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In this study, quantitative models were applied to case parks to estimate the carbon reduction by trees, which was compared and analyzed at the tree and park levels. At the tree level, quantitative models of carbon storage and uptake differed by up to 7.9 times, even for the same species and size. At the park level, the carbon reduction from quantitative models varied by up to 3.7 times for the same park. In other words, carbon reduction by quantitative models exhibited considerable variation at the tree and park levels. These differences are likely due to the use of different growth environment coefficients and annual diameter at breast height growth rates and the overestimation of carbon reduction due to the substitution of the same genus and group model for each tree species. Extending the annual carbon uptake per unit area of the case park to the total park area of Chuncheon a carbon uptake ranging from a minimum of 370.4 t/yr and a maximum of 929.3 t/yr, and the difference can reach up to 558.9 t/yr. This is equivalent to the carbon emissions from the annual household electricity consumption of approximately 2,430 people. These results suggest that the indiscriminate application of quantitative models to estimate carbon reduction in urban trees can lead to significant errors and deviations in estimating carbon storage and uptake in urban greenspaces. The findings of this study can serve as a basis for estimating carbon reduction in urban greening research, projects, and policies.

Urban forests serve multiple purposes by providing green resting spaces and environmental benefits for city residents. In the old city center, where parks are scarce, the campus of Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, South Korea, serves as an urban forest for students, faculty, and citizens. This study aims to quantitatively analyze the environmental functions of green spaces on campus, raising awareness about their importance among campus members. The total carbon storage of campus trees was estimated at 1,653,218 kg, including 1,512,586 kg in forest areas, 131,061 kg in planting spaces around buildings, and 9,571 kg in street spaces. The annual carbon uptake of campus trees was estimated to be 39,391 kg/year, with 30,144 kg/year in forest areas, 8,017 kg/year in planting spaces around buildings, and 1,230 kg/year in horizontal spaces. In addition, annual oxygen production was estimated to be 105,044 kg/year, with 80,385 kg/year in forest areas, 21,378 kg/year in planting spaces around buildings, and 3,281 kg/year in street spaces. Furthermore, we estimated carbon emissions from the use of on-campus facilities to be 4,856,182 kg/year, while oxygen consumption by members was estimated at 53,975 kg/year. However, the campus trees supplied a sufficient amount of oxygen, which was twice the amount required by school members. The carbon uptake amount was approximately 1% of the amount of carbon emissions, resulting in a modest contribution to improving the environmental conditions of the site.

We surveyed to assess the impact of the mood states and sentiments resulting from forest experience on the school life satisfaction of Korean boarding middle school students (n=90). The average mood state score was 2.32 on a scale of 1-5, with the subscale of vigor scoring the highest (3.19). The average sentiment score was 3.08, with the subscale of subjective happiness scoring the highest (3.08). The average school life satisfaction score was 3.66, with the subscale of interpersonal relationships scoring the highest (3.91). The mood states resulting from forest experience explained 39.6% of the variance in school life satisfaction, and the regression model showed a significant fit (F=9.077, p＜0.001). Similarly, sentiments resulting from forest experience explained 47.4% of school life satisfaction, with the regression model showing a significant fit (F=10.569, p＜0.001). It can be concluded that forest experience positively impacts the school life satisfaction of Korean boarding middle school students.

Heloniopsis orientalis (Liliaceae) is an important horticultural crop native to Korea. Under natural conditions, germination is poor and plant growth is delayed. Therefore, we have developed a vegetative propagation method to produce plants with vigorous growth characteristics via tissue culture. The regenerated shoots were then initiated directly from leaf explants on an MS medium containing either 0.5 to 2.0 mg/L 2,4-D or 1.0 to 3.0 mg/L BA. Healthy plantlets with adventitious roots were formed on the medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L BA (81%). BA triggered callus initiation without caulogenesis or rhizogenesis, and callus formation was better on the half-strength MS medium than on the full-strength medium. This in vitro propagation protocol will be useful for conservation, as well as for mass propagation.

