Earticle

Improving the urban environmental quality relies mainly on the increasing of urban forests capacity to store carbon dioxide. This study assesses the floristic diversity of urban institutional lands in Bukavu and their potential to reduce atmospheric CO2. An exhaustive inventory over three sites (Collège Alfajiri, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de la Paix and Institut Supérieur Pédagogique) of Bukavu led to the identification of 1,113 trees of which the diameter at breast height (1.30 m) ranged from 4.9 to 161 cm. Results reveal a floristic diversity made up of 4 families of conifers with 4 species and 14 of broadleaves with 21 species. Average densities were of 54 trees ha-1 and 5.21 m2 ha-1 of basal area. Urban-based allometric equations used yielded up to 312.8 tons of carbon stored in trees aboveground biomass equivalent to 1,147.9 tons of CO2 reduced from the atmosphere over the three sites. The rate of carbon storage reaches 15.1 tons ha-1. Thus, trees of the three institutional sites in Bukavu play an important role in reducing atmospheric CO2 and contribute, thereby, to mitigate global climate change effects. Given the current environmental challenge associated with high population growth rate in cities, the urban forest ecosystem in DRC requires to be extended and further investigation.

Trees at farm are considered as one of the option to reduce poverty of smallholders by contributing to livelihood security and resilience to climate change. A perception based study was conducted to assess the cultural importance of tree species suitable for practicing agroforestry in randomly selected agroforestry-dominated villages in Alaknanda valley of Western Himalayas during 2015-16. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data on the provisioning services of major agroforestry tree species in randomly surveyed 87 households. Based on cultural importance (CI) index value, the most suitable agroforestry tree species was Morus alba (3.32) followed by Celtis australis (3.22), Mangifera indica (3.01), Grewia optiva (2.79), Toona ciliata (2.22), Bauhinia variegata (2.08), Leucaena leucocephala (1.76) and Emblica officinalis (1.74). The preference of use has also been governed based on their indigenous knowledge. This study will also facilitate in evaluating the importance of provisioning services of agroforestry tree species in improving livelihood as well as facilitates smallholder’s resilience to climate change in Western Himalayas.

Investigation was carried out on response of Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schum. and Thonn.) to soil, water and light with the view of its domestication and introduction to different ecological regions. The experiment was arranged in a factorial experiment of 3×3×3 in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates. The factors were: soil textural class (Loamy sand, Sand and Sandy clay loam), watering regime (daily, twice a week and once a week) and light intensity (100%, 75% and 50%). Soil textural classes had significant influence on collar diameter, stem height, number of leaflets, root/shoot ratio and relative growth rate of Tetrapleura seedlings. Seedlings grown on loamy sand recorded the highest mean value- 2.28 mm for collar diameter, stem height- 12.9 cm, number of leaflets- 19.9, chlorophyll b- 0.34 mg mL-1, leaf relative water content- 27.4% and relative growth rate- 0.037 mg g-1 day-1. Watering regime had significant influence on the collar diameter of Tetrapleura. Seedlings watered daily recorded the highest mean value- 2.25 mm for collar diameter. Light intensity significantly influenced collar diameter and root/shoot ratio. Seedlings exposed to 100% light intensity recorded higher mean value for collar diameter- 2.28 mm and root/shoot ratio- 1.481 cm. The interaction between soil textural class and light intensity significantly affected collar diameter, stem height and number of leaflets. Higher mean value for collar diameter (2.47 mm) stem height (13.25 cm) and number of leaflets (21.16) were recorded while the interaction between soil textural class, light intensity and watering regime was significant for only number of leaflets. Tetrapleura exhibited some level of tolerance to different soil texture, drought and light intensity. Therefore, Tetrapleura has the potentials to be raised in different ecological zones characterized by difference in soil, rainfall and amount of sunshine.

The distribution and form of pine wood nematode (PWN) were investigated in Jinju-si and Sacheon-si areas, where infested with pine wilt disease (PWD). The average PWN population per g of the tubulation part in the wilted Japanese balck pine were 381.2 and 341 in Jinju-si and Sacheon-si, respectively. The PWN population per g of affected Japanese black pine with wilt rate below 60% were 556 and 518 in Jinju-si and Sacheon-si, respectively. The ratios of PWN and other plant-parasitic nematode in the wilted Japanse black pines were 48% vs. 52% in Jinju-si and 53% vs. 47% in Sacheon-si after exposure to PWD for 1 year. The survivorship of pine wood nematode in the sampled trees after 1 year was 0-10% in the Jinju-si area and 5-20% detected in the Sacheon-si area. In the forest areas affected by PWN, the highest survival rates were 37.2% and 39.8% at 25 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) in Jinju-si and Sacehon-si, respectively, while the highest wilt rates were 30.5% and 28.3% at 30 cm DBH in Jinju-si and Sacehon-si, respectively.

