were captured. The monthly emergence of beetles was the highest in August at 651 individuals followed by 516 individuals in September, 496 individuals in July, 364 individuals in Jun, 237 individuals in May. In the northern slopes, the monthly emergence of beetles was the highest in August as 591 individuals followed by 512 individuals in September, 443 individuals in July, 321 individuals in June, and 212 individuals in May. On the southern slopes, the species diversity index, evenness index, and dominance value were 0.950, 0.730, and 0.181, respectively, while in the northern slopes, the species diversity index, evenness index, and dominance index were 0.946, 0.727, and 0.182, respectively. In the both slopes, the species diversity index and evenness index were the highest in May, while dominance index was the highest in September. This study lays the groundwork for further monitoring of these sites and others through the region for environmental changes using the indicator species.

The present study is an attempt to give an account of the inventory of plant species, phytosociological characteristics of vegetation and pedological characteristics of Rambi Beat Forest under Senchal East Forest Zone, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. Its plant community were analyzed quantitatively and synthetically. The results reflect dominancy of dicotyledons over monocotyledons in the four studied sites The plant community comprising of 50 plant species belonging to 40 genera of 27 families. Ramhi beat reflected higher diversity of species. Maximum IVI value was recorded by Viola surpense (47.17) in Rambhi forest beat. The Berger parker index and evenness index were found to be highest for Viola surpense, Fragaria nubicola, Pilea umbrosa in Rambhi beat. The soil characteristics of the different pedons revealed alkaline nature of soil in Rambhi beat. Higher levels of soil organic carbon content reflect higher fertility of the soil of Rambhi beat. The response towards soil available nitrogen and phosphate were different among the ten pedons of Rambhi beat. Therefore, proper management and conservative measures needs to be implemented for conservation of bioresources in Senchel wildlife Sanctuary of West Bengal, India.

Rural people of Sudan are endowed with a deep knowledge concerning the utilization of different tree species. However research on the local knowledge related to tree species utilization still lacks adequate attention. The study objectives were to identify the existing local knowledge related to the utilization of the tree species and the existing threats to the availability of the trees. A total of 300 respondents were selected randomly from Rashad district in Nuba Mountains in 2011. Semi-structured interview, direct observation, group discussion, preference ranking and direct matrix ranking were used to collect the data. The study results revealed that people of Nuba Mountains utilize different tree species for food, medicinal purposes, fodder, firewood, construction and cultural ceremonies. The study results also indicated that the availability of trees is negatively influenced by firewood collection, agricultural expansion, drought, overgrazing and charcoal production. The study concluded that local knowledge has crucial role in tree species utilization in Nuba Mountains. Further researches to document and substantiate the local knowledge on useful tree species are highly recommended.

Leaf area (A0) and leaf biomass (M0) estimation are significant prerequisites to studying tree physiological processes and modeling in the forest ecosystem. The objective of this study was to develop allometric models for estimating A0 and M0 of Swietenia mahagoni L. from different tree parameters such as DBH and tree height of mahogany plantations in the northeastern region of Bangladesh. A total of 850 healthy and well formed trees were selected randomly for sampling in the five study sites. Then, twenty two models were developed based on different statistical criteria that propose reliable and accurate models for estimating the A0 and M0 using non-destructive measurements. The results exposed that model iv and xv were selected on a single predictor of DBH and showed more statistically accuracy than other models. The selected models were also validated with an additional test data set on the basis of linear regression and t-test for mean difference between observed and predicted values. After that, a comparison between the best logarithmic and non-linear allometric model shows that the non-linear model produces systematic biases and underestimates A0 and M0 for larger trees. As a result, it showed that the bias-corrected logarithmic model iv and xv can be used to help quantify forest structure and functions, particularly valuable in future research for estimating A0 and M0 of S. mahagoni in this region.

This study investigated physical properties and combustion gas characteristics for 8 types of wood pellets (4 domestic and 4 imported products) distributed in the domestic market. Results showed that most pellet types were first-grade pellets in the wood pellet quality standards in Korea with the exception of 3 pellet types from K company (second-grade in mechanical durability), G company (off-grade in nitrogen content) and P company (second-grade in ash percentage). Mixed pellets which contained more lignin and sap content were higher in mechanical durability (%) than that of white pellets. From the combustion gas analysis results, NOx emitted from all pellets combustion was at acceptable levels for national emission standard of the Clean Air Conservation Act except for pellets from G company. In addition, CO levels from all types of wood pellets were acceptable except for pellets from D company and domestic pellets were higher CO levels than imported pellets. These results indicate the higher CO levels in domestic pellets due to the usage of forest thinning materials including logging debris which usually had the high content of bark.

