Article
Forestry
Craig Loehle
Summary: The Faustmann formula, also known as the land expectation value (LEV), calculates the present value of an infinite series of future timber rotations starting from bare land. When compared to a maximum sustained yield (MSY) regime, using this formula to find the rotation age that maximizes the present value will result in a lower annual harvest. Economists, however, strongly prefer the LEV, leading to the LEV vs. rents paradox.
Article
Environmental Studies
Kai Moriguchi
Summary: A method was developed in this study to determine the optimal selection of subsidized forest stands, with the goal of maximizing the efficient use of public funds. By numerically determining the minimum subsidy and optimal forest harvesting schedule, and using a simple sorting method to identify the best selection of subsidized forest stands, the study aims to minimize annual government expenditure under normal forest conditions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bhagawat Rimal, Hamidreza Keshtkar, Nigel Stork, Sushila Rijal
Summary: The study highlights the increasing trend of forest area, both in the Lumbini Province of Nepal and globally. Scientific models predict a continued increase in forest cover in 2026 and 2036, with the support of policy, planning, and management factors.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiwon Kim, Eunbeen Park, Cholho Song, Mina Hong, Hyun-Woo Jo, Woo-Kyun Lee
Summary: Solar energy generation is a popular renewable energy source for achieving global carbon neutrality, but it can create conflicts with existing land cover. This study conducted an analysis using net present value (NPV) to compare economic value in different land use scenarios and find a solution to land use conflict. The findings highlight the importance of considering both economic values and ecosystem services in land use planning for solar energy generation.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Petros Ganatsas, Marianthi Tsakaldimi, Lydia-Maria Petaloudi
Summary: The recent Glasgow Climate Pact recognizes the role of ecosystems in storing greenhouse gases, emphasizing the importance of understanding the long-term carbon storage capacity in forest soils and the factors influencing it. A database of published data in Greece was compiled, revealing the significant influence of forest ecosystem type, soil depth, land management, forest origin, floristic zone, and climate type on carbon sequestration. To increase long-term carbon storage, systematic forest management and addressing factors like human pressure and overgrazing are recommended, along with restoration actions like reforestation for degraded forest ecosystems.
Article
Forestry
Mauricio Acuna, Rafael Ma Navarro-Cerrillo, Francisco Ruiz-Gomez, Miguel Lara-Gomez, Javier Perez-Romero, Ma Angeles Varo-Martinez, Guillermo Palacios-Rodriguez
Summary: Carbon pricing plays a crucial role in promoting adaptive silviculture in Mediterranean pine forests by improving carbon sequestration and stocks. A mixed-integer programming model optimizing thinning schedules and maximizing Net Present Value (NPV) was applied to 631 pine stands in southern Spain, showing that including carbon prices can significantly increase NPV values and impact flow of sawlogs and biomass to customers. Increased economic returns were observed when carbon stocks were considered as an additional revenue source alongside sawlogs and biomass.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Matthew Adesanya Adeleye, Simon Edward Connor, Annika Herbert, Simon Graeme Haberle
Summary: Research shows that the accelerating trends in global rainforest changes over the past 12,000 years were primarily driven by intensive agricultural practices. This had the most impact on the highly diverse and productive tropical rainforests. Implementing effective management and conservation strategies will help promote rainforest health and diversity, and enhance their resilience to climate change.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christopher A. Williams, Huan Gu, Tong Jiao
Summary: The study finds that forest loss in different regions of the United States has varying effects on the climate, impacting the magnitude of global climate change. Forest conversions may initially lead to temporary net cooling, but over the long term can transition to net warming, posing challenges in offsetting the climate warming effects of fossil fuel emissions.
Article
Agronomy
Xinhao Suo, Shixiong Cao
Summary: Farming systems provide ecosystem and cultural services in addition to food, but the value of these services may conceal large costs often ignored by scholars. A complete assessment of the costs and benefits of farmland is crucial for sustainable and economically efficient land-use planning.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jianfeng Sun, Guangdong Li, Ying Zhang, Weishan Qin, Guoqi Chai
Summary: This study assessed the future forest potential and carbon sequestration in the Eastern Loess Plateau region of China using an interdisciplinary approach. The findings showed that there is still a significant amount of land suitable for afforestation in the region and the forest carbon sink will be significantly enhanced. However, the carbon sink capacity is concentrated in certain areas, and some counties may transition from carbon sinks to carbon sources. Therefore, targeted measures are needed to combat forest degradation.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Md Rezaul Karim, Sharif A. Mukul, Rokaiya Binte Zahir, Shamim Reza Saimun, Mohammed A. S. Arfin-Khan
Summary: Tropical deciduous forests are experiencing a decline in biomass and productivity due to climate change and anthropogenic disturbances. Forest co-management has been adopted by many countries to mitigate these effects, but its impact on the resistance and resilience of forest ecosystems to extreme climatic events is limited. This study used remotely sensed satellite data to investigate the effects of co-management on resistance and resilience in two major protected areas in Bangladesh. The results showed that co-management slows down the rate of forest destruction, but has poor impacts on forest resistance and resilience to extreme climatic events such as drought and heavy rainfall.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pasquale Borrelli, Cristiano Ballabio, Jae E. Yang, David A. Robinson, Panos Panagos
Summary: Healthy soil is crucial for global agriculture and food security. This study provides high-resolution global estimates of water erosion-induced soil displacement using the GloSEM platform, considering regional farming systems, conservation agriculture, and climate change projections. The data and statistics presented support researchers and decision-makers in understanding the extent and geography of soil erosion and identifying potential hotspots for action.
Article
Environmental Sciences
B. B. Cael, P. Goodwin, C. R. Pearce, D. Stainforth
Summary: All pathways to achieve the Paris Agreement target of limiting global warming require large-scale removal of CO2 from the atmosphere. Different CO2 removal strategies vary in price, storage timescale, and other factors. It is important to assess whether the benefits of deploying these strategies outweigh their costs and to understand how costs depend on socioeconomic assumptions. This study provides a framework to quantitatively evaluate and compare different strategies, guiding future research, development, and policy efforts.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Urs G. Kormann, Thomas D. Stokely, Jake Verschuyl, Andrew J. Kroll, Scott Harris, Doug Maguire, Doug Mainwaring, James W. Rivers, Matthew G. Betts
Summary: Understanding how herbicides affect biodiversity, yield, and economic benefits is crucial for managing natural resources. This study found that herbicides reduced species richness and had varying effects on different trophic groups in forest ecosystems. Financial discounting also played a significant role in modifying biodiversity-revenue relationships caused by management intensity.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wuletawu Abera, Lulseged Tamene, Assefa Abegaz, Habtamu Hailu, Kristin Piikki, Mats Soderstrom, Evan Girvetz, Rolf Sommer
Summary: The study aimed to assess the spatial dynamics of SOC in four selected SLMP watersheds in the Ethiopian highlands and estimate SOC sequestration using model building strategies and machine learning models. The impact of SLM practices on SOC was evaluated through the analysis of SOC stock and potential sequestration levels.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)