Mehr Mut zur Wildnis (Essay) | A more courageous attitude to wilderness (essay)

2010 ◽  
Vol 161 (8) ◽  
pp. 286-290
Author(s):  
Adrian Borgula
Keyword(s):  
Forest Area ◽  
Expert Assessment ◽  
Natural State ◽  
Nature Protection ◽  
Forest Reserves ◽  
Natural Processes ◽  
Wilderness Areas ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Basic Functions ◽  
Total Forest Area

Where nature protection is concerned, the expert assessment of an environment poses questions about its natural and cultural heritage and its potential, about how representative it may be, about biodiversity in all its facets and about its development or potential threats to its existence. Although the forest was the dominant habitat in the original natural European landscape, for a long time nature protection has devoted too little attention to it. There are diverse threats and deficiencies. However, in the Swiss forests positive developments are discernible. Thus nature protection is one of the basic functions of the forest, nature reserves are being created, the area of the forest is increasing, as are reserves of deadwood, and greater importance is being given to regeneration suited to the site. Nevertheless much remains to be done to really achieve the goal of biodiversity and sus-tainability. For this purpose segregative and integrative measures are required. Since diversity needs surface area, in the first place it must be possible to set aside as forest reserves a quarter of the total forest area, spread over the whole country and preferably as natural forest reserves, in order to start the process of a long-term restoration to the natural state. Here the conservation of natural self-regulating processes supersedes classical nature protection. With a series of further integrative measures, biodiversity must also be promoted over the whole remaining forest area and in the areas of transition to other habitats. An abundance of varied structures is the key to diversity of species. A more courageous attitude to wilderness and “untidiness” when dealing with the forest is to be recommended. Nature experiences in wilderness areas give the population the possibility of discovering diversity and natural processes and encourage respect for the innumerable other species and habitats.

scholarly journals Naturwaldreservate: welche, wo und wofür? (Essay)

2012 ◽  
Vol 163 (6) ◽  
pp. 187-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kurt Bollmann ◽  
Jörg Müller
Keyword(s):  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Natural Forest ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Forest Reserves ◽  
Natural Processes ◽  
Total Forest Area ◽  
Abundance And Distribution ◽  
Specific Impact

Natural forest reserves: selection criteria, where and what for? (Essay) The question “How large should the total extent of strict natural forest reserves be?” dominates the current debate about the need of unmanaged forests for biodiversity conservation in Central Europe. However, within a system of close-to-nature forest management, the quality, location, composition and distribution of natural forest reserves might have higher impacts on the diversity of species, communities and natural processes than the reserves' extent alone. Strictly speaking, the correct answer about the minimal required surface is directly related to the superior conservation objectives. In addition, the required ratio of forest reserves in relation to the total forest area is influenced by other factors such as the abundance and distribution of forests pirmarily managed for conservation objective, protected forest biotopes and old-growth stands as well as the general standards for an integrative, close-to-nature silviculture. Since concrete, superior objectives for forest biodiversity conservation are still missing in Central Europe, we put the focus of this article on the criteria that influence the conservation-specific impact and quality of strict natural forest reserves. These are amongst others the extent and compactness of a reserve, its habitat continuity and connectivity, the representativeness of forest types, their species composition and biogeographic distribution, a reserve's site heterogeneity and naturalness of its vegetation as well as the abundance of key structures and target species.

Ein beliebter Alleskönner steht unter Druck (Essay)

2014 ◽  
Vol 165 (8) ◽  
pp. 220-223
Author(s):  
Urs Leugger-Eggimann
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Forest Area ◽  
Forest Protection ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Forest Reserves ◽  
Mountainous Regions ◽  
Natural Processes ◽  
Swiss Plateau ◽  
Forest Habitats

