Climate change adaptation: the case of temperate public forests

Global changes cause many problems which directly impact forests and the foresters who manage them. One of the effects of global climate change may be an increased number of trees dying out or emerging threats to forest sustainability from pathogens. There are two possible ways to act in these situations: coping or adapting. The first type of response is anticipated, needed and indicating a profound change and behavior adjustment. The other type of action involves merely reacting without introducing in-depth changes. The current study sought to determine whether the response of foresters managing temperate zone state forests is appropriate to the occurring global changes. For this purpose, questionnaire interviews were conducted with selected foresters employed by the State Forests. Foresters were given an opportunity to describe their methods of counteracting negative changes in the forest environment caused (in their opinion) by global changes. Subsequently, these statements were classified by researchers as being either coping or adapting to change. The results of a qualitative analysis indicate that foresters in the State Forests are engaged in activities that may be classified as adapting to global changes rather than coping with them. The implications of this analysis for forest policy and management are also discussed.

El régimen jurídico de los montes públicos y su inscripción en el Registro de la Propiedad: debate doctrinal e instrumentos jurídicos de protección.

LABURPENA: Lan honek xedetzat du Jabetza Erregistroaren babesa aztertzea mendi publikoei eta, bereziki, jabari publikoko mendiei dagokienez. Lehenik, azterketa historiko zehatza egin dugu, eta ondoren, 1925ean sortutako doktrina-eztabaidaren garapena aztertu dugu; hau da, ea jabari publikoko mendiak inskribatu behar diren edo ez partikularren usurpazioetatik babesteko. Jarraian, funtsezko gogoeta batzuk egin ditugu administrazio-zuzenbidearen printzipio eta kontzeptuen aldetik administrazio-jakintzako doktrina akademikoa aztertuta. Lanaren bigarren zatian, batetik, hartutako irtenbidea azaldu dugu, eta bestetik, partikularren eta administrazioaren artean, mendiei dagokienez, gaur egun dauden gatazken azterketa jaso dugu, bai eta mendien eta erregistroaren arteko harremanen legezko testuen arauketarena ere. ABSTRACT: The object of this work is to study the protection of the Property Registry in relation to public forests and especially those considered of public domain. In the first place, a detailed historical analysis is carried out, to later analyze the development of the doctrinal debate that arose in 1925 on the need or not to inscribe the public domain forests in order to protect them from landgrabbings by individuals.Then, some background considerations are carried out from the principles and concepts of administrative law with an analysis of the administrative academic doctrine. The second part of the work presents the solution adopted and analyzes the current conflicts between individuals and the Administration in relation to the forests, as well as the regulation of the different legal texts of the relationships between the public forests and the Registry. RESUMEN: El presente trabajo tiene como objeto de estudio la protección del Registro de la Propiedad en relación con los montes públicos y en especial los montes de dominio público. En primer lugar, se realiza un detallado análisis histórico, para más tarde analizar el desarrollo del debate doctrinal surgido en 1925 sobre la necesidad o no de inscripción de los montes de dominio público con el fin de protegerlos de las usurpaciones de los particulares. A continuación, se llevan a cabo unas consideraciones de fondo desde los principios y conceptos del Derecho administrativo con un análisis de la doctrina académica administrativista. La segunda parte del trabajo expone la solución adoptada y analiza los conflictos actuales entre particulares y Administración en relación a los montes, así como la regulación de los distintos textos legales de las relaciones entre los montes y el Registro.

