Soil Microbial Resource Limitations and Community Assembly Along a Camellia oleifera Plantation Chronosequence

Understanding soil microbial element limitation and its relation with the microbial community can help in elucidating the soil fertility status and improving nutrient management of planted forest ecosystems. The stand age of a planted forest determines the aboveground forest biomass and structure and underground microbial function and diversity. In this study, we investigated 30 plantations of Camellia oleifera distributed across the subtropical region of China that we classified into four stand ages (planted <9 years, 9–20 years, 21–60 years, and >60 years age). Enzymatic stoichiometry analysis showed that microbial metabolism in the forests was mainly limited by C and P. P limitation significantly decreased and C limitation slightly increased along the stand age gradient. The alpha diversity of the soil microbiota remained steady along stand age, while microbial communities gradually converged from scattered to clustered, which was accompanied by a decrease in network complexity. The soil bacterial community assembly shifted from stochastic to deterministic processes, which probably contributed to a decrease in soil pH along stand age. Our findings emphasize that the stand age regulated the soil microbial metabolism limitation and community assembly, which provides new insight into the improvement of C and P management in subtropical planted forest.

New and Emerging Insect Pest and Disease Threats to Forest Plantations in Vietnam

The planted forest area in Vietnam increased from 3.0 to 4.4 million hectares in the period 2010–2020, but the loss of productivity from pests and diseases continues to be a problem. During this period, frequent and systematic plantation forest health surveys were conducted on 12 native and 4 exotic genera of trees as well as bamboo across eight forest geographic regions of Vietnam. Damage caused by insects and pathogens was quantified in the field and laboratory in Hanoi. The threats of greatest concern were from folivores (Antheraea frithi, Arthroschista hilaralis, Atteva fabriciella, Hieroglyphus tonkinensis, Lycaria westermanni,Krananda semihyalina, and Moduza procris), wood borers (Batocera lineolata, Euwallacea fornicatus, Tapinolachnus lacordairei, Xyleborus perforans, and Xystrocera festiva), sap-sucking insects (Aulacaspis tubercularis and Helopeltis theivora) and pathogens (Ceratocystis manginecans, Fusarium solani, and Phytophthora acaciivora). The number of new and emerging pests and pathogens increased over time from 2 in 2011 to 17 in 2020, as the damage became more widespread. To manage these pests and diseases, it is necessary to further invest in the selection and breeding of resistant genotypes, improve nursery hygiene and silvicultural operations, and adopt integrated pest management schemes. Consideration should be given to developing forest health monitoring protocols for forest reserves and other special-purpose forests.

Conversion of the planted forest with pinus to grain production in the Brazilian conditions: a study showing the economic perspectives

The Brazilian roundwood production of planted forest (PF) is large and turns Brazil, a prominent player on a global scale. A study was established on a farm located in Tibagi, Paraná, Brazil. We simulated two scenarios: A (continuity planting of pinus), and B (conversion of pinus to corn/soybean production). Results showed that both the productions of pinus and the rotation of soybean/corn are viable economic alternatives. If make-decided, the conversion of pinus to corn/soybean production also presented optimal with an increase of net present value, annual net present value, and internal rate of return, respectively from 9.8 %; R$ 1,519.48; and R$ 160.57 (PF), to 13.7 %; R$ 3,389.50; R$ 304.93 (soybean/corn). The rotation of soybean/corn presented a positive economic flux after the 4th crop-year due to the high initial cost of stump-removal. While, the pinus showed a positive economic flux after the 7th crop-year with the thinning/harvest in the 7th, 10th, 14th, 16th, and 20th years. Based on our results and from literature, we conclude that there is an increase of grain areas due to the influence of global grain consumption and high commodity prices, which can cause a conversion of PF to grain production areas due to higher better economic gains. However, farmers should maintain the economic-health of the property with the diversity of viable economic crops (i.e., pinus and corn/soybean), and the positive impact of planted forest on environmental sustainability.