In flight particulate matter particularly emissions generated by incomplete combustion processes has become a subject of global concern due to the health problems and environmental impacts associated with them. This has compelled most countries to set standards for coarse and fine particles due to their conspicuous impacts on environment and public health. This contribution therefore explores forest fire emissions and how its particulates affects air quality, damage to vegetation, water bodies and biological functions as architects for lung diseases and other degenerative illnesses such as oxidative stress and aging. Soot was collected from simulated forest fire using a clean glass surface and carefully transferred into amber vials for analysis. Volatile components of soot were collected over 10 mL dichloromethane and analyzed using a QTOF Premier-Water Corp Liquid Chromatography hyphenated to a mass selective detector (MSD), and Gas Chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC-MS). To characterize the size and surface morphology of soot, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used. The characterization of molecular volatiles from simulated forest fire emissions revealed long chain compounds including octadec-9-enoic acid, octadec-6-enoic acid, cyclotetracosane, cyclotetradecane, and a few aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene and naphthalene). Special classes of organics (dibenzo-p-dioxin and 2H-benzopyran) were also detected as minor products. Dibenzo-p-dioxin for instance in chlorinated form is one of the deadliest environmental organic toxins. The average particulate size of emissions using SEM was found to be 11.51±4.91 m. This study has shown that most of the emissions from simulated forest fire fall within PM10 particulate size. The molecular by-products of forest fire and particulate emissions may be toxic to both human and natural ecosystems, and are possible precursors for various respiratory ailments and cancers. The burning of a forest by natural disasters or man-made fires results in the destruction of natural habitats and serious air pollution.

Understanding how future climate conditions will be impact on the biodiversity and species composition is important, because biodiversity becomes more important in environment assessment. To understand the biological changes including diversity and species composition over time (temporal variation within a year), the species diversity and composition of ground beetles were investigated in two well-preserved areas in the Sobaeksan National Park using pitfall traps. In addition, relationships between ground beetles and environmental variables were studied by considering temporal variation. We collected 2,146 ground beetle specimens representing 45 species, and individual-based rarefaction curves indicated that similar species richness was found between Geumseon Valley (GV) and Namcheon Valley (NV). The Bray-Curtis matrix comparisons between study sites were characterized by similar ground beetles sample heterogeneity, while temporal variations in abundance, species richness, and -diversity of ground beetles showed rather difference over time according to location of study sites. In GV site, minimum temperature was selected as the best predictor for abundance, species richness, and -diversity of ground beetles, while those relationships in NV site were more complicated. In conclusion, our study suggests that understanding the different response of ground beetles to climatic variables related to local habitat conditions is important to predict the effect of climate change on biological communities.

In temperate monsoon regions, extensive shallow landslides triggered by heavy rainfall are recurrent phenomena in mountainous areas. 1,357 landslides over Jinbu area, Korea that totaled 127 km2 were identified from aerial photographs and field survey. We examined characteristics of rainfall-induced shallow landslides and casual factors affecting landslide distribution with respect to topographic and forest settings, and land use. Most landslides occurred in the study area were the results of a complex combination of precondition, preparatory factors and triggering factors. Cumulative rainfall and high intensity rainfall during short period of time made the study area very sensitive to landslides and played as catalysts to enable other factors including topographic and forest settings, and land use to act more effectively. In addition, some landslides at lower elevation involved channel incision or bank erosion influenced by land use changes such as deforestation and intensification of agriculture surrounding riparian forests or hillslopes. The results suggest that most of landslide were triggered by heavy rainstorms while topographic, forest settings, and land use affected landslide distribution occurred in the study area.

We selected 6 plots (100 m2) located 2.2-3.8 km from Minamidake Crater on the north flank of Sakurajima Volcano. We conducted a field study to investigate the effects of volcanic activity on vegetation succession and surface erosion rate. The results showed that trees growing in plots further from the crater had a greater diameter at breast height (DBH), total height, and age. In addition, these plots had a greater number of woody plants and species, as well as a greater total cross-sectional area at breast height. The Fisher-Williams index of diversity () and the proportion of evergreen broad-leaved trees were higher in plots located further from the crater. Vegetation succession in these plots was not at the level of a climax forest. From 1972 to 2015, the timing for active volcano, the depth of volcanic ash layer, the dry density, and the pH of ground surface were lower for plots located further from the crater. Furthermore, the average annual sheet erosion from 1972 to 2015 was also lower for plots located further away from the crater. Overall, plots further away from the crater have a better environment for vegetation growth and a lower dry density of the volcanic ash surface layer. It is thought that lower dry density results in increased soil permeability, which impedes surface flow. In order to prevent debris-flow disasters, caused by mud and rock flow resulting from impaired soil penetrability, it is essential to promote soil development and restore penetrability by artificial vegetation restoration.

The purpose of this study was to examine productivity and cost of tree-length harvesting using cable yarding system in a larch (Larix leptolepis) clear-cutting stand located in Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do. We used tree-length harvesting method using cable yarding system with a tower yarder HAM300. The productivity was 17.6 m3/hr for felling, 12.4 m3/hr for delimbing, 4.2 m3/hr for yarding, and 8.1 m3/hr for processing. The total cost of the harvesting system was 48,381 won/m3, which was majorly composed of yarding operation cost, at 40,169 won/m3 (79.3%), while felling had the lowest cost at 1,154 won/m3 (4.1%). Major factors affecting felling and processing productivity was tree volume and the number and thickness of branches for delimbing productivity. In addition, we suggest that training and education for machine operators were critical to improve yarding productivity.

Enzymatic treatment was conducted to hydrolyze pure cellulose nanofiber (PCNF), holocellulose nanofiber (HCNF), and lignocellulose nanofiber (LCNF) for 6, 24 and 72 hours and thus-obtained nanofibers (1, 3, 5, 10 wt%) were used to reinforce polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Glucose production yield was increased by enzymatic hydrolysis. Tensile strength and elastic modulus of all PVA nanocomposite reinforced three nanofibers were improved by increasing enzymatic hydrolysis time of nanofibers and these values were higher in order of nanocomposite reinforced with PCNF＞HCNF ＞LCNF. Furthermore, tensile properties of nanocomposite with PCNF were increased by nanofiber content. Thermal stability of PVA was improved by adding nanofibers and by increasing nanofiber content.