There are very few studies about soil chemical and biological properties under tropical dry evergreen forest Coromandel Coast, India. The present study was conducted in six tropical dry evergreen forests sites such as Oorani, Puthupet, Vadaagram, Kotthatai, Sendrakillai and Palvathunnan. We measured the quantity of soil chemical, biological properties and selected soil microorganisms for investigating the impacts of soil microbial populations on soil chemical and biological properties. The result showed that total N, P, Ca, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, Co, exchangeable K, Olson P, extractable Ca and phosphobacterial population were higher in the soil from Kothattai forest site. Organic carbon, total Mg, extractable Na, soil respiration, β-glucosidase activity, bacterial population, fungi population and actinomycetes population were higher in the soil from Palvathunn forest site. Total K, NH4 ＋-N, NO3 −-N, exchangeable K, extractable Ca, extractable Na, azotobacter population, bacillus population and rhizobacteria population were higher in the soil from Sendrakillai. Beijerinckia population, rhizobacteria and soluble sodium were higher in Puthupet forest soil. Total Si, total Na and exchangeable K were higher in soil from Oorani forest site. Total Mo and exchangeable K were higher in the soil from Vadaagaram forest site. The results showed that organic carbon, total N, NH4 ＋-N, NO3 −-N, extractable P, extractable Ca, soil respiration and β-glucosidase were significantly correlated with soil microbial populations. Therefore soil microorganisms are important factor for maintaining soil quality in tropical dry evergreen forest.

Clubiona sapporensis Hayashi, 1986 in Clubionidae is recorded for the first time in Korea and Nesticus acrituberculum sp. nov. in Nesticidae is described with illustrations of taxonomic characters.

In this study, we investigated the Fukiage sand dunes of southern Kyushu, Japan. We surveyed the status of recovery of coastal Japanese black pine forests damaged by pine wilt disease and their disaster prevention capability. We placed two transects: Transect 1, in an area that was severely damaged (80-90% damage rate) by pine wilt disease, and Transect 2, in an area that was mostly undamaged (＜10% damage rate). Then, we installed survey lines, carried out vegetation surveys, and measured the depth and pH of humus soil. The survey lines were placed perpendicular to the coastline from the top of the fore-dune to the inland area, and divided into five 50 m sections. Before the point 100 m inland from the top of the fore-dune, the number of invasive hardwoods and of Japanese black pines were small because of the poor growth environment in both transects. Past the 100 m point, the species and number of Japanese black pines and broad-leaved trees increased further inland because the growth environment improved. In addition, the recovery metrics of tree height, diameter at breast height, age, and number in Transect 1 were much lower than those in Transect 2, and the basal area of broad-leaved trees and the depth of humus soil in Transect 1 were lower than in Transect 2, and the soil pH of humus soil in Transect 1 was higher than that of Transect 2. The shape ratio of the Japanese black pine forests indicated that they were insufficient for disaster prevention. Therefore, in order to fully promote the disaster prevention capability of coastal Japanese black pine forests, we should not only focus on prevention of pine wilt disease but also undertake continuous control efforts taking into consideration the sound growth environment such as appropriate density and soil management and removal of invasive broad-leaved trees.

With consideration of proximate and intricate relationships among rural livelihood, farm land and forestry; this paper examined impact of land tenure reform on local peoples’ forest dependency by taking Ethiopia as case study. The post 1975 major land tenure reform and associated activities such as land distribution and forest demarcation were found to be short of minimizing pressure on the forest as has been evidenced by percentage of new households established inside the forest and current level of dependency on the forest. With most of recently established households all making up the poor and very poor categories, together with overall of household composition which is dominated by dependent members coupled by current land tenure system that tie farmers with their land, future dependency on the already diminished forest seems to increase unabated. Reconsidering the existing land tenure system backed by policy for livelihood diversification, improvement in rural education and awareness on demographic issues can minimize future dependency on the forest.

Wild Korean ginseng has been recognized as highly precious medicine since ancient times. Nowadays, the population of wild ginseng in the forest of Korean peninsula is very rare due to indiscreet harvest. In this work, we investigated the plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis from embryogenic callus of old wild ginseng (more than 50 years-old) and compared the features of plants regenerated from 5-years old and 50 years-old ginseng. Induction of embryogenic callus from adventitious roots of 50 year-old wild ginseng required 83 weeks of culture, but only 10 weeks were sufficient for 5 year-old ginseng. Height and width of plants derived from the old wild ginseng was smaller and slender compared to the plantlets derived from 5 year-old ginseng. Total chlorophyll contents was 2-6 time lower in plantlets regenerated from 50 year-old wild ginseng than those from 5 year-old ginseng, but anthocyanin content was higher in 50 year-old ginseng. Our results revealed that plants regenerated from old wild ginseng have different morphological and physiological characters probably due to age-dependent phenomenon.