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This study aimed to investigate carbon storage dynamics in pure pine, oak, and mixed forests within a one-hectare area. Tree samples were collected to measure their weight, size, and density. Each type of forest was estimated how much carbon is hold per hectare. The findings revealed significant differences in carbon storage capacities among them. Pure oak forests emerged as the top carbon reservoirs, with 57% of their trees' mass comprising carbon. Pure pine forests followed closely with 51% carbon storage. Inter...

Remote sensing (RS) imagery is widely used to assess and detect environmental changes in various areas and the numerous methods resulting from natural and human activities. To understand landscape change, including the role of windbreaks in agricultural regions, RS datasets are essential. Detected by the CORINE Land Cover (CLC) project, agricultural landscapes have undergone changes such as an increase in complex cropping patterns by 164.19% and in pastures by 15.3%, but a decrease in coniferous forest by 10.19% a...

The research aims to examine the pace of growth of lodgepole pine, the amount of damage caused by biungulates and the quality of trunks for lodgepole pine provenances growing in the western part of Latvia in the areas around Ugale and Kuldiga, identifying the most damage-resistant and promising provenances for cultivation in Latvia. In Latvia, foresters and plant breeders have been working for years to increase the quality and productivity of local tree species, while assessing various forest stand management patt...

The research aims to identify changes in the biometric measurements and demographic structure of game ducks living on Lake Engure. Game management in Latvia as well as the entire Northern Europe is an important segment of the economy, which has rich and ancient traditions. Although a small segment of society perceives game management as the killing of animals, which is not the case, it should be understood that it represents an economic activity resulting in limiting the animal population, which can increase rapid...

Out of the 36 "hot spots" of global biodiversity, Georgia is part of the Caucasus and Iran-Anatolian hot spots. In the Caucasus ecoregion, two refugia have been identified: the Colchic and Hyrcanian. Adjara is part of the Colchis Refugium, it is the richest floristic region in the Caucasus in terms of the number of plant species per unit area. In the flora of Adjara, up to 1837 species of plants are recorded. The genus Hypericum L. stands out for its variety of species, it is represented by 18 species in Georgia, ...

In Ukraine, as well as all regions of the world, deforestation processes are taking place. Monitoring forests in real-time is one of the key ways to solve the problem of deforestation. Satellite technologies make it possible to do this promptly and in time and space. In this research, the online platform Google Earth Engine was used, which provides access to remote sensing data and geospatial data sets with analysis capabilities. The research was conducted for the period 2001-2023 at the regional level and each ad...

Climate change manifest itself as increased natural disturbances. These effects can be reduced by planting adapted forest reproductive material. Such plantation ensure the source of raw material for bioeconomy, but are affected by dendrophagous insects, including pine weevil (Hylobius abietis). This species is estimated to cause 120 million EUR financial losses annually. Untreated coniferous seedlings have very high mortality, therefore pesticides are applied in nurseries, before delivering the plants to forest. U...

Today about 10% of Latvia's territory is occupied by peatlands (645,100 ha), but the extraction of peat happens in only 4% (25,739 ha) of the total. In regulatory documents peat bogs are mentioned as having a very high probability of flammability (in the context of climate change and other natural elements: drought, heat, lightning and deliberate or unintentional human activity). This indicates the need to improve fire safety by conducting research and improving regulatory frameworks. The aim of the study was to a...

Forest ground vegetation biomass plays a significant role in carbon (C) storage and contributes to the overall carbon pool of forest ecosystems. Ground vegetation, including understory plants, shrubs, and grasses, not only affects carbon sequestration through photosynthesis but also contributes to the carbon cycle as it decomposes and release carbon into atmosphere and soil. This process adds to soil organic matter and affects it carbon dynamics. Understanding the above and below-ground biomass of forest ground ve...

This review provides an overview of the diversity of macromycetes (fungi with visible fruiting bodies) in Mtirala national park beech forests, highlighting their ecological roles and significance within these ecosystems. Mtirala National Park is a protected area in Adjara region, Western Georgia. It is part of the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mtirala National Park Colchic broad-leaved and mixed forests include sweet chestnut and Oriental beech woods. Mount Mtirala is one of the m...

This study examines the impact of the risk of illegal logging on landscape permeability in a region where 8,060 km? of the total area is covered by forests. According to official data, 29% of this forested area is located in zones at risk of illegal logging. Given that forests play a crucial role in maintaining landscape permeability and ecological connectivity, the study employs the CSI index, which integrates the risk of illegal logging, to assess how these activities affect the ecological integrity and function...

