scholarly journals Screening of Tree Species For Fuelwood Production in The Mid-Altitudes of North Shewa, Ethiopia

Author(s):  
Melese Bekele Nigussie ◽  
Lemma Habteyohannes Habteyohannes ◽  
Getabalew Teshome Reta ◽  
Damtew Ababu Wudinehe ◽  
Mesafint Minale Fenta ◽  
...  

Abstract The source of energy at household level in Ethiopia mostly comes from wood biomass. The increasing population and shrinkage of natural forests resulted in shortage of wood supply for energy. Hence, looking for fast-growing with better fuel wood characteristics is required to access wood and for the supply of fuelwood consumption. This study aims to select tree species with better biomass and good fuel wood characteristics. Seven tree species: Acacia polyacantha, Acacia abyssinica, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Albizia lophantha, Acacia melanoxylon, Acacia decurrens, and Eucalyptus globulus were selected to study the growth performance, biomass and fuel wood characteristics. Six trees per species were randomly selected and harvested for fuel wood property (wood moisture, ash content and fiber content) analysis. Acacia abyssinica, Acacia polyacantha and Eucalyptus camaldunesis showed better survival rates than other species. The better height performance was recorded from Acacia .decurrens, Acacia polyacantha, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, and Eucalyptus globules. A. polyacantha and A.decurrens provided the highest biomass. A. decurrens showed the lowest wood moisture (31.1%) and wood density (0.76 g/cm3), and the lowest ash content (2.2%). Hence, A. decurrens and A. polyacantha are recommended for fuel wood due to high density, low moisture, and low ash content and good biomass production.

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-425
Author(s):  
Md Khayrul Alam Bhuiyan ◽  
Md Akhter Hossain ◽  
Abdul Kadir Ibne Kamal ◽  
Mohammed Kamal Hossain ◽  
Mohammed Jashimuddin ◽  
...  

A study was conducted by using 5m × 5m sized 179 quadrates following multistage random sampling method for comparative regenerating tree species, quantitative structure, diversity, similarity and climate resilience in the degraded natural forests and plantations of Cox's Bazar North and South Forest Divisions. A total of 70 regenerating tree species were recorded representing maximum (47 species) from degraded natural forests followed by 43 species from 0.5 year 39 species from 1.5 year and 29 species from 2.5 year old plantations. Quantitative structure relating to ecological dominance indicated dominance of Acacia auriculiformis, Grewia nervosa and Lithocarpus elegans seedlings in the plantations whereas seedlings of Aporosa wallichii, Suregada multiflora and Grewia nervosa in degraded natural forests. The degraded natural forests possess higher natural regeneration potential as showed by different diversity indices. The dominance-based cluster analysis showed 2 major cluster of species under one of which multiple sub-clusters of species exists. Poor plant diversity and presence of regenerating exotic species in the plantations indicated poor climate resilience of forest ecosystem in terms of natural regeneration.


2008 ◽  
Vol 159 (4) ◽  
pp. 80-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogdan Brzeziecki ◽  
Feliks Eugeniusz Bernadzki

The results of a long-term study on the natural forest dynamics of two forest communities on one sample plot within the Białowieża National Park in Poland are presented. The two investigated forest communities consist of the Pino-Quercetum and the Tilio-Carpinetum type with the major tree species Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Betula sp., Quercus robur, Tilia cordata and Carpinus betulus. The results reveal strong temporal dynamics of both forest communities since 1936 in terms of tree species composition and of general stand structure. The four major tree species Scots pine, birch, English oak and Norway spruce, which were dominant until 1936, have gradually been replaced by lime and hornbeam. At the same time, the analysis of structural parameters indicates a strong trend towards a homogenization of the vertical stand structure. Possible causes for these dynamics may be changes in sylviculture, climate change and atmospheric deposition. Based on the altered tree species composition it can be concluded that a simple ≪copying≫ (mimicking) of the processes taking place in natural forests may not guarantee the conservation of the multifunctional character of the respective forests.


2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 1218-1235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven G Newmaster ◽  
F Wayne Bell ◽  
Christopher R Roosenboom ◽  
Heather A Cole ◽  
William D Towill

Plantations have been claimed to be "monocultures", or "biological deserts". We investigated these claims in the context of a long-term study on plant diversity within plantations with different indigenous tree species, spacings, and soil types that were compared with 410 native stands. Soil type had no influence on plantation species diversity or abundance, and wider spacing resulted in higher richness, lower woody plant abundance, slightly higher cover of herbaceous plants, and large increases in cryptogam cover. We also found a canopy species × spacing interaction effect, where the impact of increased spacing on understory vegetation was more pronounced in spruce than in pine plantations. The dynamic community interactions among species of feathermoss appear to be in response to the physical impediment from varying amounts of needle rain from the different tree species. High light interception and needle fall were negatively correlated with understory plant diversity, as was lack of structural diversity. This study indicates that through afforestation efforts agricultural lands can be restored to productive forests that can harbour nearly one-half of the plant species found in equivalent natural forests within the same geographic region in as little as 50 years. We recommend applying afforestation using indigenous conifer species as a first step towards rehabilitating conifer forests that have been converted to agriculture and subsequently abandoned.


