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Open Access Research Article Issue
Tree-based ecosystem services supply and multifunctionality of church forests and their agricultural matrix near Lake Tana, Ethiopia
Forest Ecosystems 2023, 10 (6): 100145
Published: 26 October 2023
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Ecosystem services (ES) are the connection between nature and society, and are essential for the well-being of local communities that depend on them. In Ethiopia, church forests and the surrounding agricultural matrix supply numerous ES. However, the ES delivered by both land use types have not yet been assessed simultaneously. Here we surveyed both church forests and their agricultural matrices, aiming to quantify, compare and unravel the drivers underlying tree-based ES supply, density and multifunctionality. We found that almost all church forests and half of the agricultural matrices provided high ES densities. ES multifunctionality was higher in the agricultural matrices, suggesting that people deliberately conserve or plant multifunctional tree species. Furthermore, the supply of all categories of ES was positively correlated with church forest age (p-value < 0.001) in the agricultural matrix, while the extent of church forest was positively correlated with the density of all categories ecosystem services score in the church forests (p-value < 0.001). Our results can be used to prioritize conservation efforts at sites that provide high levels of ES supply, ES density and ES multifunctionality, and to prioritize restoration efforts at sites with low levels thereof.

Open Access Research Issue
Adaptation of forest management to climate change as perceived by forest owners and managers in Belgium
Forest Ecosystems 2017, 4 (1): 22
Published: 16 September 2016
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Background

Climate change is likely to cause significant modifications in forests. Rising to this challenge may require adaptation of forest management, and therefore should trigger proactive measures by forest managers, but it is unclear to what extent this is already happening.

Methods

The survey carried out in this research assesses how forest stakeholders in Belgium perceive the role of their forest management in the context of climate change and the impediments that limit their ability to prepare and respond to these changes.

Results

Respondents indicated strong awareness of the changing climate, with more than two-thirds (71 %) expressing concern about the impacts of climate change on their forests. However, less than one-third of the respondents (32 %) reported modifying their management practices motivated by climate change. Among the major constraints limiting their climate related actions, lack of information was considered the most important for managers of both public and private forests.

Conclusions

Knowledge transfer is an essential condition for research to lead to innovation. Improving the communication and demonstration of possible solutions for climate change adaptation is therefore likely to be the most effective strategy for increasing their adoption.

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