Economic return on investments in research and development (R&D) in pine and eucalyptus plantations in Brazil

Currently, public and private resources are directed towards the development of Research and Development (R&D) projects in the Brazilian forestry area. But, many times, such investments are used only as corporate advertising, without the knowledge of their real return, underestimating the importance of R&D in the development of organizations in this sector. Hence the importance of studies that seek to evaluate investment returns and how profitable they are for society and for technological innovation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the possible economic return of R&D in the Brazilian Forest Sector, in particular, its effects on increasing the productivity of pine and eucalyptus stands. Through the publications of the Statistical Yearbook of the Brazilian Association of Planted Forest Producers (ABRAF) it was possible to understand the relationship between investments in R&D, planted area and annual current wood productivity, using an indicator that related Investments and Revenue in the R&D of organizations Brazilian forestry companies of this Association. It can be inferred that for every R $ 1.00 invested in R&D projects, an average return of R $ 16.02 is obtained in such organizations. It was also concluded that the marginal gains in annual wood productivity correlated positively and significantly with investments in R&D (r = 0.43). Thus, investments in R&D made by silvicultural organizations translate into an economic return for them, as well as that their absence can stagnate the increase in wood productivity.

Análise das propriedades físicas da madeira de Mogno (Swietenia macrophylla King) em floresta plantada na Amazônia Central / Analysis of the physical properties of Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) wood in a planted forest in Central Amazonia

O conhecimento das propriedades físicas da madeira é importante para que se tenha a melhor destinação no mercado logo o seu uso e potencial. Dentre elas se destaca a densidade, as contração volumétrica e fator anisotrópico. Deste modo, o presente estudo foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de contribuir para um somatório de informações e dados para promover o desenvolvimento da espécie Swietenia macrophylla King, visto que há poucas informações tecnológicas e cientificas a respeito da qualidade da madeira de mogno brasileiro. O material foi coletado na Fazenda Sakai ( Km 172, rodovia AM-010, Manaus-Itacoatiara), em discos sentido base-topo ate altura comercial da árvore, para posterior confecção de corpos de prova para a caracterização da densidade, teor de umidade, contração volumétrica e coeficiente de anisotropia, segundo as normas da NBR 7190. As análises foram realizadas no laboratório de tecnologia da madeira do campus da Universidade Federal do Amazonas. Os resultados foram avaliados por estatística descritiva onde indicaram que as amostras de madeira para o mono brasileiro plantado apresentaram densidade variando de 0,50-0,55 g/cm3; teor de umidade de 34- 50%, Os valores de contração tangencial variaram de 4,46-5,22% entre as amostras; radial de 4,12-9,96%. O coeficiente de anisotropia variou de 1,02 à 1,27. Apresentou boa estabilidade da madeira logo minimizando os possíveis defeitos em seu uso final.

Assessing the Broader Value of Planted Forests to Inform Forest Management Decisions

This study highlights the importance of incorporating objectively quantified, non-market environmental values (such as avoided erosion and carbon sequestration) into land use decision making for sustainable forest management. A continuously developing approach that has facilitated discussions between researchers, industries, and governments on the quantification of non-market values is the ecosystem services (ES) framework. Using a spatial economic tool, called Forest Investment Framework, this study is, to the best of our knowledge, the first assessment of the market (timber) and non-market (carbon sequestration, avoided nitrogen leaching and avoided erosion) ES values of the 1.75 million-hectare New Zealand planted forest estate. To collect the views of key planted forest industry representatives on ES assessment/quantification, we interviewed 14 forest managers representing 60% of the planted forest area. Results from the spatial economic analysis indicated that the non-market ES values can be more than four times the timber profit nationally, and up to 12 times higher in New Zealand’s most erosion-prone region. These estimated values are indicative and should be treated with caution. From a sensitivity analysis, we found that different discount rates significantly impact ES values, ratios, and distributions. Results from the interviews indicated that ES quantification helped inform decision making by supporting license to operate, while also signaling the development of a reward system for sustaining ES. Sixty-four percent of survey respondents identified the importance of quantifying ES in ecological terms and describing other non-market ES in spatial, qualitative, or binary forms. Overall, this study provided evidence of how estimated non-market ES values compare with market values and highlighted the importance of including them in decision making processes. Future cost benefit analyses that incorporate these non-market monetary ES values would complement multi-criteria analysis that integrate additional dimensions and allow decision makers to rank options based on their particular criteria.