The European Forest Condition Monitor: Using Remotely Sensed Forest Greenness to Identify Hot Spots of Forest Decline

Forest decline, in course of climate change, has become a frequently observed phenomenon. Much of the observed decline has been associated with an increasing frequency of climate change induced hotter droughts while decline induced by flooding, late-frost, and storms also play an important role. As a consequence, tree mortality rates have increased across the globe. Despite numerous studies that have assessed forest decline and predisposing factors for tree mortality, we still lack an in-depth understanding of (I) underlying eco-physiological mechanisms, (II) the influence of varying environmental conditions related to soil, competition, and micro-climate, and (III) species-specific strategies to cope with prolonged environmental stress. To deepen our knowledge within this context, studying tree performance within larger networks seems a promising research avenue. Ideally such networks are already established during the actual period of environmental stress. One approach for identifying stressed forests suitable for such monitoring networks is to assess measures related to tree vitality in near real-time across large regions by means of satellite-borne remote sensing. Within this context, we introduce the European Forest Condition monitor (EFCM)—a remote-sensing based, freely available, interactive web information tool. The EFCM depicts forest greenness (as approximated using NDVI from MODIS at a spatial resolution of roughly 5.3 hectares) for the pixel-specific growing season across Europe and consequently allows for guiding research within the context of concurrent forest performance. To allow for inter-temporal comparability and account for pixel-specific features, all observations are set in relation to normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) records over the monitoring period beginning in 2001. The EFCM provides both a quantile-based and a proportion-based product, thereby allowing for both relative and absolute comparison of forest greenness over the observational record. Based on six specific examples related to spring phenology, drought, late-frost, tree die-back on water-logged soils, an ice storm, and windthrow we exemplify how the EFCM may help identifying hotspots of extraordinary forest greenness. We discuss advantages and limitations when monitoring forest condition at large scales on the basis of moderate resolution remote sensing products to guide users toward an appropriate interpretation.

Remote Assessment of Swamp and Bottomland Hardwood Habitat Condition in the Maurepas Diversion Project Area

This study used high spatial resolution satellite imagery to identify and map Bottomland Hardwood (BLH) BLH and swamp within the Maurepas Diversion Project area and use Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) elevation data, vegetation indices, and established stand-level thresholds to evaluate the condition of forested habitat. The Forest Condition methods and data developed as part of this study provide a remote sensing-based supplement to the field-based methods used in previous studies. Furthermore, several advantages are realized over traditional methods including higher resolution products, repeatability, improved coverage, and reduced effort and cost. This study advances previous methods and provides products useful for informing ecosystem decision making related to environmental assessments.

Tenure Impacts on Livelihood, Income, Forest Condition, and Equity of an Upland Community in Negros Occidental, Philippines

This study examined the perceived impacts of the Integrated Social Forestry Program (ISFP) on the biophysical and socio-economic conditions of farmers in Barangay Patag, Silay City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. Specifically, it aimed to: (a) assess the perceived impacts of ISFP on local livelihood, income, forest condition, and equity (LIFE); and (b) identify the factors that are associated with perceived equity; and (c) determine the relationships between perceived equity and ISFP goals. Data were gathered through surveys and a focused group discussion. A total of 41 respondents composed the survey, while six key informants comprised the focused discussion group. Key findings showed that ISFP was perceived to have considerable beneficial impacts on livelihood and income sources. It also had positive impacts on forest condition particularly in the perceived increased of forest cover. Some beneficial impacts were likewise noted for equity across dimensions: gender; education; economic status; and membership. Finally, challenges in sustaining the program underscored the need for strategies to further enhance its positive impacts on the local community’s socio-ecological conditions

Migratory Seasonality and Phenology by Birds in a Temperate Forest with Two Disturbance Conditions

Objective: The objective was to infer the effect of the variables phenology (migration-non-migration), seasonal (rainfall-dry season), sex and forest condition on the abundances of birds (resident-migratory) in a semi-preserved and disturbed oak pine forest. Design/methodology/approach: It was carried out in Monte Tlaloc, State of Mexico, under two conditions of apparent disturbance, semi-preserved oak pine forest and disturbed oak pine forest. Ten bird samplings were carried out with "count on point" with a fixed radius of 25 m, covering the 4 seasons of the year and migratory periods. With the previous data, the Relative Abundance Index (RAI) was estimated. To infer the effect of the variables phenology, seasonality, sex and forest condition on the abundances of birds, generalized linear models were elaborated. Results: The IAR of the birds registered in the semi-considered pine forest indicates that the species with the lowest presence was Aphelocoma ultramarina (0.002) and with the highest frequency Empidonax sp. (0.13), unlike to that found in the disturbed pine forest where the lowest IAR corresponded to Colaptes auratus (0.003) and with the highest appearance was Ptiliogonys cinereus (0.23). The Generalized Linear Model suggested that forest condition and phenology are significantly related to the frequency of species. Limitations on study/implications: In this study it was found that the abundance of birds was affected by the condition of the forest and that the phenology (migration-non-migration), seasonal (rain-dry season), sex and condition of the forest were related to the abundance of birds. Four species classified as under Special Protection and two Threatened according to NOM-059 were registered as well as the presence of four endemic species which highlights the importance of conserving these ecosystems. Findings/conclusions: The fauna communities present in Monte Tláloc highlight the importance of conserving the pine-oak forests since this site is part of the Eje Neovolcanico Transversal.

Renewable processes under maturing coniferous stands crown in Vologda region

Evaluation of renewable processes was carried out on the territory of Totma area in Vologda region. The objects of study were six sites of flourishing coniferous stockings in different forest condition. The laying of test plots was carried out taking into account the requirements of OST 56-69–83. Undergrowth accounting was carried out taking into account the height and state of life. The processing of field materials was carried out by methods generally accepted in forestry. According to the results, we can make a conclusion that provision for growth and development of spruce staddle in flourishing pine stockings in different forest conditions are unpleasant. The pine staddle is absent at all. There is enough amount of coniferous staddle under spruce canopy for formation spruce-deciduous or spruce planting after logging works. As recommendation for saving aboriginal forest and reducing expenses on the reforestation works in pine forest crop after logging works, we offer to hold alternating gradual fell with intensity of 30 % and implementation of measures in assistance for natural renewal as soil mineralization in processes of main executed logging works. We think that implementing fell is necessary to time to seed year.

Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity

Many global environmental agendas, including halting biodiversity loss, reversing land degradation, and limiting climate change, depend upon retaining forests with high ecological integrity, yet the scale and degree of forest modification remain poorly quantified and mapped. By integrating data on observed and inferred human pressures and an index of lost connectivity, we generate a globally consistent, continuous index of forest condition as determined by the degree of anthropogenic modification. Globally, only 17.4 million km2 of forest (40.5%) has high landscape-level integrity (mostly found in Canada, Russia, the Amazon, Central Africa, and New Guinea) and only 27% of this area is found in nationally designated protected areas. Of the forest inside protected areas, only 56% has high landscape-level integrity. Ambitious policies that prioritize the retention of forest integrity, especially in the most intact areas, are now urgently needed alongside current efforts aimed at halting deforestation and restoring the integrity of forests globally.