New Forests

New Forests publishes original papers on fundamental and applied aspects of afforestation and reforestation for an international audience of scientists and ...

List of Papers (Total 119)

Prediction of the shift of the distribution of Pinus brutia Ten. Under future climate model

This study uses presence data and bioclimatic variables to predict distribution areas of the Pinus brutia Ten., the pine species with the most significant natural distribution in Turkey. The modeling was performed using the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios based on the HadGEM3-GC31-LL model, both current and future distributions. In addition, change analysis was conducted to...

Effects of neighbouring vegetation on planted indigenous tree establishment in modified environments: a New Zealand case study

Large-scale tree planting with indigenous trees is one approach to combatting climate change and environmental degradation. However, a significant challenge with establishing planted indigenous forests at scale, particularly in New Zealand, is that our knowledge and capacity to achieve this in highly modified environments, covered by invasive species, is relatively poor. The...

Development of natural regeneration after different regeneration cuttings in a Norway spruce peatland forest in northern Finland

As the clearcutting of peatland forests is known to cause harmful consequences especially for the water environment, there is increasing interest in alternative natural regeneration methods. We studied the regeneration stocking development on a southern Lapland site, where shelterwood cutting, heavy selection cutting, patch clearcutting (≤ 0.3 ha) treatments, and a non-treated...

Using spruces (Picea spp.) for Icelandic afforestation

Afforestation can help address climate change and biodiversity loss. Iceland is a valuable case study to assess afforestation at extreme locations at high latitudes (63–68°N). We used a ~ 23-year dataset of a provenance trial from the Icelandic Forest Service (now Land & Forest Iceland) to determine the best spruce species (Picea spp.) and provenances for afforestation. Sites...

Effect of innovative peat-free organic growing media and fertilizer on nutrient allocation in pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) seedlings

This study evaluates the effects of novel peat-free organic growing media and a novel liquid fertilizer on the biometric features and macronutrient allocation of Quercus robur and Fagus sylvatica seedlings with the view to compare biomass and nutrient allocation of plant organs in seedlings cultivated on peat growing medium against those grown on novel peat-free growing medium...

A trans-Atlantic perspective on successful plantation establishment in boreal ecosystems: lessons learned and research opportunities

Boreal forests, which account for one-third of the world’s forested areas, play a crucial role in global climate regulation and provide significant ecological, economic, and cultural benefits. However, boreal ecosystems face substantial threats from climate change, leading to increased disturbances such as wildfires, insect outbreaks, and disease. In response, reforestation...

Mobile sensing system for phenotyping of forest seedlings in container nurseries

The primary objective of this study was to develop a universal, lightweight, and mobile system that seamlessly integrates the scanner with the construction of the horizontal spray boom at a forest nursery. This innovative approach holds tremendous potential for advancing the assessment and management of forest seedlings, providing valuable insights and streamlining nursery...

Impact of the origin of sites planted with hybrid poplar on plant community composition and diversity

Intensively managed fast-growing tree plantations may affect plant diversity, and we have little knowledge on how it is affected by site origin in order to better orientate site selection for their establishment. The aim of this study was thus to determine the impact of site origin on plant diversity in intensively managed hybrid poplar plantations. We investigated vascular and...

Understory vegetation diversity and composition in intensively managed plantations compared to extensively managed forests

The benefits of plantations for wood production are well known, but it is unclear whether they have a clear negative effect on biodiversity, compared to natural forests. It is also unclear how overstory species identity (i.e., exotic, compared to native) would interact with the simple plantation effects on understory vegetation biodiversity. Here, we assessed bryophyte, lichen...

Assessing the of carbon and nitrogen storage potential in Khaya spp. stands in Southeastern Brazil

The objective of this study was to assess the dynamics of carbon and nitrogen in soil, forest floor, and aboveground biomass in 9.5 years-old planted stands of three Khaya spp. (K. grandifoliola, K. ivorensis, and K. senegalensis). The study was conducted at the Reserva Natural Vale (RNV), Brazil. The stands were planted at 5 × 5 m spacing, distributed over rectangular plots of...

Productivity of hybrid sweetgum (Liquidambar formosana x styraciflua) plantations compared to native sweetgum (L. Styraciflua) in the Western Gulf Region of south-central U.S.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is an excellent short-rotation woody crop species for producing hardwood pulp and biofuel feedstock on marginal sites. A recent development which may improve growth is the production of hybrid sweetgum (L. formosana x styraciflua) clones. We compared the productivity and attributes, e.g., wood specific gravity and stand growth, of operational...

