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Cost of Regeneration of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Crops in National Forests
Silvicultural processes are an essential issue of rational forest management. Both man-made (artificial) and natural restoration methods are used in European forestry. A study of the cost drivers of forest restoration from the early stages of land clearing to cultivation was conducted for Scots pine tracts in a coniferous forest habitat. The cost data were tested for homogeneity of variance (Levene’s test) and normality (Shapiro–Wilk test) using a significance level of α = 0.05. The research indicated that the cost of artificial restoration (planting) of a pine forest is about 30% higher than the cost of natural restoration. The research also indicated that the main cost driver (about 35%) of the artificial restoration process was seedlings and planting costs. Further, the viability of supplementing natural planting with artificial planting was confirmed.
Taxonomy Regulation as a New Instrument for the Sustainable Management of the Forest Environment in Europe
Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament, also known as the Taxonomy Regulation, facilitates environmentally sustainable investments. It is part of the concept of the European Green Deal and a ‘tool’ for financial institutions, enterprises, and investors, facilitating the assessment of the environmental impact of a particular project. The Regulation contains the criteria an activity must meet to be considered environmentally sustainable. The role of the Taxonomy Regulation is to enable the flow of public and private capital towards ecological and sustainable activities. The document does not need to be implemented into the legal order of individual EU member-states, which results in its direct application. The main financial instruments enabling the achievement of the goals of the Taxonomy Regulation may be green bonds and other forms of capital raising by entrepreneurs and forest ownership structures. The assumption of the Regulation is to achieve the principles of sustainable environmental activity when spending funds obtained from private investors. It is an issue of key significance to identify the areas of management and financial accounting in the operational activities of forest enterprises that can be qualified for the Taxonomy Regulation. Forestry activities, including the processes mentioned therein, the objectives of the New EU Forest Strategy, and the LULUCF Regulation, are to play an essential role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The role of forestry in the supply chain in its broad sense is also considered. Forestry and forest management can receive capital for sustainable development due to the threat resulting from exclusions that strengthen the protective function of the forest (the protection of biodiversity). These processes will occur at the expense of production and numerous social functions.
The Ways of Forming and the Erosion/Decay/Aging of Bioapatites in the Context of the Reversibility of Apatites
The Energy Potential of Firewood and By-Products of Round Wood Processing—Economic and Technical Aspects
According to most energy demand forecasts, woody biomass has the potential to become an important source of renewable energy, especially during the transitional period of energy transition. The aim of this article was to estimate the energy potential of the biomass from the forest and the biomass generated by the mechanical processing of wood raw material and also to show the spectrum of possibilities for the potential use of the biomass for energy production in Poland. This research used available statistical and literature data on the species structure of harvested wood and the qualitative and assortment structures of woody biomass. The basic parameters of the raw material were evaluated in accordance with the EU classification of energy wood. This study confirmed the relationship between the energy potential of woody biomass and energy demand in Poland. The correlation coefficient for these variables was r = 0.984. This correlation was reflected in the significant shares of biomass in the production of electricity (more than 9%) or heat (almost 14%). Energy wood resources in Poland are smaller than in other European Union countries, which affects the scale of the potential use of woody biomass for energy purposes. Nevertheless, the use of such a biomass is fully justified from the point of view of possible development.
Exploring Chitosan Lactate as a Multifunctional Additive: Enhancing Quality and Extending Shelf Life of Whole Wheat Bread
The shelf life of whole wheat bread (WWB) significantly impacts its freshness and overall quality. This research investigated the impact of chitosan lactate (CL) on various characteristics influencing the shelf life of WWB, including its physical, chemical, textural, antimicrobial, and sensory attributes. These characteristics were evaluated by conducting various experiments such as physical inspection, moisture, impedance, swelling, color, texture, FTIR, microbiological, and sensory analysis. CL with different concentrations was incorporated into WWB formulations: P0.0 (0.0% w/w CL, control), P0.5 (0.5% w/w CL), P1.0 (1.0% w/w CL), P2.0 (2.0% w/w CL), and P3.0 (3.0% w/w CL). The inclusion of CL promoted the Maillard reaction (MR) compared to P0.0. The promotion of MR resulted in the formation of a shinier crust, which increased as the CL content was increased. P0.5 comprised large-sized pores and exhibited increased loaf height. CL-containing WWB formulations showed an increased moisture content and decreased impedance values compared to the control. FTIR analysis of P0.5 demonstrated the enhanced interaction and bonding of water molecules. P0.5 demonstrated optimal textural, colorimetric, and antimicrobial properties compared to other formulations. The sensory attributes of WWBs remain unchanged despite CL addition. In conclusion, P0.5 exhibited optimal characteristics associated with better quality and prolonged shelf life.