Consumption and selling of Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) are important means to meet nutritional requirements and improve the socio-economic conditions of the rural population. The purpose of this study was to document the status and utilization pattern and assess the economic value of NTFPs sold in the markets of the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) of Arunachal Pradesh. Five major markets with 182 vendors were surveyed, and a total of 94 plant-based products under 63 species belonging to 32 families were found to be sold in the markets. Species like Acmella oleracea, Clerodendrum glandulosum, Dioscorea alata, Houttuynia cordata, Phoebe goalparensis, Piper pedicellatum, Zanthoxylum rhetsa, etc. are found to be highly preferred and have a higher demand in the local markets. The edible products of species like Piper pedicellatum and Phoebe goalparensis though highly consumed in the study area, are used only within the region, and the national and international demands of the species are nil. The animal-base products are not included in the study.

The extent of change in the Land use/Land cover (LULC) of Okomu National Park (ONP) and fringe communities was evaluated. High resolution Landsat imagery was used to identify the major vegetation cover/land use systems and changes around the national park and fringe communities while field visits/ground truthing, involving the collection of coordinates of the locations was carried out to ascertain the various land cover/land use types identified on the images, and the extent of change over three-time series (2000, 2010 and 2020). The change detection was analyzed using area calculation, change detection by nature and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The result of the classification and analysis of the LULC Change of ONP and fringe communities revealed an alarming rate of encroachment into the protected area. All the classification features analyzed had notable changes from 2000-2020. The forest, which was the dominant LULC feature in 2000, covering about 66.19% of the area reduced drastically to 36.12% in 2020. Agricultural land increased from 6.14% in 2000 to 34.06% in 2020 while vegetation (degraded land) increased from 27.18% in 2000 to 38.89% in 2020. The magnitude of the change in ONP and surroundings showed the forest lost -247.136 km2 (50.01%) to other land cover classes with annual rate change of 10%, implying that 10% of forest land was lost annually in the area for 20 years. The NDVI classification values of 2020 indicate that the increase in medium (399.62 km2) and secondary high (210.17 km2) vegetation classes which drastically reduced the size of the high (38.07 km2) vegetation class. Consequent disappearance of the high forests of Okomu is inevitable if this trend of exploitation is not checked. It is pertinent to explore other forest management strategies involving community participation.

This study characterize, classify and evaluates the function of topography on spatial variability of some selected soil properties to assist in designing land management that support uniform agricultural production. The study site, an agricultural land, was part of the derived savanna zone in southwest Nigeria. Four soil profile pits each were established along two delineated toposequence and described following the FAO/UNESCO guidelines. Samples were collected from the identified genetic horizons. Properties of four soil series developed on different positions of the two delineated Toposequence viz upper, middle, lower slopes and valley bottom positions respectively were studied. The soil samples were analysed for selected physical and chemical properties and data generated were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that soil colour, depth and texture varied in response to changes in slope position and drainage condition. The sand content ranged from 61 to 90% while the bulk density ranged between 1.06 g cm-3 to 1.68 g cm-3. The soils were neutral to very strongly acid with low total exchangeable bases. Available phosphorus value were low while the extractable micronutrient concentration varied from low to medium. Soils of Asejire and Iwo series mapped in the study area were classified as Typic isohyperthermic paleustult, Apomu series as Plinthic isohyperthermic paleustult and Jago series as Aquic psamment (USDA Soil Taxonomy). These soils were correlated as Lixisol, Plinthic Lixisol and Fluvisol (World Reference Based), respectively. Major agronomic constraints of the soils associations mapped in the study area were nutrient availability, nutrient retention, slope, drainage, texture, high bulk density and shallow depth. The study concluded that the soils were not homogenous, shows moderate spatial variation across the slope, had varying potentials for sustainable agricultural practices, and thus, the agronomic constraints should be carefully addressed and managed for precision agriculture.