2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 1728-1738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher E. Looney ◽  
Anthony W. D’Amato ◽  
Brian J. Palik ◽  
Robert A. Slesak

Fraxinus nigra Marsh. (black ash) wetland forests in northern Minnesota, USA, are threatened by the invasive insect, emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (EAB)). A potential management option is promoting regeneration of tree species that are not EAB hosts to maintain ecosystem functions. Using an operational-scale field experiment, we examined the survival of 12 alternative tree species in response to different canopy treatments. We planted the seedlings in 1.6 ha plots assigned to four replicated canopy treatments: untreated control, group selection (0.04 ha gaps, 20% of stand), black ash girdling to emulate EAB-induced mortality, and clearcut. Fall and spring plantings were used to compare the effects of spring ponding. Control (32.9%), group selection (34.5%), and girdling (33.3%) treatments had comparable overall seedling survival. Survival in the clear-cut treatments was significantly lower (22%). Species selection, overstory treatment, and season of planting together resulted in survival rates ranging from 0.08% to 94.1%. Conifer species had low overall rates of survival (10.7%), whereas some species with native ranges not presently overlapping with northern F. nigra forests, e.g., Quercus bicolor Willd. (75.5%), had high survival rates. If growth is light-limited, group selection may be effective in promoting recruitment and supporting a larger variety of species.


Author(s):  
Janet Ahatho Ekalo ◽  
James Koske ◽  
Cecilia Gichuki ◽  
Innocent Ngare

Every environment is surrounded by traditional people who have lived in the geographic location for a long time and use their particular knowledge to cohabit with the natural ecosystem. This study assessed challenges encountered towards tree conservation by the Rendille pastoral community in Kenya. Selected tree species; Olea europaea, Terminalia sp. and Hyphaene compressa, that are commonly used by the community were identified and the probable threats towards their conservation. Some of these tree conservation challenges by the indigenous Rendille were: charcoal burning and fuel wood consumption, demand of traditional tree medicinal value, climate variability extremes and demand for land for settlement by the community. The results indicate that, charcoal burning (84.4%) and demand for traditional tree medicine (77.3%) were leading causes frustrating tree conservation among the Rendille. To mitigate these challenges, the respondents indicated that, creation of awareness (89.1%) and promotion of other sources of fuel (78.9%) could be vital factors. The study recommends Integration of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) with formal education to enhance conservation of the mentioned tree species.


Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 677
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Hasstedt ◽  
Peter Annighöfer

Black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) is considered one of the most invasive tree species in central Europe and causes problems for both nature conservation and silviculture. Besides mechanical control treatments, a suggested control method to prevent its ongoing spread is to underplant shade-tolerant native tree species. Therefore, we combined two mechanical treatments, with underplanting of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) or small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata Mill.) on fenced and unfenced plots. After the first growing season, survival rates were evaluated, and selected seedlings were destructively harvested to analyze their growth performance and leaf morphology in association with the different light regimes resulting from mechanical treatments Survival rates for both seedlings were very high (>95%). Survival rates were higher on fenced plots than on unfenced plots, most likely as result of browsing. The mortality of F. sylvatica decreased with increasing light availability on fenced plots. The mortality of T. cordata did not change along the light gradient. After one vegetation period no differences with respect to biomass allocation could be detected along the light gradient. However, the specific leaf areas of both species responded similarly, decreasing with increasing light availability. In summary, both species were able to establish and survive in the dense P. serotina understory and might have the potential to outcompete the invasive alien species in the long run.


FLORESTA ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 725
Author(s):  
Renata Diane Menegatti ◽  
Pedro Higuchi ◽  
Ana Carolina Da Silva ◽  
João Fert-Neto ◽  
Jean Correia ◽  
...  

O presente estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar a relação etnobotânica de proprietários rurais do município de Urupema, SC, com recursos florestais. Para isso, foram realizadas entrevistas, em cada uma das 35 propriedades amostradas, sobre as principais fontes de renda e sobre as principais espécies florestais utilizadas. O uso das espécies foi analisado por meio do Nível de Fidelidade (NF) e da Porcentagem de Concordância quanto aos Usos Principais (CUP). As fontes de renda relatadas com maior frequência foram a pecuária, a fruticultura e a aposentadoria. Os recursos florestais são utilizados, principalmente, para fins de alimentação e energético. Todas as espécies citadas apresentaram elevado NF (≥ 97%) e a Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze é a espécie de maior valor de CUP (97,06%), por ser utilizada por quase a totalidade dos entrevistados (34), sempre para os mesmos fins. Os resultados demonstraram que a maioria dos entrevistados (83%) não obtém renda das florestas naturais, mesmo com quase metade (47%) tendo citado que seria possível sustentar a família por meio da exploração dos recursos florestais nativos. Dentre os recursos florestais explorados, destacou-se a extração de pinhão como fonte de renda.Palavras-chave: Floresta com Araucária; Planalto Catarinense; etnobotânica; produtores rurais. AbstractEthnobotanical connections of rural landowners in the municipality of Urupema, SC, with forest resources. The present research aimed to characterize the ethnobotanical connections of rural landowners in the municipality of Urupema, SC, with their use of forest resource. In order to do that, we conducted interviews, in each of the 35 surveyed properties, focusing the main source of income as well as the main used tree species. The species usages were analyzed by the Fidelity Level (NF) and Percentage of Main Use Concordance (CUP). The most frequent sources of income were livestock, fruit culture and retirement. The forest resources are mainly used as food and energy. All cited species revealed elevated values of NF (≥97%), and the more elevated value of CUP was observed for Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze (97,06%), as such species had been reported by almost the totality of farmers, always for the same purpose. The results revealed that most of the interviewees (83%) do not get income from natural forests, even with almost half (47%) of them considering that it would be possible to sustain their family by native forest resources exploitation. Among the exploited forest resources, the extraction of pine nuts stood out as income source.Keywords: Araucaria Forest; Planalto Catarinense; forest resource usages; ethnobotany, farmers.


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