Sustainable forest management remains a critical challenge in many tropical regions where timber extraction continues to exert pressure on forest ecosystems. This study examines patterns of timber harvesting and forest cover change in Ondo State, southwestern Nigeria, between 2019 and 2023. Using forestry records and remote-sensing datasets on tree cover and primary forest loss, the study analysed temporal, seasonal, and spatial variations in timber extraction across Local Government Areas (LGAs). Results show that a total of 114,629 trees were felled during the study period, with annual harvesting declining from 29,556 trees in 2019 to 16,751 in 2023. Moderate positive correlations were observed between annual felling and both tree cover loss and primary forest loss (r = 0.47–0.65), indicating that the years with higher harvesting levels coincided with greater forest cover reductions. Seasonal analysis revealed higher cumulative harvesting during the wet season compared with the dry season, while spatial analysis showed that the dry rainforest zone accounted for the majority of recorded felling, particularly in Akure North, Owo, and Akure South LGAs. In contrast, lower extraction levels were observed in mangrove-dominated areas such as Ese-Odo and Ilaje. Forestry records also indicated the absence of species-level harvest data and limited documentation of replanting or restoration activities. These findings highlight the need to strengthen forest monitoring systems, integrate species-level reporting, and implement structured replanting programmes to support sustainable forest management and align subnational forestry practices with national climate and biodiversity objectives.
Curly birch (Betula pendula var. carelica) is a valuable tree form cultivated for its highly decorative figured wood. The successful establishment of curly birch plantations depends largely on the adaptation of planting material to local climatic conditions. This study evaluated the early growth performance and phenological characteristics of eight Finnish-origin curly birch clones under Estonian hemiboreal conditions. The study was carried out in a comparative clone trial established in southern Estonia in autumn 2012. A total of 360 cloned trees representing eight curly birch clones were monitored during the first two growing seasons after planting (2013–2014). Initial seedling height, annual height increment, root collar diameter and phenological characteristics were recorded. Differences among clones were analysed using linear models, Tukey's honestly significant difference (HSD) test and Pearson correlation analysis. Significant differences among clones were found in initial seedling height, annual height increment, root collar diameter and vegetation period length (p < 0.05). During the second growing season, clones Pertunmaa E-10524 (KL4) and Kerimäki E-8306 (KL2) produced the greatest height increment. Vegetation period length was positively associated with annual height increment, although the relationship was not statistically significant (r = 0.64, p = 0.084). The results demonstrate that Finnish-origin curly birch clones differ in both early growth performance and phenological development under Estonian hemiboreal conditions. These differences reflect variation in climatic adaptation among clones. Whether the observed differences persist during later stages of stand development and are reflected in stem quality and figured wood formation can only be determined through long-term monitoring.
Although afforestation belts are widely recognized as components of the forest fund, there is limited information on the composition and structural patterns of their synanthropic flora. In this study, 298 relevés were collected in the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe between 2019 and 2021, and classical floristic methods were applied to analyze species composition, life forms, and ecological strategies. Comparative analysis of the three flora fractions, natural, apophytic, and alien, across taxonomic, life form, and environmental profiles revealed clear structural differentiation among them. SIMPER and descriptive multivariate assessments showed that a limited number of taxa and functional groups primarily contribute to the observed differences, highlighting distinct compositional patterns within each fraction.
Prunus mume (P. mume) is a precocious flowering fruit species valued for its use in forestry and urban greening. Nitrogen (N) is a critical factor affecting early seedling growth and nutrient acquisition. However, the organ-specific responses of carbon (C): N: phosphorus (P) stoichiometry and non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) pools to varying N supply remain unclear in this species. To address this, we examined the effects of five N levels (0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 g N plant−1) on morphological characteristics, C:N:P stoichiometry, and non-structural carbohydrate contents in the leaves, stems, and roots of P. mume seedlings under greenhouse conditions. Results indicated that N addition had a complex impact on seedling growth. While it significantly reduced P content across three organs, it increased total N content in the roots, stems, and leaves of P. mume seedlings. Higher N levels (40 g N plant−1) also resulted in a marked rise in the N/P ratio, especially in stems. In terms of C reserves, N addition significantly increased soluble NSC content, while starch storage significantly decreased. Overall, N addition fundamentally changed the C:N:P stoichiometric balance and C reserve allocation in P. mume seedlings, with the reduction in starch closely associated with the accumulation of soluble sugars. These findings provide a scientific basis for optimizing N fertilizer schedules, thereby supporting high-quality nursery production and the sustainable establishment of P. mume orchards in forestry and agroforestry systems.
Thinning should promote the optimal growth and good health of a forest ecosystem. However, several residual trees usually suffer mechanical damage in stands after thinning operations. This research was conducted to determine the extent, cause and location of damage to residual trees during felling operations and timber extractions in the cut-to-length system in hemiboreal forests in Järvselja, Estonia. Field measurements were carried out in 30 thinning sites in 2017 and 2019. There were 57.6 damaged trees per hectare (7.8% of residual trees) on average. The number of damaged trees per hectare was not dependent on the method (harvester or manual felling) and season (winter period or summer period) of felling, however it was dependent on stand density. There were 23% root damage, 9% root collar damage and 68% stem damage out of all damaged trees. The common causes of residual tree damage were driving damage, falling tree damage and harvester saw damage. The strip roads covered 19% of the thinning area; the mean width of strip roads was 3.76 m. Thinning is certainly an important silvicultural measure whereas careful planning and execution should keep direct and consequential damage to the stand as minimal as possible.
