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The rationale for restoration of abandoned quarries in forests of the Ślęża Massif (Poland) in the context of sustainable tourism and forest environment protection
The manuscript presents the current state and proposals for the management of the old granite, quartz, and serpentinite quarries located in the Ślęża Massif (SW Poland, 50°51′51.22″ N; 16°42′26.80″ E), an area entirely covered by forests and protected by various legal protection measures. The quarries are abandoned and subjected to intense natural plant succession, so they are disappearing from the landscape. Nine quarries were analyzed regarding their natural and landscape characteristics. Due to the variety of their sizes, specific locations, geological–topographical traits, and forest and site conditions, the quarries may be turned into tourist attractions enhancing the social function of forests while, at the same time, ensuring their protective functions. If properly managed, they may contribute to the multifaceted development of tourism, performing scientific-cognitive, educational, sports, or cultural functions, and, as a result, to a partial reduction in the tourist pressure on biotic and abiotic natural resources along the presently most frequently used routes. This paper attempts to present arguments indicating that a former mining working site may be a positive and attractive landscape element in harmony with the vegetation cover, beneficial for both nature and humans.
Potential Identification of Root System Architecture Using GPR for Tree Translocation as a Sustainable Forestry Task: A Case Study of the Wild Service Tree
Sustainable economic development serves society but requires taking over space, often at the expense of areas occupied by single trees or even parts of forest areas. Techniques for transplanting adult trees used in various conflict situations at the interface of economy and nature work as a tool for sustainable management of urbanized and industrial areas, as well as, in certain circumstances, forest or naturally valuable areas. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) in determining the horizontal and vertical extent of tree root systems before transplantation. Employing this non-invasive method to map root system architecture aids in the appropriate equipment selection and helps define the dimensions and depth of trenches to minimize root damage during excavation. This study specifically focused on the root systems of wild service trees (Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz) found in a limestone mine area, where some specimens were planned to be transplanted, as the species is protected under law in Poland. The root systems were scanned with a ground-penetrating radar equipped with a 750 MHz antenna. Then, the root balls were dug out, and the root parameters and other dendrometric parameters were measured. The GPR survey and manual root analyses provided rich comparative graphic material. The number of the main roots detected by the GPR was comparable to those inventoried after extracting the stump. The research was carried out in problematic soil, causing non-standard deformations of the root systems. Especially in such conditions, identifying unusually arranged roots using the GPR method is valuable because it helps in a detailed planning of the transplanting process, minimizing root breakage during the activities carried out, which increases the survival chances of the transplanted tree in a new location.