Issues

Abstract

The vulnerable Semi-collared Flycatcher was found with two breeding pairs in 2012 and four
pairs in 2013 in Lozen Mountain, CW Bulgaria, UTM square GN10. Three pairs inhabited a natural
deciduous oak (Quercus sp.), and European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) forest in a moist
dingle, 915 m a.s.l. The other territory was a plantation of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and
Silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) crossed by a brook with Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos L.)
along it, 885 m a.s.l. Two pairs occupied old woodpecker hollows in a dead poplar tree (Populus
sp.), and in a single Cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera Ehrh.), respectively.

Abstract

The paper presents results from investigation on total N changes in soils influenced by forest
fires. Cinnamonic forest soils (Chromic Luvisols, FAO) and Gray forest soils (Gray Luvisols, FAO)
have been investigated. The sample plots were set up in burned and unburned control areas.
They were correspondingly situated in the Lower forestry zone (0-700 m a.s.l.) of the Tracian forestry
area and the Lower forestry zone (0-600 m a.s.l.) of the Moesian forest area. Soil samples
had been taken seven times for ten years in order to investigate the nitrogen content dynamics.
The content of total N has been determined using the modified Kjeldal method. A relationship was
detected between content of total N and soil type, type and intensity of fires.

Abstract

Black pine (Pinus nigra Arn.), also known as Austrian pine, is one of the widely used species
for dendroclimatic analysis in the European region. Yet, studies for Bulgaria are still scarce and
lack for Slavyanka Mts. The position of the mountain on the border of climatic regions, its natureprotection
status and the high value of the local Pinus nigra variety, outline the importance to
study in more details the relationship between radial growth and climate variability and evaluate
tree growth in conditions of ongoing change. We composed tree ring width and latewood width
chronologies following classic methodology and calculated correlations with climate series from
Sandanski meteorological station. We found positive significant correlations with precipitation in
early summer (r>0.4) and significant negative correlations with temperatures from the current and
previous summers (r>0.43). Spatial correlations with September PDSI reveal strong positive correlation
for wide area over the Balkan Peninsula. We consider that the local origin of Pinus nigra
may be valuable for composing chronologies of summer drought events for the period without
meteorological data.

Abstract

Forest road network planning in ameliorated forest is an important factor for constant forest
development that not only leads to decrease in cost but also prevents forest destruction. Final decision
in forest road planning is not possible just by optimization of one variable. Therefore, multi
criteria decision methods have been developed. Analytic Hierarchical Process (AHP) is one of the
most well-known multi criteria decision techniques that has been introduced for resolving planning
needs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate AHP application in preparing road potential
map for Hyrcanian forests in northern Iran. Study area is a part of No 7 watershed domain in
northern Iran and corresponds to the general peculiarities of Hyrcanian forests. Regarding natural
condition of Hyrcanian forests, in this study, 8 factors were taken in to account, such as slope,
exposition, altitude, vegetation type, volume of growing stock, hydrographic peculiarities, geology
and pedology. In order to validate indicators, a questionnaire was developed and distributed
among road construction experts in Natural Resource Organization. Indicators' relative weights
were calculated by Expert Choice software. After getting every layer validity ratio, these layers
were synthesized in ArcGIS9.2 software to make potential map for road construction. Resultant
potential map was compared with one proposed by university professors. Forty points were designated
electively in both potential maps and were evaluated with regards to mentioned factors.
Studies showed that results proposed by professors were more accurate than these proposed by
experts. However, with regards to percentages and results obtained this method cannot be used
safely in potential map preparation for road construction in Hyrcanian forests.

Abstract

As results of forest roads construction, a large number of impacts on the social and natural environment
are identified, both at construction and operation phases. In this work an Environmental
Impact Assessment for the asphalted forest road, of A category 'Philippion - Xillia Dendra -
Exochi' was conducted. Initially, we analyzed the concept of environmental impact assessments
and recorded all the information about the location of the road. Then the information was collected
necessary for the preparation work, such as related measurements, graded on the basis of the
criteria forestry absorption and intensity. These criteria evaluate forestry, topographic and social
factors that are indicators for the adaptability of the road environment and the capacity of the
area to overcome the construction and to restore the balance of the forest ecosystem with minimum
negative impact on the forest and the social surroundings. The intensity criteria by which
the layout and the construction of a forest road is evaluated measures adaptation of the natural
environment to the road construction. Finally, the investigation concludes that the specific forest
road needs several interventions to improve and restore the environment after its construction.