Pressures on a multi-talented and beloved habitat (essay) Animal and plant species in forest habitats are less threatened than those in other habitats. That is to be welcomed, but is no reason to rest on our laurels in self-satisfaction. This forest success story can be explained by the strict forest protection which exists in Switzerland. This model, which has been a success for over 100 years, is under greater and greater pressure. Some politicians and interest groups want to open the forest to residential development. For Pro Natura, a relaxation of forest protection on the Swiss Plateau is out of the question. The same harmful processes which have been responsible for the dramatic loss of agricultural land would be imported to the forest. The fact is that the increase in total Swiss forest area is entirely limited to the mountainous regions, and does not concern the Plateau. It is important, from an ecological and economic point of view, to use some parts of the forest in a sustainable way. However, it is also essential that other parts of the forest are allowed to follow their natural processes. Pro Natura recommends that 10% of the Swiss forest area should be forest nature reserves by 2030, and 8% special forest reserves. A fifth of the forest area can safely be devoted to conservation of biodiversity, while four fifths can be managed according to sustainability criteria.

scholarly journals Типологічне різноманіття лісів на водозборі річки Сіверський Донець на території Луганської області

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 120-127
Author(s):  
O. B. Bondar ◽  
L. I. Tkach ◽  
O. O. Chuikova ◽  
A. S. Zolotarova
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Pine Forest ◽  
Forest Growth ◽  
Forest Area ◽  
Conifer Forest ◽  
Nature Protection ◽  
Total Size ◽  
Total Forest Area

Typological analysis of watershed forests of the Seversky Donets River was carried out on the basis of forest management data with electronic databases of "Ukrderzhlisproekt" Production Association. More than 27 types of forest were analyzed with total size of 228.2 thousand hectares. The classification of forest growth conditions, forest types and tree species on the left and right banks of the Seversky Donets River was done for the Luhansk region. We determined that the forest fund of the Luhansk region consists from the oak forests – 46.4 %, sudubrava – 21.1 %, conifer forest – 17.5 %. The proportion of coniferous forests makes up to 15.0 % of total forest area. We calculated that the area of common oak and common pine is 86.9 and 70.9·103 ha respectively. The following types of forests are prevailing: dry birchbark-marple sudubrava (30.8 %), fresh oak-pine sudubrava (13.1%), dry Tatarian maple sudubrava (12.9%), and fresh pine forest (10.6%). In the forest area of the Luhansk region we registered 70 tree species, of which 19 species – in oak-pine forest; 37 – in conifer forest; 55 – in sudubrava; 59 – in oak forest. By categories of protection the recreation forests (51.7 %) and protective forests (42.0 %) are the dominant. The forests of nature protection, forests of scientific, historical and cultural significance have only 6.4 % from the total forest area. The structure of forests by age groups was: middle-aged forests – 41.3 %, young growths – 17.8 %, ripening forests – 15.5 %, mature forests – 16.7 %, and old growth forests – 13.3 % from total forest area of Luhansk region.

scholarly journals Impact of Management Regime and Regime Change on Gravel Barrier Response to a Major Storm Surge

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 147
Author(s):  
James A. Pollard ◽  
Elizabeth K. Christie ◽  
Susan M. Brooks ◽  
Tom Spencer
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Storm Surge ◽  
Natural State ◽  
Hydrodynamic Conditions ◽  
Natural Processes ◽  
Management Regime ◽  
Coastal Defense ◽  
Management Regimes ◽  
Coastal Risk ◽  
The Impact

Gravel barriers represent physiographic, hydrographic, sedimentary, and ecological boundaries between inshore and open marine offshore environments, where they provide numerous important functions. The morphosedimentary features of gravel barriers (e.g., steep, energy reflective form) have led to their characterization as effective coastal defense features during extreme hydrodynamic conditions. Consequently, gravel barriers have often been intensively managed to enhance coastal defense functions. The Blakeney Point Barrier System (BPBS), U.K., is one such example, which offers the opportunity to investigate the impact of alternative management regimes under extreme hydrodynamic conditions. The BPBS was actively re-profiled along its eastern section from the 1950s to the winter of 2005, whilst undergoing no active intervention along its western section. Combining an analysis of remotely sensed elevation datasets with numerical storm surge modeling, this paper finds that interventionist management introduces systemic differences in barrier morphological characteristics. Overly steepened barrier sections experience greater wave run-up extents during storm surge conditions, leading to more extreme morphological changes and landward barrier retreat. Furthermore, while high, steep barriers can be highly effective at preventing landward flooding, in cases where overwashing does occur, the resultant landward overtopping volume is typically higher than would be the case for a relatively lower crested barrier with a lower angled seaward slope. There is a growing preference within coastal risk management for less interventionist management regimes, incorporating natural processes. However, restoring natural processes does not immediately or inevitably result in a reduction in coastal risk. This paper contributes practical insights regarding the time taken for a previously managed barrier to relax to a more natural state, intermediary morphological states, and associated landward water flows during extreme events, all of which should be considered if gravel barriers are to be usefully integrated into broader risk management strategies.

