Modeling of Soil Erosion and Its Implication to Forest Management

Effect of Forest Management Operations on Aggregate-Associated SOC Dynamics Using a 137Cs Tracing Method

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12070859 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 859

Author(s):

Geng Guo ◽

Xiao Li ◽

Xi Zhu ◽

Yanyin Xu ◽

Qiao Dai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Soil Erosion ◽

Management Practices ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Dynamic Change ◽

Aggregate Size ◽

Nutrient Loss ◽

Vegetation Coverage ◽

Forest Conversion ◽

Mountain Areas

Although forest conversions have long been a focus in carbon (C) research, the relationship between soil erosion and the dynamic change of soil organic carbon (SOC) has not been well-quantified. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of converting CBF (coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests) to economic forests, including CF (chestnut forest), HF (hawthorn forest), and AF (apple forest), on the soil structure and nutrient loss in the Huaibei Rocky Mountain Areas, China. A 137Cs tracer method was used to provide soil erosion data in order to quantify the loss of aggregate-associated SOC. The results showed that forest management operations caused macro-aggregates to decrease by 1.69% in CF, 4.52% in AF, and 3.87% in HF. Therefore, the stability of aggregates was reduced. The SOC contents in each aggregate size decreased significantly after forest conversion, with the largest decreases occurring in AF. We quantified the loss of 0.15, 0.38, and 0.31 Mg hm−2 of aggregate-associated SOC after conversion from CBF to CF, AF, and HF, respectively. These results suggest that forest management operations have a negative impact on soil quality and fertility. CF has better vegetation coverage and less human interference, making it more prominent among the three economic forests species. Therefore, when developing forest management operations, judicious selection of tree varieties and appropriate management practices are extremely critical. In addition, measures should be taken to increase surface cover to reduce soil erosion and achieve sustainable development of economic forests.

Download Full-text

Factors affecting runoff and soil erosion: plot-level soil loss monitoring for assessing sustainability of forest management

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/s0378-1127(02)00656-4 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 180 (1-3) ◽

pp. 361-374 ◽

Cited By ~ 139

Author(s):

Herlina Hartanto ◽

Ravi Prabhu ◽

Anggoro S.E Widayat ◽

Chay Asdak

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Soil Erosion ◽

Soil Loss ◽

Factors Affecting

Download Full-text

Forest management for optimizing soil protection: a landscape-level approach

Forest Ecosystems ◽

10.1186/s40663-021-00324-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ana Raquel Rodrigues ◽

Susete Marques ◽

Brigite Botequim ◽

Marco Marto ◽

José G. Borges

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Soil Erosion ◽

Planning Horizon ◽

Programming Approach ◽

Soil Protection ◽

Planning Problem ◽

Management Problem ◽

Critical Periods ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Landscape Level

Abstract Background Soil erosion is still identified as the main cause of land degradation worldwide, threatening soil functions and driving several research and policy efforts to reverse it. Trees are commonly associated to some of the most successful land-use systems to achieve soil protection goals, but the extent to which forest ecosystems reduce erosion risks can largely depend on management decisions and associated silvicultural practices. Optimization tools can assist foresters in solving the complex planning problem they face, concerning the demand for different, and often conflicting, ecosystem services. A resource capability model (RCM), based on a linear programming approach, was built and solved for a forest landscape management problem in Northwest Portugal, over a 90-years planning horizon, divided in 10-years periods. Results Timber provision and soil erosion were found to be in trade-off. The management alternatives included in the model were proven to be sufficiently flexible to obtain the desired level of timber yield, both in volume and even distribution along the planning horizon, while ensuring lower levels of soil loss estimates (below 35 Mg∙ha− 1∙year− 1). However, under climate change conditions, compatible with an increasing greenhouse gases emission scenario, potential landscape soil erosion may be enhanced up to 46 Mg∙ha− 1∙year− 1 in critical periods. Conclusions Soil conservation concerns in landscape-level forest management planning can be addressed by LP-based optimization methods. Besides providing an optimal management solution at landscape level, this approach enables a comprehensive analysis of the RCM, possible trade-offs and potential changes towards uncertainties.

