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Hidden Heritage: The E-FORESTER Project as a New Opportunity to Search for Relics of Past Human Activities in Forests
Wykorzystanie teledetekcji i fotogrametrii w urządzaniu lasu
The study examines the practical applications of remote sensing and photogrammetry in forest management planning, using the Korpele Forest District as a case study. The research focuses on analysing data for phytosociological documentation. The study demonstrated the effectiveness of remote sensing in delineating forest and non-forest areas, mapping linear features, monitoring natural succession, and visualizing terrain relief variations. The research also revealed that tree height data, processed through a hexagonal grid system, effectively reflects site productivity and helps distinguish plant communities. There is a correlation between Scots pine height variations and forest habitat boundaries, especially in substitute communities where pine grows on sites not naturally suited for this species. The study confirms that remote sensing techniques serve as valuable supplementary tools in forest management planning, though their implementation requires specialist knowledge and data validation.
Quantitative and qualitative assessment of pine seedlings under controlled undergrowth disturbance: Fire and soil scarification
Phytosociological Factors Determining Forest Management in Forests with Share of Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)
The distribution of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), similar to other tree species, depends on habitat conditions (climate, soil, and location), which are further affected by forest management. The analysis of forest ecosystems utilizes the link between the knowledge of habitat requirements of forest trees and their share in plant communities described via the phytosociological method. There is a significant knowledge gap in this regard, namely the lack of plant communities with the natural participation of pine and beech. In this context, the aim of this study was to identify the variability of plant communities involving Pinus sylvestris and Fagus sylvatica within its northeastern range. Our research resulted in the identification of two new phytosociological units described as a Fago–Pinetum association and a subassociation within the existing Leucobryo-Pinetum plant community (Leucobryo-Pinetum fagetosum). Leucobyro-Pinetum fagetosum is characterized by the constant presence of beech in the herb and seedling layer or by a share of beech in the shrub and small-tree layer up to 10% cover. Fago–Pinetum is characterized by a greater share of beech in the shrub and small-tree layer (covering 10%–30% area) and by the presence of beech in the lower understory.
NDVI as a potential tool for forecasting changes in geographical range of sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.)
AbstractDetermining the natural range of Acer pseudoplatanus and the future directions of its spread is not clear. Modern technological achievements, including tools related to remote sensing, provide new opportunities to assess the degree of spread and adaptation of species to a changing climate. The aim of the work was to demonstrate the possibility of using NDVI to assess the habitat conditions of sycamore in Poland and the possibility of its natural expansion. The data analysis was divided into 2 parts. The first covered the characteristics of all sycamore stands occurring in Poland. In the second part, the analysis of sycamore stands using NDVI was made. The results of the study show that the highest average NDVI values are found in sycamore stands in the northern part of Poland, which has so far been considered less favorable for sycamore. This may suggest the potential for an increase in the share of sycamore towards the north. The results also confirm the forecasts given in the literature regarding the spread of sycamore towards Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The results also point to Denmark and the western part of the British Isles as potentially favorable habitats for sycamore.
Experience Gained When Using the Yuneec E10T Thermal Camera in Environmental Research
Thermal imaging is an important source of information for geographic information systems (GIS) in various aspects of environmental research. This work contains a variety of experiences related to the use of the Yuneec E10T thermal imaging camera with a 320 × 240 pixel matrix and 4.3 mm focal length dedicated to working with the Yuneec H520 UAV in obtaining data on the natural environment. Unfortunately, as a commercial product, the camera is available without radiometric characteristics. Using the heated bed of the Omni3d Factory 1.0 printer, radiometric calibration was performed in the range of 18–100 °C (high sensitivity range–high gain settings of the camera). The stability of the thermal camera operation was assessed using several sets of a large number of photos, acquired over three areas in the form of aerial blocks composed of parallel rows with a specific sidelap and longitudinal coverage. For these image sets, statistical parameters of thermal images such as the mean, minimum and maximum were calculated and then analyzed according to the order of registration. Analysis of photos taken every 10 m in vertical profiles up to 120 m above ground level (AGL) were also performed to show the changes in image temperature established within the reference surface. Using the established radiometric calibration, it was found that the camera maintains linearity between the observed temperature and the measured brightness temperature in the form of a digital number (DN). It was also found that the camera is sometimes unstable after being turned on, which indicates the necessity of adjusting the device’s operating conditions to external conditions for several minutes or taking photos over an area larger than the region of interest.