Comparison of deacclimation and reacclimation of silver birch, Norway spruce and Scots pine seedlings during winter warm and cold spells in Nordic boreal conditions

Climate change means that in many areas in boreal region, the duration and thickness of the winter snow cover is decreasing. Young seedlings are exposed to fluctuating winter temperatures in the absence of protecting snow cover. Responses to winter warm and cold spells were studied with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.), and Norway spruce...

Carbon stock increase during post-agricultural succession in central France: no change of the superficial soil stock and high variability within forest stages

Forest development following agricultural abandonment concerns extensive areas including the Massif Central region of France where this study was undertaken. This land-use and land-cover change is expected to have effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services, including an increase of carbon sequestration—a major concern in the face of climate change. Nevertheless, uncertainties...

Growth of Nordic container forest tree seedlings in some peatless and peat-reduced growing media

Carbon emissions and environmental concerns have led to the aspiration to reduce peat extraction and its use as a growing medium (GM). In Nordic Forest tree seedling production, Sphagnum peat has been almost exclusively used as a GM in seedling containers due to its good properties and availability. This study examined the feasibility of several peat-reduced and peat-free GM in...

How do soil and topographic drivers determine tree diameter spatial distribution in even aged cork oak stands installed in average to high productivity areas

Local terrain or microsite conditions influence the development of trees, particularly at early ages. These conditions might be described by edaphic or topographic variables. We mapped soil and topographic variables from four even-aged and even-spaced cork oak plantations located in two climatically distinct Portuguese regions. The major goal of this research was to understand...

Optimal species composition for stand establishment in root-rot infected forest areas

Heterobasidion root rot causes severe problems in the coniferous dominated forests of Northern hemisphere by decreasing timber value, reducing tree growth and making trees prone to other disturbance agents such as wind and bark beetles. According to current practices an infected stand is protected by treating fresh stumps at final cutting and generating the stand with tree...

Growth and yield of Retrophyllum rospigliosii pure plantations in the Colombian Andes

Most reforestation in Colombia, especially in the Andean region, are monocultures of pines and eucalyptus with defined nursery and silvicultural packages. Planting native species would avoid the widespread controversy over reforestation with exotic species. Nevertheless, there are few studies that evaluate the growth and yield of native species and provide supported data to...

Functional traits to predict financial value of enrichment planting in degraded tropical forests

Demand for tropical timber is expected to rise due to an increased global need for sustainable renewable materials. However, sustainable tropical timber production remains a challenge for the global wood product supply chain, especially for high-value tropical hardwoods. Restoration of degraded lands through enrichment planting of native hardwood species could provide a solution...

The success of Quercus ilex plantations in agricultural fields in eastern Spain

Twenty-five years after planting, we measured the survival, growth and reproduction of 153 Quercus ilex plantations promoted by the afforestation programme of the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy in agricultural fields in the east of the Iberian Peninsula, as a function of climatic aridity and stand characteristics related to water supply and competition among trees...

Effect of drought stress on the physiology and early growth of seven Senegalia (Acacia) Senegal (L.) Britton provenances

Decline of Senegalia senegal (Acacia senegal) in its natural range has been observed and attributed mainly to harsh environmental conditions such as frequent drought occurrences. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of water stress on growth, biomass allocation and photosynthetic capacity in Senegalia senegal seedlings. Seeds were collected from seven provenances...

Balancing wood production and water use efficiency in the selection of open-pollinated families of Gmelina arborea

Global climate crisis and severe water scarcity worldwide demand alternative genotypes that allow an adequate balance between production and water use while ensuring benefits for foresters. The genetic improvement of water use efficiency (WUE) in forest plantations could reduce water use without compromising yield. Above-ground biomass (AGB), saw-wood volume up to small-end...

Are the invasive Acacia melanoxylon and Eucalyptus globulus drivers of other species invasion? Testing their allelochemical effects on germination

Many invasive alien species (IAS) produce secondary metabolites that affect how other plants function (allelopathic compounds) and can drive other species invasion, as proposed by the invasional meltdown hypothesis. Acacia melanoxylon and Eucalyptus globulus are two of such species. In this study, we analyzed the germination response of seven IAS (Acacia dealbata, Acacia mearnsii...

Combining genetic and environmental data to map and model regions of provenance for silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in Italy

Regions of provenance for forest reproductive materials are the basis for wise use of forest resources in a changing climate. In this work a modelling framework is proposed for silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in Italy where genetic clusters described by nuclear microsatellites were combined with high-resolution climatic data. When the genetic clusters were too large or had an...