Earticle

Forest fire is one of the major disasters occurring in Nepal causing huge loss to the ecosystem, people and economy. They are mainly caused due to different anthropogenic activities. In Nepal, the forest fires occur during the dry season mainly from March to May. Nepal has roughly 29.5 percent forest area that are prone to forest fires and it is estimated that about 375 thousand hectares of forest were burned over one and half decade from 2000-2014. The forest fire risk is higher in the Terai and Siwalik regions than in any other region. To prevent and mitigate the forests fire incidences, the Government of Nepal has formulated and executed different policy instruments. In this regard, this paper aims to review the implementation of policies, strategies, Acts and regulations related to forest fire management at different levels of governance. Although federal and provincial governments’ different policy instruments have considered forest fire and its management, these are not effectively implemented. It is not prioritized in terms of resource allocation, institutional capacity building, disaster preparedness and early warning. In addition, there are unclear and overlapping roles and responsibilities among three tiers of governments to effectively implement the policy provisions. Considering the consequences of the forest fire, governments at different levels need to devise an effective mechanism involving all stakeholders for implementing preventive and curative activities, strengthen institutions and build the capacity of human resources, and increase the level of resource allocation to implement the provisions of various legal and policy instruments.

Land utilisation for various production practices in rural communities in Nigeria is marked with copious challenges and the management has become unsustainable among the local population. Therefore, the study was conducted to analyse factors influencing land use typologies, LUT among farming households in Akinyele Municipality of Oyo State, Nigeria. The employed a 3-stage sampling procedure for selection of 50 respondents from the study area. Information on demographic characteristics of the respondents, typologies of land use and factors impacting was collected with a structured questionnaire. The analyses of data collected was carried out was with frequencies, percentages and logit regression. The study showed majority (78.0%) were male, aged between 40 and 49 years, married (86.0%) and had secondary education (56.0%). The majority (78.0%) had household size ranging from 4-6 members, engaged in farming (80.0%). Furthermore, the result revealed that 94.0% of respondents conserve existing trees on their farmland, and about 56.0% of them were practicing agroforestry. The major factors affecting land use typologies were outcomes of climate change. The determining factors influencing LUT among farming households were occupation (β=1.829*), irregular rainfall (β=1.436*), depleted fruiting (β=1.438*), poor weather condition/drought (β=1.020*), and farmers’ indigene (β=3.247*) at α0.05. The study recommends strengthening of land management policies and stakeholders’ engagement in decision making as regards policies actualization to make land use typologies noticeable, effective and pronounce among farming households.

The study examined the perceived benefits and knowledge level of the mushroom farmers on mushroom production in selected local governments area of Oyo State, Nigeria. The data obtained were analyzed with frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 143 respondents using questionnaire and interview schedule. From the result it was affirmed that the majority (63.0%) of the respondents were males, also about 81.8% of the farmers were married. Radio (96.5%) was the most common source of information available to farmers, seconded by family and friends 86.0%. Based on the distribution of the knowledge level of farmers in mushroom production (63.6%) of the farmers had highest knowledge in mushroom production with the mean score (9.28). Majority (64.3%) of the mushroom farmers perceived mushroom production to be of benefit to them, with the mean score (10.35). It was concluded that majority of the farmers that had knowledge of mushroom production needs training in some specific aspects of the production process. It is recommended that research institutes, extension agents and Non-governmental organizations needs to organize training to enlightened and provide necessary information needed to the farmers on mushroom production.