Long-term analysis of sap flow conditions in the trunk of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the old-growth phase in relation to air temperature
Prospects for the Preservation of the Main Pinus sylvestris L. Ecotypes in Poland in the Context of the Habitat Conditions of Their Occurrence
This study investigates the prospects for preserving the main Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) ecotypes in Poland, considering the habitat conditions of their occurrence. Scots pine is known for its wide distribution and natural adaptability to various habitats. However, there is an increasing vulnerability of pine forests to damage from biotic factors and a decrease in natural regeneration, particularly in areas under legal protection. Additionally, projected climate change has raised concerns about the future of Pinus sylvestris, placing it in the “losing” group of tree species. The aim of the study was to analyze the habitat conditions of the seven main selected Pinus sylvestris L. ecotypes to assess the sustainability of pine stands in their natural habitat conditions. Out of the seven populations of studied pine ecotypes, only one grows under conditions representing a typical form of pine forest (Leucobryo–Pinetum plant association). Two populations grow under conditions corresponding to potential deciduous forests (Galio sylvatici–Carpinetum and Calamagrostio arundinaceae–Quercetum petraeae). The remaining populations represent potentially mixed oak–pine forests. Such a distribution of plant communities, except for Leucobryo–Pinetum, does not guarantee the continuity of the studied pine stands as a result of their natural regeneration. Therefore, it is necessary to preserve the offspring of the studied populations outside their occurrence sites, but the studied pine stands should be preserved until their natural death in their natural habitats. In the conducted research, the NDVI turned out to be very useful, showing a high correlation with the trophicity of habitat expressed in the diversity of plant communities, as well as with the height and diameter of the studied stands.
Spectral Indices as a Tool to Assess the Moisture Status of Forest Habitats
Measurement of water content in forest habitats is considered essential in ecological research on forests, climate change, or forest management. In the traditional forest habitat classification, two systems of habitat conditions analysis are found: single factor and multifactor methods. Both are laborious and therefore costly. Remote sensing methods provide a low-cost alternative. The aim of the presented study was to find the relationship between the spectral indices obtained from satellite images and the forest habitats moisture indices used traditionally in the Polish forest habitats classification. The scientific hypothesis of the research is as follows: it is possible to assess the variation in the humidity of forest habitats on the basis of spectral indices. Using advanced geographic information system (GIS) technology, 923 research plots were tested, where habitat studies performed with the traditional methods were compared with the analysis of 191 spectral indices calculated for Sentinel-2 image data. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) has proved to be the most useful to the assessing of moisture of forest habitats. The ranking of the most correlated indices was calculated as Eintg—the product of the absolute value of the slope and the mean square error complement, and for the top five indices was as follows: NDVI = 0.248619, EXG = 0.242112, OSAVI = 0.239412, DSWI-4 = 0.238784, and RDVI = 0.236995. The results also highlight the impact of water reservoirs on the humidity and trophicity of forest habitats, showing a decrease in the fertility of habitats with an increase in distance from the water reservoir. The results of the study can be used to preparing maps of the diversity of forest types, especially in hard-to-reach places, as well as to assess changes in the moisture status of habitats, which may be useful, for example, in the assessment of the fire risk of forest habitats. We have proved that NDVI can be used in applications for which it was not originally designed.
Analiza historyczna jako element niezbędny w interpretacji prac siedliskowych
The study focused on the historical analysis of habitat conditions as an essential factor in forest habitat classification and management. It was based on archival data from the Oława Forest District, specifically from the 355a subcompartment in Dziuplina forestry. The study assessed changes in soil classification, tree species composition, and habitat stability over 40 years. Despite changes in soil types and proposed stand types, the forest habitat type remained unchanged. The results highlight the importance of historical data for habitat assessment and sustainable management.
Zróżnicowanie typów siedliskowych lasu, gleb i utworów geologicznych zespołu Betulo-Quercetum w zasięgu Nadleśnictwa Międzyzdroje
The habitat diversity of birch-oak forests, classified as natural habitats in the Natura 2000 network, is poorly recognized in Poland. This differentiation is important, among others, for assigning birch-oak forests to a specific type of natural habitat, which, depending on the geological sediment, can be classified as 2180, 91D0 or 9190 types. In the Międzyzdroje Forest District, the Betulo-Quercetum plant association is dominated by the sands of coastal dunes, which means dominance of 2180 habitat type.
Modelling the moisture status of habitats by using NDVI on the example of the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes borderland (Brazil)
Does the State of Scientific Knowledge and Legal Regulations Sufficiently Protect the Environment of River Valleys?
The pressure of human activity in river valley environments has always been high. Even today, despite the increasing awareness of societies around the world regarding the need to protect water and biodiversity, there are concerns that the current river valley management systems are insufficient. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the state of knowledge about the soils and forest ecosystems of river valleys in terms of the possibility of protecting river valley environments. This study used data obtained from the Forest Data Bank (FDB) database, which focuses on forests in Poland. After analyzing 17,820 forest sections where the soils were described as fluvisols, it was found that forest areas associated with fluvisols (typical, fertile soils of river valleys) are quite well recognized and protected in Poland. Most (55%) forested fluvisols are located in Natura 2000 sites (an important European network of biodiversity hotspots), 4% in nature reserves, and 1% in national parks. Additionally, the main forest habitat type associated with fluvisols is riparian forest, composed mainly of Quercus, Ulmus, and Fraxinus, which is protected as Natura 2000 habitat type 91F0. Preserving the sustainability of the forest is also a form of soil protection. Despite the identification of soils and forests in river valleys, as well as appropriate legal tools, their protection may be ineffective due to the fragmentation of forms of protection and the lack of a coherent system for managing river valleys. Because the conservation status of the river valleys is also influenced by the management of areas located outside the river valleys, in order to protect river valley ecosystems, integrated conservation plans for entire catchments should be implemented. Due to potential conflicts related to the management of areas with diverse expectations of local communities, it would be advisable for such plans to be created by local experts but under the supervision of a specialist/specialists from outside the area covered by a given river basin.
