Earticle

In the present exploration we identified perception of forest dependent communities in relation to impact of climate change on forest ecosystem in and around Chilapatta reserve forest in northern part of West Bengal, India. Purposive sampling method was used for selection of area and random sampling method was used for selection of respondent. The data collection in this study was through questionnaire based personal in- depth interviews. Almost all the respondents (94%) were farmers and rest had occupation other than farming. Almost all the respondents perceived negative impact of climate change on forest though the level of perception varies from very low to medium (0.23-0.52) based on average perception score after assigning score to individual statements. The level of perception on impact of climate change on forest ecology and forest flora of the community is low and very low as the average perception score is 0.39 and 0.23, respectively while, it is medium (0.52) for forest fauna. Alternately their perception on decreased stream/river flow and quick drying of seasonal streams or water bodies is based on their livelihood experience as they depend on these for their domestic and irrigation water use and fish catch for family diet.

The objective of this study is to identify the individual characteristics and the elements of social capital hence a suitable design of social capital reinforcement can be proposed to promote a sustainable community-based mangrove management. The research conducted in three villages that were selected based on mangrove ecological differences in Lampung Province, Indonesia. Qualitative data was collected through field observation and in-depth interviews with key informants. The results showed that the population in the three villages dominated on productive ages, worked as farmers, and less educated (only a half of the population had fulfilled the basic education standard of Indonesia). The study results also indicated that the social capital in the communities showed minimum condition of interpersonal attachment and cooperation. This condition was derived from the attitude of the people who only took personal benefit without concerning to others’ welfare. Many programs conducted by government to ensure the conservation of mangroves were project-oriented with minor participation of community. The minor participation might also contributed to the minimum of social capital in the community. To improve social capital, the communities should strengthen mutual trust based on mutual benefit to increase members’ participation in mangrove activity.

An experiment was set to assess the effect of mixed plantings on initial growth and biomass yield of two common plantation tree species of Bangladesh namely Acacia auriculiformis (A) and Gmelina arborea (G). Study was carried out in the nursery bed of the Seed Research Laboratory and Nursery of Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Chittagong University (IFESCU), Bangladesh during February to November, 2015. The treatments consisted of two pure planting plots (100% A and 100% G) and five mixed planting plots (50%A: 50%G, 35%A: 65%G, 25%A: 75%G, 65%A: 35%G and 75%A: 25%G) of these two species. In nursery, seedlings were raised in a randomized blocks with four replicates of seven treatment plots. Periodic increments on height (cm), collar diameter (cm) and leaf/phyllode number of the seedlings was taken in every month and continued up to 10 months. The growth and biomass yield of seedlings were measured 10 months after the first seed was emerged. The effects of mixed plantation on growth and biomass were compared to that of seedlings grown in pure plantation. At the age of 10 months it was found that G. arborea seedlings were significantly tallest (240.13 cm) when planted with A. auriculiformis in a proportion of 25%A: 75%G, whereas A. auriculiformis were tallest in the pure 100% A plot, with an average mean height of 135.36 cm. Maximum collar diameter (1.38 cm) was recorded for G. arborea in the mixed plots 75%A: 25%G. Fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots of the seedlings were found significantly (p＜0.05) highest in 50%A: 50%G plot for G. arborea. G. arborea also showed highest quality index when mixed with A. auriculiformis in a proportion of 50:50, with an average value of 8.96. The results revealed a positive correlation between seedling growth and various planting patterns.

In this study, spray-drying yield and morphological characterization of spray-dried cellulose nanofibril (CNF) and TEMPO-oxidized nanocellulose (TONC) depending on spray-drying condition and surfactant addition was investigated. As spray-drying temperature increased, the yield of spray-dried CNF was increased. The highest spray-drying yields in both nanocelluloses were found at didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC) addition of 2.5 phr at all investigated temperatures. The spray-dried CNF was the sphere-like particle, but the spray- dried TONC showed both rod and sphere-like morphology. The average diameter of spray-dried CNF was decreased with increasing DDAC addition amount, resulting in the increase of specific surface area.

With the growing global concern about climate change, relationship between carbon stock density and tree species has become important for international climate change mitigation programmes. In this study, 150 Quadrats were laid down to assess the diversity, biomass and carbon stocks in each of the forest ranges (Barkot Range, Lachchiwala Range and Thano Range) of Dehra Dun Forest Division in Doon Valley, Western Himalaya, India. Community level carbon stock density was analyzed using Two Way Indicator Species Analysis. Species Richness and Shannon Weiner index was correlated with the carbon stocks of Doon Valley. Positive and weak relationship was found between the carbon stock density and Shannon Weiner Index, and between carbon stock density and Species Richness.

Overall, 3,950 mushroom specimens were collected from the Central Cardamom Protected Forest (CCPF) in Koh Kong province, the Kirirom National Park (KNP) in Kampong Speu province, the Seima Biodiversity Conservation Area (SBCA) in Kratie province, the Mondulkiri Protected Forest (MPF) in Mondulkiri province, the Phnom Bokor National Park (PBNP) in Kampot province, the Western Siem Pang Protected Forest (SPPF) in Stung Treng province, the Ream National Park (RNP) in Sihanoukville province of Cambodia from 2009 to 2014, and then they were identified and classified into 302 species, 165 genera, and 64 families by morphological and genetical characteristics. The mushrooms belongs to Ascomycota were classified into 26 species, 14 genera, and 10 families, while those belongs to Basidiomycota were classified into 276 species, 151 genera, and 54 families, respectively. Among these mushrooms, the most species-rich families are Polyporaceae (26.2%), Marasmiaceae (9.1%), Ganodermataceae (7.7%), Hymenochaetaceae (7.5%), and Mycenaceae (7.1%), and comprised 57.5% of the total specimens identified.

This study was conducted to evaluate the ecological attributes of forest types which were classified by cluster analysis in the natural forest of Mt. Odae on the basis of the vegetation data (232 sampling points) from the point-quarter sampling methods. For the classified types, the species composition was expressed by importance value to describe the stand structure and the species diversity was quantified using the Shannon’s diversity index. Recognized forest types were 1) Quercus mongolica–Pinus densiflora–Betula ermanii forest type, 2) Mixed mesophytic forest type, 3) Q. mongolica forest type, 4) B. ermanii forest type. Species diversity indices of total and overstory were highest in the Mixed mesophytic forest type (3.465 and 2.942), and lowest in the B. ermanii forest type (0.118 and 0.832). In addition to that, Q. mongolica–P. densiflora–B. ermanii forest type was calculated as 3.226 and 2.565, and Q. mongolica forest type was calculated as 2.776 and 1.218 in total and overstory, respectively. It was considered that after the P. densiflora and B. ermanii first invaded and site condition became good, Q. mongolica–P. densiflora–B. ermanii forest type was dominated by Q. mongolica. Mixed mesophytic forest type showed the most stable stand structure with various species distributed uniformly. Q. mongolica forest type would preserve the present stand status for a while, and the B. ermanii in B. ermanii forest type would be pressed by other species over time.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of thinning intensity on the growth of large diameter trees in Korean white pine (Pinus koraiensis S. et Z.) plantation. Eight thinning plots were analyzed by categorizing into heavy thinning, light thinning, no thinning (control) according to thinning intensity. As a result, average DBH increased more in heavy thinning plots than in light thinning or unthinned plots. The number of large trees (DBH＞25 cm) were obviously shown the most in heavy thinning plots. It is considered that heavy thinning is needed for the production of the large diameter trees.