This study aimed to develop a mixed plantation strategy, with Sal (Shorea robusta) as the primary tree species, along with four associated and two naturally grown tree species. Using a randomized complete block design (RCBD), the field experiment involved a control group (mono plantation) and three mixed plantation groups, each replicated four times, totaling 80 replicates (40 in 2019 and 40 in 2020). Survival rate, height and collar diameter growth of seedlings were recorded in both mono and mixed plots in July 2021. Statistical analyses, including one-way ANOVA on means from three replicate plots (p＜0.05) and a Tukey HSD test, were conducted to assess differences between treatments. Significant differences in survival rates were found among mono plantations, with TMono04 showing the highest survival rate (88% to 91%). However, there were no significant differences in survival rates among seedlings in mixed plantations. Notably, survival rates were lower in mono plantations compared to mixed plantations. Mono plantations showed significant differences in height growth across both 2019 and 2020 plots, with TMono05 achieving the highest height growth (101.1 cm to 123.6 cm). Similarly, mixed plantations showed significant differences in height growth, with TMixed7 displaying the most substantial growth (116.4 cm to 138.2 cm). Overall, mixed plantations showed greater height growth compared to mono plantations. Significant variations in collar diameter growth were noted in both the 2019 and 2020 mono plantation plots, with TMono01 showing the highest growth (10.2 mm to 11.1 mm). Similarly, among mixed plantations, a significant difference in collar diameter growth was observed, with TMixed4 exhibiting the highest growth (10.4 mm to 13.1 mm). Overall, mixed plantations showed higher collar diameter growth compared to mono plantations. The findings suggest that planting Sal trees alongside compatible associated and naturally grown tree species in the Sal forests is preferable over establishing mono plantations.

Old-growth mixed-conifer forests in Bhutan are characterized by remarkable tree species compositional heterogeneity. However, our knowledge of tree species assemblages and their structural attributes in these forests has been limited. Therefore, forest classification has been reliant on a single dominant species. This study aimed to distinguish tree species assemblages in an old-growth mixed conifer forest in Western Bhutan and to describe their natural compositional and stand structural characteristics. Furthermore, the regeneration status of species was investigated and the quantity and quality of accumulated coarse woody debris were assessed. Ninety simple random sampling plots were surveyed in the study site between 3,000 and 3,600 meters above sea level. Tree, standing deadwood, regeneration, and coarse woody debris data were collected. Seven tree species assemblages were distinguished by Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and Indicator Species Analysis, representing five previously undescribed tree species associations with unique set of consistent species. Principal Component Analysis revealed two transitional pathways of species dominance along an altitudinal gradient, highly determined by relative topographic position. The level of stand stratification varied within a very wide range, corresponding to physiognomic composition. Rotated-sigmoid and negative exponential diameter distributions were formed by overstorey species with modal, and understorey species with negative exponential distribution. Overstorey dominant species showed extreme nurse log dependence during regeneration, which supports the formation of their modal distribution by an early natural selection process. This allows the coexistence of overstorey and understorey dominant species, increasing the sensitivity of these primary ecosystems to forest management.

Trees improve air quality through the accumulation of air pollutants in their leaves; however, the responses of different tree species to air pollution varies. Hence, this study evaluated the responses to air pollution of selected tree species in the Swamp Forest Research Station, Onne. Ten tree species (Cola pachycarpa, Khaya grandifoliolia, Irvingia gabonensis, Garcinia kola, Chrysophyllum albidum, Treculia africana, Dacryodes edulis, Tectonia grandis, Gmelina aborea, and Nauclea diderrichii) were selected based on their abundance in the area. Leaves were collected from all sides in 3 replicates for each tree species. Laboratory analysis was carried out using standard procedures. Portable Multi Gas Detector was used to determine the concentrations of air pollutants. One-way analysis of variance was employed to test for significant difference (p≤0.05) in biochemical parameters among the tree species while Pearson’s correlation was utilized to determine the level of association between different biochemical parameters and APTI; heavy metals and APTI. Results showed high concentration of PM10, CO, moderate concentration of NO2, PM2.5, and VOC, and low concentration of ground O3. Heavy metals - Cadmium, Mercury, Lead, Nickel and Copper were all present in the tree species at varying rates. There were significant differences in the biochemical parameters and APTI values. C. pachycarpa exhibited the highest APTI value (89.88), while D. edulis had the lowest APTI value (8.24). C. pachycarpa, K. grandifoliolia, C. albidum, G. kola, T. africana, and N. diderrichii were identified as tolerant tree species to air pollution. G. aborea, T. grandis, and I. gabonensis were considered intermediate tolerant species, while D. edulis was the only tree species sensitive to air pollution. Ascorbic Acid, Chlorophyll, Hg and Ni had positive correlations with APTI; Cd and Cu had negative association with APTI at the 0.05 significance level. C. pachycarpa, T. africana, K. grandifoliolia, C. albidum, N. diderrichii and G. kola, are recommended for planting in pollution-prone areas.