In economic forests, the productivity of forest stands should be increased as much as possible, because the global demand for timber is growing every year. Planted forest trees can be realized using the advantages of selection, naturally regenerated - faster growth can be achieved by improving the growing conditions and limiting factors that reduce or delay the formation of growth. Data were collected in 6-year-old P.sylvestris forest stands Cladinoso-callunosa and Vacciniosa. The plots were established in an area...

The study of coenotic species in forest herb layers enables detection of ecosystem-level changes, with research in protected areas providing a foundation for long-term monitoring. This study assessed Stellaria holostea L. populations in forest phytocoenoses of Desniansko-Starohutskyi National Nature Park, typical of the Sumy Polissia region. Populations were surveyed in various forest types: Pinetum (sylvestris) convallarioso (majalis) - hylocomiosum, Pinetum (sylvestris) vaccinioso (myrtilli) - moliniosum (caerul...

Several species of Bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) are capable of causing significant amounts of tree mortality in conifer forests throughout much of the world and in the South Caucasian Mountain as well. In the paper, is discussed about species diversity of harmful bark beetles, which are damage and cause the decline of the Picea orientalis, in the conifer forest of Shuakhevi and Khulo municipalities of Adjara (Western Georgia), at an altitude of 700-1500 m a.s.l. This is one of the current problems in spru...

Understanding the principles of self-thinning forest ecosystems is essential for taking modern management techniques into practice. The spatial distribution of the surviving trees in a stand is influenced by a variety of factors, including tree mortality. In young forests, competition has a major role in determining spatial mortality; in older forests, random changes in the environment have a major role. The dynamics of the number of living and dead trees in the forests of central Lithuania will be addressed in th...

Landscape and ecosystem preservation represents an integrated approach for conserving healthy and interconnected ecosystems. In order to maintain high-quality habitats and maximising the ecosystem services is crucial to have a good bond between connected areas. On both the Romanian and European levels, the backbone of these interconnected areas is formed by Natura 2000 networks [1] The objectives of our study aim to address the Biodiversity 2030 Directive, which mandates the establishment of a coherent network of ...

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of plant parasitic nematodes in the main potatoe growing area in Ajara and to show whether altitu-dinal gradient affects nematode diversity and community structure along three contrasting altitudinal localities of Ajara: Kobuleti (10 m.a.s.l), Shuakhevi (450 m.a.s.l) and Khulo (950 -1800 m.a.s.l). The first part of this study is to assess for the first time the taxonomic and ecological structure of plant parasitic and free-living nematodes in agroecosystems of K...

Potatoes is the fourth important food crop worldwide after maize, wheat, and rice and are grown in more than 100 countries worldwide under temperate, subtropical and tropical conditions, however, they are considered as cool temperature crop. Potato is one of the most important food crops in Georgia and potato growing has always been the subject of great importance for settlement of food supply problems in country. Potato crops are severely affected by approximately forty soil borne diseases worldwide including tho...

The aim of the research is to find out how the forest ground vegetation changes in forest pasture where wild horses are allowed to graze, and what impact their grazing in the forest have on the vegetation and how the situation changes in a forest stand where animals are allowed to graze and, in a forest, stand of the same type without grazing. So far forest pastures practically have not been studied, but forest management using animals especially in private forestry is becoming more and more relevant. Almost no si...

Sunflower and maize are two crops of particular importance, especially in the current context of the food crisis, cultivated on large areas worldwide, used both for animal and human nutrition. This study proposed to test the effectiveness of several types of foliar fertilizers with urea, for the two previously mentioned crops, in the pedo-climatic conditions of West of Romania, and the type of soil chosen for experimentation was Cambic Chernozem. The chemical compounds used for fertilizing crops were different ure...

In recent years, the use of trail paths for recreation and tourism has seen remarkable growth in many countries. Trail paths have several benefits for the local community, people's physical and mental health, and for offsetting degraded grassland ecosystems. The objective of the study was to assess the effect of trail paths on grassland ecosystems in the Prefecture of Xanthi in northern Greece. The SWOT-AHP hybrid method was used. The criteria of the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) method ...

Broadleaved forest distribution in Europe and in Latvia is relatively small. Small-leaved lime Tilia cordata Mill. stands are even rarer, so it is important to study and protect them, as well as to assess their biodiversity and future potential. The aim of research is to investigate and assess the vegetation in lime forest stands. In total, 12 plots have been established for long-term monitoring of lime stands. In the sample plots, the survey of growing trees, dead wood, the inventory of vegetation species and the...