Managing Threats to the Health of Tree Plantations in Asia

This article proposes a new way of looking at social conflicts relating to industrial tree plantations by arguing that such conflicts reflect the struggle between two distinct institutional logics, i.e., property versus possession. The abstract logic of property, enhanced by credit relations and the minimization of costs, stimulates commercial plantations and tends to be detrimental to the environment. By contrast, the concrete logic of possession forces local communities to take account of complex local social and ecological interactions, and thereby encourages a sustainable use of the forest.

Changes in Macrofungal Communities Following Forest Conversion into Tree Plantations in Southern Brazil

Biotropica ◽

10.1111/btp.12240 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 47 (5) ◽

pp. 616-625 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Claudia P. Paz ◽

Mônica Gallon ◽

Jair Putzke ◽

Gislene Ganade

Keyword(s):

Tree Plantations ◽

Forest Conversion ◽

Southern Brazil

Genomic Characteristics and Comparative Genomics Analysis of Two Chinese Corynespora cassiicola Strains Causing Corynespora Leaf Fall (CLF) Disease

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof7060485 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 485

Author(s):

Boxun Li ◽

Yang Yang ◽

Jimiao Cai ◽

Xianbao Liu ◽

Tao Shi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Comparative Genomics ◽

Single Molecule ◽

Rubber Tree ◽

Gene Families ◽

Gene Clusters ◽

The Philippines ◽

Tree Plantations ◽

Comparative Genomic ◽

Corynespora Cassiicola ◽

Leaf Fall

Rubber tree Corynespora leaf fall (CLF) disease, caused by the fungus Corynespora cassiicola, is one of the most damaging diseases in rubber tree plantations in Asia and Africa, and this disease also threatens rubber nurseries and young rubber plantations in China. C. cassiicola isolates display high genetic diversity, and virulence profiles vary significantly depending on cultivar. Although one phytotoxin (cassicolin) has been identified, it cannot fully explain the diversity in pathogenicity between C. cassiicola species, and some virulent C. cassiicola strains do not contain the cassiicolin gene. In the present study, we report high-quality gapless genome sequences, obtained using short-read sequencing and single-molecule long-read sequencing, of two Chinese C. cassiicola virulent strains. Comparative genomics of gene families in these two stains and a virulent CPP strain from the Philippines showed that all three strains experienced different selective pressures, and metabolism-related gene families vary between the strains. Secreted protein analysis indicated that the quantities of secreted cell wall-degrading enzymes were correlated with pathogenesis, and the most aggressive CCP strain (cassiicolin toxin type 1) encoded 27.34% and 39.74% more secreted carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) than Chinese strains YN49 and CC01, respectively, both of which can only infect rubber tree saplings. The results of antiSMASH analysis showed that all three strains encode ~60 secondary metabolite biosynthesis gene clusters (SM BGCs). Phylogenomic and domain structure analyses of core synthesis genes, together with synteny analysis of polyketide synthase (PKS) and non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) gene clusters, revealed diversity in the distribution of SM BGCs between strains, as well as SM polymorphisms, which may play an important role in pathogenic progress. The results expand our understanding of the C. cassiicola genome. Further comparative genomic analysis indicates that secreted CAZymes and SMs may influence pathogenicity in rubber tree plantations. The findings facilitate future exploration of the molecular pathogenic mechanism of C. cassiicola.

Bird communities in a degraded forest biodiversity hotspot of East Africa

Biodiversity and Conservation ◽

10.1007/s10531-021-02190-y ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Moses Mulwa ◽

Mike Teucher ◽

Werner Ulrich ◽

Jan Christian Habel

Keyword(s):

Tropical Forests ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Bird Species ◽

Bird Communities ◽

Natural Forest ◽

Tree Plantations ◽

Agricultural Fields ◽

Degraded Forest ◽

Forest Patches ◽

Small Forest

AbstractTropical forests suffer severe habitat destruction. Thus, tropical forests frequently consist today of only a few small remnants that are often embedded within a matrix of agricultural fields and tree plantations. Forest specialist species have experienced severe population declines under these circumstances. We studied bird communities based on census plots set up in a near-natural forest block, as well as degraded forest patches, tree plantations, and agricultural fields, across the Taita Hills in southern Kenya. We classified each bird species according its ecology and behavior. We quantified the land cover and landscape configuration around each census plot. Typical forest species were mainly observed in the near-natural forest block, and to a lower extent in degraded forest patches. Plantations were almost devoid of birds. Bird communities of small forest fragments were more similar to that of agricultural land than the near-natural forest block. Most frugivorous, insectivorous and nectarivorous birds occurred in forest habitats, while granivorous bird species dominated the bird communities of agricultural land. The surrounding landscape had a marginal impact on bird species composition at local sites. Our study showed that the preservation of near-natural cloud forest, including small forest patches, is essential for the conservation of forest-dependent species, and that plantations do not serve as surrogate habitats.

Soil organic carbon pool under selected tree plantations in the Southern Western Ghats of Kerala, India

Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1007/s42965-020-00137-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 62 (1) ◽

pp. 126-138

Author(s):

Vijo Thomas Kurien ◽

Elvin Thomas ◽

S. Prasanth Narayanan ◽

A. P. Thomas

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Western Ghats ◽

Carbon Pool ◽

Tree Plantations ◽

Southern Western Ghats ◽

Organic Carbon Pool

Are tree plantations promoting homogenization of mammal assemblages between regions with contrasting environments?

Journal of Biogeography ◽

10.1111/jbi.14056 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 48 (5) ◽

pp. 1038-1047

Author(s):

María Eugenia Iezzi ◽

Carlos De Angelo ◽

Paula Cruz ◽

Diego Varela ◽

Mario S. Di Bitetti

Keyword(s):

Tree Plantations ◽

Mammal Assemblages

A Weed Compaction Roller System for Use with Mechanical Herbicide Application

Northern Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/njaf/23.1.66 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 66-69 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Adam H. Wiese ◽

Daniel A. Netzer ◽

Don E. Riemenschneider ◽

Ronald S. Zalesny

Keyword(s):

Tree Plantations ◽

Diameter Growth ◽

Herbicide Application ◽

Treatment Combination ◽

Invasive Weed ◽

Vegetation Control ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Herbicide Treatments ◽

Roller System ◽

The Cost

Abstract We designed, constructed, and field-tested a versatile and unique weed compaction roller system that can be used with mechanical herbicide application for invasive weed control in tree plantations, agronomic settings, and areas where localized flora and fauna are in danger of elimination from the landscape. The weed compaction roller system combined with herbicide application generally had greater vegetation control compared with using only herbicide treatments or the unsprayed control. The roller system-herbicide treatment combination showed substantial total vegetation control two growing seasons after application without impacting diameter growth of the crop trees, which supports the need for less frequent entries into the field. The cost of the roller system was approximately $300.00.

Do abandoned tree plantations resemble natural riparian forests? A case study from northeast Greece

Botanica Helvetica ◽

10.1007/s00035-007-0796-9 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 117 (2) ◽

pp. 125-142 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Grigorios Vasilopoulos ◽

Ioannis Tsiripidis ◽

Vasiliki Karagiannakidou

Keyword(s):

Riparian Forests ◽

Tree Plantations

Buffering of native forest edge microclimate by adjoining tree plantations

Austral Ecology ◽

10.1111/j.1442-9993.2006.01609.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 478-489 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

K. DENYER ◽

B. BURNS ◽

J. OGDEN

Keyword(s):

Forest Edge ◽

Tree Plantations ◽

Native Forest