Condition and productivity of the middle-aged oak seed forest of Shipov forest created by G.G. Yunash

10.12737/4507 ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-60
Author(s):  
Мусиевский ◽  
Aleksandr Musievskiy ◽  
Кравченкова ◽  
N. Kravchenkova
Keyword(s):  
Small Area ◽  
Forest Area ◽  
Oak Forests ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Natural Origin ◽  
Small Admixture ◽  
Voronezh Region ◽  
Seed Origin ◽  
Total Forest Area

Oak forests occupy relatively small area of about 1 % (seed origin - less than 0.4 %) of the total forest area in Russia, which continues to decline steadily. The problem of restoring sustainable oak forests of seed origin is one of the most painful. In Shipov forest of Voronezh region from 1875 to 1950 15.1 thousand hectares of crops was created, of which only about 2 hectares survived, the vast majority died or it is a small admixture in stands of natural origin.

scholarly journals Chimpanzees in Uganda

Oryx ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helmut Albrecht
Keyword(s):  
Research Council ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Natural State ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
Wilderness Areas ◽  
Budongo Forest

In Uganda chimpanzees and gorillas, two of the most spectacular living beings on earth, still survive in their natural state in some forests. Neither species can adapt for long to man-made changes in their environment; they will only survive if they are actively protected in untouched wilderness areas. In 1971–72, with the approval of the Uganda National Research Council, I made surveys in the Budongo and Bwindi forests to estimate chimpanzee numbers, and suggested two such areas, one of which, in the north-east Budongo forest, has since been created a nature reserve.

scholarly journals Detection of forest loss on Black Stork (Ciconia nigra L.) breeding sites in the Rivne region (Polissia) by a GIS analysis

2017 ◽  
pp. 75-80
Author(s):  
Strus Iu. ◽  
Bokotey A. ◽  
Dzubenko N.
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Population ◽  
Forest Area ◽  
Forest Loss ◽  
Gis Analysis ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Forest Logging ◽  
Ciconia Nigra ◽  
Black Stork ◽  
Total Forest Area

The study aims to assess the scale of forest loss (mostly caused by logging) on breeding sites of the local Black Stork breeding population in the Rivne region of Ukraine, within the Polissia nature zone. The study is based on a GIS analysis of the Global Forest Watch data in intersection of circular buffers of different sizes around 141 Black Stork nests. Forest logging was detected on 38,3% of breeding sites in the region, in 100 m buffers around nests. On more than 14% of breeding territories (in 100 m buffers) forest loss exceeded 20% of the total forest area. Therefore, logging is one of the major threats for the local Black Stork population. The method used for the forest loss detection by a GIS analysis seems to be effective for the search of territories with the violation of protection regime for rare birds when resources are limited.

scholarly journals Canopy gaps in two virgin beech forest reserves in Slovakia

2012 ◽  
Vol 51 (No. 10) ◽  
pp. 446-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Drößler ◽  
B. von Lüpke
Keyword(s):  
Beech Forest ◽  
Turnover Time ◽  
Forest Area ◽  
Deciduous Forests ◽  
Line Transect ◽  
Line Transect Sampling ◽  
Forest Reserves ◽  
Transect Sampling ◽  
Percentage Area ◽  
Stand Height