Download Full-text

Identifying priority management of Ecuadorian forests based on the environmental integrated assessment

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/202016902015 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 169 ◽

pp. 02015

Author(s):

Silvia Llerena ◽

Priscila Arias ◽

Jhonn Cueva ◽

Georgina Almeida ◽

Cristian Salazar

Keyword(s):

Carbon Dioxide ◽

Global Warming ◽

Forest Management ◽

Soil Erosion ◽

Carbon Storage ◽

Integrated Assessment ◽

Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽

Sustainable Forest Management ◽

Anthropogenic Impacts ◽

Negative Influence

Anthropogenic impacts, such as deforestation, soil erosion, and carbon dioxide emissions, have a negative influence over global warming due to the increase of CO2 levels in the atmosphere. The sustainable forest management is a way to mitigate climate change owing to the carbon storage capacity of forests. This study highlights the priority of forest management according to the integrated assessment of carbon storage under anthropogenic impacts in the administrative units of Ecuador. In the obtained map, the provinces Guayas, Esmeraldas, and Manabí showed the highest values of 25, 22.85 and 19.9, respectively, followed by two Amazon provinces, Morona Santiago and Sucumbíos. Therefore, we concluded that deforestation, soil erosion, and carbon dioxide emissions were more pronounced on the coast mainly due to agriculture and livestock activities and the forests in these provinces must have priority management. This analysis is useful for planning environmental practices in order to increase carbon storage as a strategy of mitigation for global warming.

Download Full-text

Forest management practices and the occurrence of suspended solids in rivers and streams and their influence on ichthyofauna and river ecosystems

Forest Research Papers ◽

10.2478/frp-2019-0027 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 80 (4) ◽

pp. 269-276

Author(s):

Tomasz Mikołajczyk ◽

Przemysław Nawrocki

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Soil Erosion ◽

Aquatic Ecosystems ◽

Suspended Solids ◽

Management Practices ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Suspended Sediments ◽

Sediment Runoff ◽

Forest Management Practices ◽

And Migration

AbstractThis article is based on a literature review and attempts to highlight the harmful effects of forest soil erosion on aquatic ecosystems with particular emphasis on ichthyofauna. We focus on the phenomena of excessive soil erosion caused by forest management practices and forest roads, subsequent sediment runoff as well as silting of watercourses and their impact on fish. Among others, the direct influence of the suspended sediments on fish reproduction, egg incubation, respiratory processes, growth and immunity, as well as indirect effects on habitat and migration are discussed. The authors’ intention is to draw attention to this important and underestimated aspect of forest management in Poland. The aim of this publication is to bring about changes in the management of commercial forests that will minimize the erosion of forest soils, formation of high levels of suspended solids in rivers and in turn limit their negative impact on aquatic ecosystems.

Download Full-text

Opinions towards the water-related Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes: The stakeholders’ point of view

10.21203/rs.3.rs-22143/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Alessandro Paletto ◽

Klára Báliková ◽

Isabella De Meo

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Forest Management ◽

Soil Erosion ◽

Sustainable Forest Management ◽

Water Discharge ◽

Stakeholder Analysis ◽

Well Being ◽

Payments For Ecosystem Services ◽

Runoff Reduction ◽

Wide Range

Abstract Background: Forests provide a wide range of water-related ecosystem services (WES) vital for human well-being such as groundwater recharge, runoff and water discharge to streams, soil erosion protection, aesthetic landscape and recreational opportunities. Sustainable forest management and afforestation/reforestation practices can maintain and improve the long-term provision of WES. In this context, new market-based mechanisms – Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) – can promote sustainable forest management by reducing negative externalities. To implement PES schemes for WES, many stakeholders with different knowledge, interests, and needs must be consulted and involved in the design and implementation process.Methods: The aim of this study is to investigate stakeholders’ opinions on the relationships between forests and water resources and the water-related Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes in Italy. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered by email to 39 stakeholders identified through a stakeholder analysis. The stakeholders were classified in four groups: buyers (15.4% of stakeholders), sellers (15.4%), intermediaries (43.6%), and knowledge providers (25.6%).Results and conclusions: The results show that the three most important WES provided by forests are soil erosion reduction, followed by provision of habitats for different species and surface runoff reduction. The respondents emphasize the importance of regulating and supporting services, while they minimize the importance of cultural services. For the sample of respondents, market-based instruments have an efficiency comparable to regulatory instruments, but a shared value for ecosystem services among stakeholders is required in the implementation of PES schemes. According to respondents' opinions, the public authority should play the role of both buyer and regulator, while the other stakeholders should be consulted (citizens) or actively involved (farmers’ and forest owners’ associations) in the decision-making process related to the PES schemes.

Download Full-text