Abstract

Ecosystem services payment (ESP) is widely proposed as effective mechanism to internalize
externalities. Non-market valuation techniques are often used to measure ESP. Elaborating the
relationship between non-market valuation and ESP, this article emphasizes the importance of
property rights and opportunity costs for ESP arrangement. The Bulgarian private forest is used
as an example to highlight the potential impacts of changes in the institutional arrangement of
property rights on ESP and sustainability of Bulgarian private forestry and ecosystem services.

Abstract

In this study Sweet chestnut spring grafting onto same rootstocks has been made. Two-yearold
seedlings in the open field were used as rootstocks. Two phenological stages of the rootstocks
have been tested - dormancy condition (end of February) and the beginning of growing season
(end of March). The grafting methods were chip budding, cleft graft, side veneer graft and splice
graft. Criteria for assessment of the results were the percentage of grafting components union,
main shoot growth, lateral shoots number and growth. Significant differences in grafting success
and plant development were found in different phenological stages and in grafting methods. It was
mainly recommended to perform splice grafting during the spring using 'dormant' and 'active'
rootstocks. By splice grafting both graft success and growth of the scion (86.7 to 93.3 % graft
success and 23.7 to 26.2 cm graft shoot height) can be realized.

Abstract

Invasive plant species are widely recognized as a serious environmental threat. They can
cause local extinction or a vast decline in some native species populations by increasing competition
and through modifications of their habitat. The currently used control measures commonly
involve herbicides that can be toxic to other plants, people, and wildlife. Some of the undesired
side effects include reduction of nutrients to non-target species, mortality in tadpoles, deformation
of fish, and reduced fertility and sexual development in frogs. There is a need for new methods for
invasive species removal that do not use herbicides, but whose efficiency is similar to that of herbicide-
based techniques. In this study we tested the effectiveness of high-intensity fire directed at
the base of the stem. We used external fuel source and applied the fire to royal paulownia trees to
examine the effects of tree diameter, length of time of fire application, and season of application.
Overall, greatest mortality occurred when the studied treatments were applied in the summer and
when the exposure to fire continued for 30 s in diameters from 3.8 cm to 20.1 cm and for 60 s in
diameters from 20.2 cm to 68.6 cm. The season of burning had no effect on sprouting. Post-burn
sprouting was greater following longer fire exposure. Additional treatment of the sprouts may be
necessary using this or other methods. Nevertheless, the percent of trees that sprouted was relatively
low. The tested treatment can be scaled up and its cost decreased by employing already
available flaming equipment currently used in agriculture.

Abstract

Erosion should be controlled with the programme of the National Strategy, which includes the
use of biotechnology and afforestation. Protective afforestation should primarily provide quick
establishment of plantation canopy. This prevents the direct influence of erosion agents on land
surface. The establishment of forest canopy simultaneously results in the establishment of full
hydrological function of forests, by reducing the probability of occurrence of surface runoff and
extending the period of water concentration from the basin to the channel. Douglas-fir, as a fastgrowing
species, meets all requirements, which should be met by a species used in protective afforestation.
Different Douglas-fir provenances under the same site and stand conditions in Serbia
do not use the habitat production potential in the same way, i.e. the rates of canopy establishment
are not the same in all Douglas-fir provenances. This means that the rate of establishing the protection
and hydrological functions of Douglas-fir plantations depends largely on the provenance.
In order to test the potential of fast-growing conifer Douglas-fir, experimental fields of this tree
species were founded in Serbia. The test represented a variety of provenance from the natural
range in North America. The insufficient research and the lack of reliability in the introduced tree
species result in the fact that exotic species are rarely applied in such circumstances, for fear of
their difficult adaptation to the changes of site conditions. To be able to meet the demands, the
planting material should be: adequately chosen, correctly selected species at the level of the
provenance, capable of providing the long-term stabilization of degradation processes, reproductively
invasive, widely adaptive, with developed root system, more effective, less expensive and,
of course, popular in the market. The paper presents the results of long term investigations of
Douglas-fir value for erosion control in Serbia.

Abstract

Lake Pamvotida is inseparably linked to the life and history of the inhabitants of the city of
Ioannina. This research records the views and beliefs of the inhabitants of the city of Ioannina with
regard to the lake. The majority of the citizens believe that Lake Pamvotida plays an important
role in their lives since the mere presence of the lake contributes to improving their psychology.
In addition, Lake Pamvotida contributes to the aesthetics of the city and helps with regard to
opportunities for recreation and sport. In general, the citizens declare satisfied from the quality of
their life. They also believe that if there are opportunities for them to stay in their homeland, they
will do so. It seems that 50 percent of the citizens do not wish to participate in public matters.
In addition, the percentage of citizens which do not participate in any environmental program
is significant. However, it is encouraging that the percentage of those who would participate
voluntarily in a lake protection program is quite big.