The formation, size distribution and percentage of gaps in two virgin deciduous forests are presented in two case studies. Gaps are defined as openings in the canopy above 2/3 of stand height. These gaps comprise <br />16% of the forest area in Have&scaron;ov&aacute; Reserve and 14.6% of the forest area in Kyjov Reserve. The estimated turnover time is <br />220 years. More than half the gaps were caused by the death of one tree, and 80% of the gaps were due to the death of up to 3 trees. The largest gap in Have&scaron;ov&aacute; Reserve was 0.40 ha, resulting from the death of 56 trees over the last 40 years. The area of the largest gap in Kyjov Reserve was 0.44 ha. It was caused by the death of 80 trees over the last 40 years. Such large gaps are scarce. 85% of the gaps are smaller than 250 m&sup2;. A correction of the bias towards the over-abundance of large gaps by line-transect sampling was made by estimating the percentage area of gaps of different size from the percentage length along the transects. In Have&scaron;ov&aacute; an attempt was made to date the death of trees that were still visible in the gaps. 1/5 of the trees initiated gaps by their death, while 4/5 of the trees extended gaps. While uprooted trees dominate in Have&scaron;ov&aacute;, breakage is most common in Kyjov.

scholarly journals Introskeletal erosion threat in mountain forests of the Czech Republic

2012 ◽  
Vol 49 (No. 7) ◽  
pp. 313-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Vacek ◽  
V. V Podrázský ◽  
M. Mikeska ◽  
W. K Moser
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Forest Area ◽  
Water Protection ◽  
Mountain Forests ◽  
Mountainous Areas ◽  
Forest Protection ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Total Forest Area ◽  
Forest Lands

Summarization of the potential of introskeletal erosion (ISE) was done on the basis of field surveys in the &Scaron;umava Mts., Krkono&scaron;e Mts. and Jesen&iacute;ky Mts. areas. The results give a rough estimation of the ISE extent in mountain forests of the Czech Republic. They indicate that in the mountainous areas of the Czech Republic there are 46,535 ha of forest lands endangered by these processes, which represents 10.1% of mountain forests and 1.7% of the total forest area in the country. The worst situation is in the Krkono&scaron;e Mts., where the considerable ISE potential is on 30.5% of forest area (in the Jesen&iacute;ky Mts. 16.6%, in the Novohradsk&eacute; hory Mts. 13.3%, in the &Scaron;umava&nbsp; Mts. 8.2%). Because these areas are relevant production and water protection areas, the ISE processes have to be studied carefully and forest lands have to be protected, also using special technologies for forest protection and restoration. &nbsp;

scholarly journals Global analysis of the slope of forest land

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikael Lundbäck ◽  
Henrik Persson ◽  
Carola Häggström ◽  
Tomas Nordfjell
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Global Analysis ◽  
Forest Area ◽  
Forest Land ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Total Forest Area ◽  
Cent Point ◽  
Elevation Model ◽  
Country Specific

Abstract Forests of the world constitute one-third of the total land area and are critical for e.g. carbon balance, biodiversity, water supply and as source for bio-based products. Although the terrain within forest land has a great impact on accessibility, there is a lack of knowledge about the distribution of its variation in slope. The aim was to address that knowledge gap and create a globally consistent dataset of the distribution and area of forest land within different slope classes. A Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis was performed using the open-source QGIS, GDAL and R software. The core of the analysis was a digital elevation model and a forest cover mask, both with a final resolution of 90 m. The total forest area according to the forest mask was 4.15 billion hectares whereof 82 per cent was on slope &lt; 15°. The remaining 18 per cent was distributed over the following slope classes, with 6 per cent on a 15–20° slope, 8 per cent on a 20–30° slope and 4 per cent on a slope &gt; 30°. Out of the major forestry countries, China had the largest proportion of forest steeper than 15° followed by Chile and India. A sensitivity analysis with 20 m resolution resulted in increased steep areas by 1 per cent point in flat Sweden and by 11 per cent points in steep Austria. In addition to country-specific and aggregated results of slope distribution and forest area, a global raster dataset is also made freely available to cover user-specific areas that are not necessarily demarcated by country borders. Apart from predicting the regional possibilities for different harvesting equipment, which was the original idea behind this study, the results can be used to relate geographical forest variables to slope. The results could also be used in strategic forest fire fighting and large-scale planning of forest conservation and management.

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