Human development activities have led to changes in land cover, resulting in the loss of green spaces such as forests and agricultural lands. This loss accompanies issues of habitat reduction and hindrance to wildlife movement. Due to the decrease in urban green spaces, urban green connectivity is reducing. This study aims to analyze changes in green space connectivity through structural and functional changes in green spaces caused by land cover changes. Quantitative analysis of landscape patterns using landscape indices through Fragstats model was employed to analyze the structural changes in green spaces. This study used seven landscape indices to assess the fragmentation and isolation of green spaces. The analysis was focused on changes occurring in agricultural lands, forests, and grasslands within Yongin-si, South Korea, over 20 years from 1989 to 2019. Among the landscape indices for forests, PLAND showed a decrease of approximately 8.2% from 1989 to 2009, while NP exhibited a decline of about 2,025 patches. This indicates both a reduction in the total area of green spaces in Yongin-si. Also, we analyzed functional changes based on landscape index variations in forest land within the study area between 2009 and 2019, and least-cost path (LCP) analysis was conducted using Linkage Mapper. Results yielded 18 and 16 links for 2009 and 2019, respectively, with 12 common links. It was observed that five links showed a slight decrease, indicating partial deletions of links, contributing to the fragmentation and discontinuity of forests.

Forests are crucial for ecosystem stability, societal advancement, and subsistence; however, environmental changes since the 1970s, including shifting agriculture, deforestation, urbanization, increasing human population, and drought, have significantly impacted the region. The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of temporal forest cover changes in the Benchi-Sheko zone in Southwestern Ethiopia. Two types of data were collected: spatial data from satellite images of 1973, 1988, 2003, and 2017, and GPS point data. GIS software, ERDAS version 2015 software, and a handheld GPS were used for data analysis. The data of both GIS from image classification and ERDAS quantification revealed that forest cover decreased from 46,306.17 (92.67%) hectares in 1973 to 27,937.89 (55.91%) hectares in 2017; therefore 18,368.28 hectares (36.76%) decrease in forest cover was detected in the last 44 years by an average annual change of 417.46 hectares and. Based on this, it is recommended that partners working on forest conservation in the locality should enhance local people’s awareness to protect forests and forest products in their day-to-day activities.

Dalbergia sissoo and Dalbergia latifolia are the two most important timber wood species that are indigenous to the Indo-Pak subcontinent producing very high-quality timber. Its wood is used to produce high-quality furniture. Due to overexploitation and dieback disease, their production is seriously hampered and threatens their genetic diversity. Several ecotypes are tolerant to dieback thus offering an opportunity to develop a superior hybrid for the establishment of plantations for hybrid seed production. Hybrid evaluation can only be done by using DNA markers such as SSR markers. Cross-specific amplification of SSR markers is a cost-effective way of producing DNA markers for species lacking genetic information. Here, we report for the first-time successful cross-amplification of SSR markers in Dalbergia latifolia and added new SSR markers in D. sissoo. Cross-species amplification resulted in 13 successful SSR markers in D. latifolia and an addition of 14 markers in D. sissoo of expected sizes. Six SSR markers were further selected randomly to validate the breeding behavior of both species. A diverse DNA profile of seed progenies matched to different pollen donors deviated from the same mother suggested cross-pollination is the most likely mechanism of seed production in D. sissoo and D. latifolia. However, the results must be validated by using a large sample size and through controlled pollinations. SSR markers thus developed will be useful in the conservation and development of superior hybrids for sustainable development and production of commercial populations in Dalbergia sissoo and D. latifolia.