Aim of the study: To investigate myrrh production and marketing channels in the El-Weyni district of Ethiopia’s Somali Region, identify the roles and relationships of market participants, analyze market structure and practices, and determine factors influencing household-level myrrh supply. Area of the study: The research was conducted in El-Weyni district, an area with substantial but underutilized potential for non-timber forest products (NTFP), particularly gums and resins. Material and methods: Data were collected through key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and a household survey of 117 randomly selected households. Qualitative data were summarized descriptively, while quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Main results: The findings revealed that myrrh production is primarily motivated by cash income generation. Average annual income from myrrh was USD 209.97 per household, ranging from USD 53.39 to USD 772.31. Annual production varied between 7 kg and 90 kg, with an average of 23.6 kg per household. Three major oligopolistic marketing channels were identified. Family size, access to market information, and distance to market significantly influenced myrrh supply, while market information access was generally limited. Research highlights:The study recommends promoting cooperative formation, introducing improved tapping techniques, and strengthening value chain development to enhance bargaining power, market access, and incomes for pastoral households.
Aim of study: The study assesses the carbon potential of forests in the Peruvian Amazon, focusing on modeling carbon within a climate change mitigation framework to improve our understanding of the regional capacity to store in forest ecosystems. Area of study: San Martín Region, Peruvian Amazon. Material and methods: A total of six forest sites in the Amazonas region, located within San Martín and Loreto districts, were assessed. Structural measurements were recorded for all the trees and allometric equations were applied to estimate biomass. Additionally, altitude was recorded and its relationship with carbon storage was analyzed. Main results: The highest tree density was found in El Varillal and Ojo del Agua forests with 360 and 332 trees ha-1, respectively. Ahuihua and El Varillal forests showed the largest total height and diameter values. The accumulated carbon was greater in Ahuihua and Bajo Huallaga forests both the aboveground and belowground with values of 405.07 t ha-1 and 51.85 t ha-1, and 201.46 t ha-1 and 27.59 t ha-1, respectively. These forests also had the largest structural mean values of basal area, total height, dominant height, and diameter at breast height. The altitude variable was negatively related to aboveground and belowground carbon. Research highlights: The type of forest and the management practices play a crucial role for carbon accumulation both in the aboveground and belowground biomass. The basal area was the variable that most contributed on carbon accumulation. Understanding the carbon dynamic in forests provides essential information for the implementation of accurate management practices and conservation efforts.
Aim of study: We tested whether short-term (3-year) responses to crop tree release (CTR) in subtropical mixed broadleaf plantations follow a consistent gradient with realized thinning intensity, and whether growth gains are associated with changes in forest-floor and topsoil-related conditions. Area of study: Beishan Forest Farm, Tongshan County, Hubei Province, China. Material and methods: We established 25 plots (20 m × 20 m) and applied five thinning-intensity classes: control (CK, 0%), weak thinning (WT, 16.3%), moderate thinning (MT, 25.6%), heavy thinning (HT, 31.1%), and super-heavy thinning (ST, 41.8%). Stand structure and tree growth were measured before and three years after thinning; forest-floor and topsoil properties were assessed at year 3. Treatment effects were tested using ANOVA (or Kruskal–Wallis), and structure–growth associations involving forest-floor and topsoil variables were evaluated using plot-level regression models with realized thinning intensity (TI) as a continuous covariate where relevant. This two-tier design separates management-relevant class contrasts (CK–ST) from TI-gradient relationships based on realized thinning intensity, thereby strengthening inference on how intensity mediates coupled structure–growth patterns and their associations with forest-floor and topsoil variables. Main results: Increasing TI reduced competition (CI) and stand density (SD) while increasing openness (O). In the growth-association analyses involving forest-floor and topsoil variables, total nitrogen (TN) was positively associated with diameter at breast height (DBH) and stand-volume growth, organic matter (OM) was positively associated with DBH growth, and humus thickness (Hu) was negatively associated with DBH and stand-volume growth. At the treatment level, ST showed lower CI and SD but the thinnest forest-floor layers, whereas MT maintained relatively higher organic-matter-related values and thicker litter/humus layers. Research highlights: Management is goal-dependent: ST showed the highest short-term DBH growth, whereas MT had the numerically highest stand-volume average annual increment (AAI) while better maintaining forest-floor thickness and organic-matter-related values, although stand-volume AAI did not differ significantly among treatments. These short-term results reflect statistical associations; baseline and repeated soil measurements are needed to strengthen causal inference.
Aim of study: We performed a fine scale characterization of two European black poplar (Populus nigra) in situ conservation units, using a large sample of individuals and a comprehensive set of genetic markers. This information is pivotal to understand the population dynamics of the units for implementing conservation and management plans. Area of study: We studied two populations with distinct environments and management practices in Spain and Austria. Material and methods: We genotyped 500 adults and 250 juveniles within each population using 13K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. The populations were characterized in terms of fine scale genetic structure and clonality, while controlling for genotyping errors. Main results: The genomic data, with a low error rate, allowed the identification of groups of clones. The proportion of clonal individuals was 21.7% in Austria and 12.9% in Spain, despite efforts to avoid sampling obvious clonal copies. Some ramets within clonal groups were found more than 60 m apart at both sites. The genetic population structure of black poplar is complex in the two investigated sites, resulting from both clonal and sexual relationships among the individuals. Research highlights: A large number of SNP markers reveals novel information about within-population relationships in black poplar. We found substantial clonal reproduction, together with a high number of distinct genotypes resulting from sexual reproduction and/or migration. This structure allows natural selection to operate at two levels. We should take into consideration this complex genetic structure in conservation management to preserve the adaptive potential of the species under future climate conditions.
Aim of the study: Recent trends show an increase in valuation exercises within forest systems, alongside a rise in tools integrating economic valuations with geographic information systems for detailed ecosystem service values. The study investigates how these outputs are perceived and utilized by users. Area of the study: The survey has been distributed among different stakeholders in the Community of Madrid (Spain). Material and methods: Utilizing survey data, a logit model was employed to determine factors affecting the use of economic valuation information stemming from these tools among individuals. Main results: Results indicate that such valuations are seldom used in daily operations, though familiarity and experience enhance their application. Respondents prioritize regulating ecosystem services in value assessments. Research highlights: The valuation of forest ecosystem services at a national level remains limited, with stakeholders rarely using it consistently. However, those with more expertise tend to utilize them effectively.
