GIS-Based Assessment of the Chestnut Expansion Potential: A Case-Study on the Marvão Productive Area, Portugal

Sweet chestnut is a relevant species in Europe for the production of timber and fruit, alongside environmental effects such as biodiversity of protection against soil erosion. In Portugal, chestnut is cultivated mainly for fruit production, in two areas, in the North and the South of the country, with moderate water deficit and low slope and at altitudes higher than 500 m. The current area (845 ha) of the southern so-called Marvão Protected Designation of Origin, of a fortyfold lower order of magnitude by comparison with the Northern productive area, has a significant expansion potential, given its similarity with contiguous areas in the same region. In this context, the main objective of the present work was the evaluation through geographic information analysis of that expansive potential, by comparison of physiographic profiling of the current production area with contiguous areas. A GIS-based characterization of current and potential chestnut areas in Marvão is presented. The methodology involved (i) digital profiling of the main classes/values of the geographical spatial ecological fingerprint considering topography, soil and microclimate variables in the areas currently occupied with sweet chestnut stands and (ii) the evaluation of the distribution of that environmental fingerprint in the whole Marvão productive area, for extending the cultivation to contiguous areas with a similar ecological fingerprint. An enlarged 9889 ha chestnut area was proposed, allocated for high forest stands aiming at agroforestry fruit production and coppiced stands for timber production and environmental protection, corresponding to 4590 ha and 5299 ha, respectively. Fruit production was proposed to field slopes of 0–4% and 4–8%, and altitudes between 400 m and 500 m. Presumable high-quality sites allocated to temporary dry/irrigated cultivations were also proposed for fruit production, in the same slope classes and altitudes higher than 500 m. Timber production and environmental protection were proposed for slopes within 8−12% and >12% ranges. This selection took into account the logistical feasibility facilitated in lower slopes for intensive mechanized management operations. This methodology permits a future field evaluation of site indexes, productivity, and correlations between environmental variables and stand biometry.

Northern Appalachian, USA relic charcoal hearths and their unique Ecological Fingerprint

<p>Abrupt changes in a forest ecosystem, whether natural or anthropogenic, are changes that occur over short time periods; such disturbance has the potential to drive state changes and alter forest resilience. Understanding how present-day abrupt forest change may alter ecosystem services is becoming more important due to ever-growing anthropogenic stresses. Forest managers trying the adapt to anthropogenic stress can benefit from the study and quantification of past abrupt changes in forests, especially when the legacy of past disturbance is still evident. Across the United Kingdom, Europe, and recently the northeastern United States, the examination of historic forest change due to charcoal manufacturing for the firing of iron or lime furnaces is yielding new insights relative to landscape stability, anthropogenic vs natural soil genesis, and forest evolution. We present results of a study that strives to evaluate how historic land clearing for the charcoal industry (supporting iron furnaces) affected local soils and may drive surrounding present day forest composition. We incorporate field sampling of hearth soils and modeled hydrologic parameters (in hearth and non-hearth areas), to quantify the uniqueness of relict charcoal hearth (RCH) systems. We identified 1,239 hearths using a LiDAR terrain analysis; approximately 10% of these were visited to quantify hearth morphology and soil moisture differences on and off hearth. Nine hearths from this 10% were intensively sampled and were associated with a northern Appalachian, USA furnace that was in operation from 1867 to 1904. Three profiles were excavated across each hearth and compared to an adjacent soil profile on the same contour. Soil descriptions were made of hearths and soil samples analyzed for total, trace and rare earth element content (Aqua Regia digestion). Soil pH (water) and fertility (Mehlich III extraction) were also determined. Results indicate that hearths have a unique geochemistry with higher bases and some concentrated metals and higher organic carbon. Coupled with a higher hearth soil water content, hypothesized to be due to an observed restrictive subsurface morphology and higher organic carbon, hearths are potentially unique locations of refugia for forest flora and fauna. Future research should more closely investigate whether hearths support unique species assemblages and how they may play a role in enhancing today’s forest biodiversity.</p>

Ignoring discards biases the assessment of fisheries' ecological fingerprint

Understanding the pressures of fisheries on the ecosystem is crucial for effective management. Fishery removals, or catch, are composed of both landings and discards. However, the use of discards data in studies investigating the effect of the fishing pressures is sparse. Here, we explore the individual contribution of both these catch components to the overall pressure of fisheries on the ecosystem metrics. Using Irish observer data, we compare the linear relationship between several ecological metrics calculated for landings and discards with those of catch. Our results show that in fisheries with high discarding rates, discards can drive the fisheries’ ecological fingerprint and highlight the need to rectify landings-based estimates to make them representative of those of catch in order to gain a robust picture of the impact of fisheries.

The Environmental Fingerprint. A Case Study

.  The new concept of ”ecological fingerprint” is approached in this paper, together with a case study concerning the ”carbon fingerprint”. The scientific bases of this concept were elaborated by Rees and Wackernagel, at University of Columbia in early ‘90s. Their overall significance last in the ability of our planet to produce all resources needed for a healthy food, goods, and services supplies, in order to satisfy the consumption needs of population, and also to absorb the waste produced by the earth population and their activities. Thus, the concerned resources, consumptions, waste, etc. are transformed into a single variable. The basis of this approach is represented by the ratio between the human consumption of natural resources and the global capacity of earth to regenerate natural resources. The ”global hectares” represents the measure unit for the ecological fingerprint, and it has four components. These four components of the ecological fingerprint are represented by: the carbon fingerprint, the food fingerprint, the housing fingerprint, and the goods and services fingerprint.