Beyond Deforestation: Carbon Emissions From Land Grabbing and Forest Degradation in the Brazilian Amazon

Carbon losses from forest degradation and disturbances are significant and growing sources of emissions in the Brazilian Amazon. Between 2003 and 2019, degradation and disturbance accounted for 44% of forest carbon losses in the region, compared with 56% from deforestation (forest clearing). We found that land tenure played a decisive role in explaining these carbon losses, with Undesignated Public Forests and Other Lands (e.g., private properties) accounting for the majority (82%) of losses during the study period. Illegal deforestation and land grabbing in Undesignated Public Forests widespread and increasingly are important drivers of forest carbon emissions from the region. In contrast, indigenous Territories and Protected Natural Areas had the lowest emissions, demonstrating their effectiveness in preventing deforestation and maintaining carbon stocks. These trends underscore the urgent need to develop reliable systems for monitoring and reporting on carbon losses from forest degradation and disturbance. Together with improved governance, such actions will be crucial for Brazil to reduce pressure on standing forests; strengthen Indigenous land rights; and design effective climate mitigation strategies needed to achieve its national and international climate commitments.

Modeling land use change and forest carbon stock changes in temperate forests in the United States

Background Forests provide the largest terrestrial sink of carbon (C). However, these C stocks are threatened by forest land conversion. Land use change has global impacts and is a critical component when studying C fluxes, but it is not always fully considered in C accounting despite being a major contributor to emissions. An urgent need exists among decision-makers to identify the likelihood of forest conversion to other land uses and factors affecting C loss. To help address this issue, we conducted our research in California, Colorado, Georgia, New York, Texas, and Wisconsin. The objectives were to (1) model the probability of forest conversion and C stocks dynamics using USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data and (2) create wall-to-wall maps showing estimates of the risk of areas to convert from forest to non-forest. We used two modeling approaches: a machine learning algorithm (random forest) and generalized mixed-effects models. Explanatory variables for the models included ecological attributes, topography, census data, forest disturbances, and forest conditions. Model predictions and Landsat spectral information were used to produce wall-to-wall probability maps of forest change using Google Earth Engine. Results During the study period (2000–2017), 3.4% of the analyzed FIA plots transitioned from forest to mixed or non-forested conditions. Results indicate that the change in land use from forests is more likely with increasing human population and housing growth rates. Furthermore, non-public forests showed a higher probability of forest change compared to public forests. Areas closer to cities and coastal areas showed a higher risk of transition to non-forests. Out of the six states analyzed, Colorado had the highest risk of conversion and the largest amount of aboveground C lost. Natural forest disturbances were not a major predictor of land use change. Conclusions Land use change is accelerating globally, causing a large increase in C emissions. Our results will help policy-makers prioritize forest management activities and land use planning by providing a quantitative framework that can enhance forest health and productivity. This work will also inform climate change mitigation strategies by understanding the role that land use change plays in C emissions.

Paradox of Deadwood Circular Bioeconomy in Kenya’s Public Forests

With the rising demand for energy, the forest-based circular bioeconomy is gaining recognition as a strategy for sustainable production and consumption of forest resources. However, the forest-based bioeconomy remains underexplored from the perspective of deadwood conservation in public forests. While conducting a literature review and examining the case of Kenya, this study fills a gap in the literature to provide policy suggestions for sustainable forest resource utilization. The results from global literature indicate that deadwood performs essential social, economic, and environmental functions in the circular bioeconomy and sustainable development. Similarly, in Kenya, deadwood resources provide many socially beneficial bioproducts and services. However, the absence of scientific research and detailed guidelines for deadwood conservation may lead to the distortion of the ecological balance in public forests because of the legally sanctioned removal of deadwood, particularly firewood. Moreover, if the status quo remains, with approximately 70% of the growing population consuming deadwood for domestic use and the demand increasing, as shown by the current wood deficit in the country, there will be a major dilemma concerning whether to conserve deadwood for biodiversity or energy. Therefore, averting crisis and providing maximum deadwood value to society requires guidelines and comprehensive research in addition to a cultural and behavioral shift in energy consumption in a manner that embraces the forest-based circular bioeconomy of deadwood.

Opportunities and Challenges for Intensive Silviculture in Alberta, Canada

Intensive silviculture is practiced in many parts of the world but is rare in the public forests of western Canada. Here, we make the argument that intensive silviculture could be justified in Alberta but has not been implemented due to philosophies and policy decisions by foresters from government, industry and academia. These include adherence to long rotations, management goals that are aimed at sustained total volume yield rather than economic value, limitations in the types of stands that are allowed to be regenerated and models that do not include intensive silviculture options. In Mixedwood Growth Model projections, we demonstrate the potential of intensive silviculture that includes combinations of selecting good sites and thinning to produce merchantable stands by age 50 compared to the standard rotation age of 80 with basic silviculture. There could be even more gains if forest level constraints in timber flow were removed due to the increased growth of regenerating stands. Finally, we examine the attitude and policy changes that we believe are necessary for adoption of more intensive silviculture systems on parts of Alberta’s forest landbase.

Drivers of cooking energy choices by meal-types among smallholder farmers in western Kenya

There are gaps in research needed to enhance policy intervention for rural households’ transitions from traditional biomass to cleaner energy sources. This paper reports on a survey among farmers in western Kenya to assess drivers of cooking energy choices for various key meals; to understand agricultural production factors in cooking energy choices; and to assess energy use homogeneity among varied sub-counties. The study sampled 388 respondents from four heterogeneous rural sub-counties differing in altitude, proximity to public forests, and cultural characteristics. The multinomial logit model analysis showed that significant factors influencing the shift from firewood to LPG for breakfast preparation included access to credit, income, formal employment, and the proportion of adults in the household. Shifting from firewood to crop wastes was significant, influenced by distance covered to collect firewood, and desire for warming houses. The shift from firewood to sticks was influenced by firewood cost, houses owned, and reliance on own farm for woodfuel. Determinants of cooking energy choices for breakfast, lunch and supper were identical. Sticks were seen as an inferior cooking energy source. The adoption of cleaner energy was more associated with breakfast than other meals. Despite the sub-counties’ heterogeneity, no substantial differences were observed among them on drivers of cooking energy choices. Study outcomes were consistent with other concepts associated with cooking energy usage, including the transition energy ladder and energy stacking.

Public Forests Under Threat in the Brazilian Amazon: Strategies for Coping Shifts in Environmental Policies and Regulations

Brazil has 310.5 million hectares of public forests, almost 92% of which in the Amazon. Since the 1980s, Brazilian environmental legislation has been improving and, along with other measures, has contributed to a significant reduction in deforestation in the Amazon since 2005. However, changes in the legal framework and dismantling of successful socio-environmental policies threaten public forests in the Amazon. Here, we highlighted some relevant changes in the legal and political framework and prioritized some actions to safeguard the largest tropical forest in the world considering an adverse political context. We emphasized strategies associated with (1) the institutionalization of practices and processes; and (2) market-driven influence on sustainable production. The purpose is to inhibit current threats until more favorable and participatory circumstances are present and a comprehensive range of past success measures may be revisited.

Forest Fires and Losses Caused by Fires – An Economic Approach

A defined forested area performs various functions such as economic, protective and social. Regardless of the level of civilization development and human knowledge, it cannot be stated that humans have full control over the phenomena occurring in forests or their surroundings. Forest hazards, including fire hazards, constitute a direct or indirect factor of human activity that has an effect on nature. Forest fires cause specific losses and generate costs, thus affecting a financial result. The research area of the study is forest fires and losses caused by them, i.e. determining the financial and non-financial effects of fires. The main aim of the study is to present the problem of forest fires in selected European countries, including Poland, and to determine the level of losses caused by them. The research hypothesis is: "Forest fires occurring in European countries, including Poland, cause significant losses in the natural and social environment, which forces organizations to incur costs of implementing measures to protect forest areas against fires". In the case of Poland, the area of interest is public forests managed by the State Forests National Forest Holding. The following research methods were used: critical analysis of the literature, comparative method, desk research, the method of induction and synthesis. In the field of empirical research, the current research results and studies of the Central Statistical Office and the reports of the State Forests were used.