Forest Fires - Causes, Detection and Impact on Forest Ecosystems

In recent years, globally, more and more attention is given to maintaining strong, balanced, healthy forestecosystems, able to perform with maximum of efficiency the purpose for which they have been created. Forest fireshave a special role within the complex risk factors, with direct influence on them. The causes of the forest fires aremainly due to human interventions and less to natural phenomena. The fire setting and extending are conditioned by thesimultaneous presence of three factors: fuel material, oxygen and fire source. In forest ecosystems, fuel material andoxygen can be found in excess, so that we approached rather the fire setting factor. Fire detection, especially in theinitial phase, and its signalizing can reduce the damages and localizing costs very much. In this respect, we present inthis article a variant of fire detection and of warning the competent authorities by modern informatics methods (usingsensors, computers, etc.). In order to establish the locations of the sensors we analyzed all the fires in Cluj County. Alldata regarding their evolution during 2000 - 2012 were centralized. The data refer to forest areas from Cluj County, butthe causes of the fire ignition were observed in the neighboring counties, too

Study Regarding the Influence of the Versant on the Development of Spruce Seedlings

The development of seedlings was monitored depending on their position on the slope, from p.u. 48B from the P.U. IV Bondureasa. Six markets were placed, two downstream, two in the middle and two in the upstream of the slope, making observations on a total of 48 seedlings. Since it was a mixed spruce regeneration, measurements were made on 24 seedlings derived from natural regeneration and 24 seedlings placed artificially, by plantations. Seedlings were thus chosen to be representative and to be located in close proximity so as to enable comparing the height and diameter growths. Measurements were made during 2007-2009 and concerned the total height (in cm with 1 cm accuracy) and diameter at the collar of seedlings (in mm with 0.1 mm accuracy). The data were tabulated and differentiated for the two types of regeneration (artificial and natural). Analyzing the data presented, one can see that in the markets placed downstream of the slope (1 and 2), seedlings growths in height are higher (an average of 106.12 cm compared to 94.87 cm in the middle of the slope and 88.75 cm at the top). The same applies in the case of diameters at the collar (an average of 21.33 mm downstream, compared to 15.36 mm in the middle of the slope and 14.66 mm upstream)

Research Regarding Control of Pathogen Microsphaera abbreviata in the Climatic Conditions of 2010 Year

In the nurseries and natural regeneration of oak trees, on the background of intense accumulation on the level of the crowns of the seeding plants, strong attacks of phyto-pathogens are registered that cause the so called mildews and the most important of them is. The effects of mildews are manifested by diminutions of growing and biomass accumulations, with direct repercussions on the further quality of the attacked exemplars. As the age of the attacked exemplars is younger, as the intensity and degrees of attack are stronger. In this phase, the only measure of quick intervention, with direct effects is the chemo therapy. It is important to use only biodegradable substances, with no permanence on soil level. There are a lot of substances that may be used in fighting against mildew. This work proposes to verify the efficiency of some new fungicides (Allegro, Cabrio, Tilt, Duett ultra and Kumulus), compared with samples, untreated. The concentrations and doses for applying were differently fixed for each substance depending on the technical instruction for the use of products

Strategy of Establishing a Rosehip Plantation Using Varieties of Rosa Canina from Spontaneous Flora of Transylvania

This study presents the methodology to achieve a plantation of wild rose, using fourvarieties of Rosa Canina from wild flora of Transylvania. Also has been considered: how to harvestthe plant material, market demand for vegetable raw material costs to establish, maintain the cultureand life of a culture. Vegetative material consists of four varieties of Rosa Canina, seen as valuable fortheir high content in vitamin C, fruit size and productivity. These varieties were selected based onmacroscopic, biophysical and biochemical studies. The results obtained can be achieved in a breedingground to be studied, characteristics of the four biotypes considered valuable. These characteristics canbe improved by scientific methods of selection and be homologated the plants which provide the bestefficiency. Planting material created and certified must then be extended by a specific technology to alarger culture

Forest School. A Modern Method in Educational Process

The â€Forest school†is a modern educational method which is based on learning outdoors in a specially designed space in the middle of a forest called Pedagogical Forest, offering countless opportunities for learning. The ecological crisis combined with the failure and dropout and lack of motivation for learning have led us to propose the introduction in the educational process of this modern method called Forest school, which has a beneficial effect in various areas: sustainable development, environmental protection, personal and professional development. To see the double impact that Forest school has on society and the environment, we used an investigation questionnaire, which tries to capture the current state of knowledge about the world and its role in the evolution of society and the desire of students to know the beautiful sylvan. Both students and teachers are open to this challenge called Forest school as they want a diversification of the educational process, to arouse their interest in knowledge and self-awareness

Study about the Establishment of an Educational Center in a Pedagogical Forest

The current research foresees a diagnosis regarding the evaluation of a forest that has a pedagogical role. The study assumes the establishment within the forest Hoia - Cluj-Napoca of an area of research, stimulation and awareness for all the society. The educational centre is intended to be implemented with the help of the Department of Forestry of USAMV Cluj-Napoca. The project assumes the establishment, in a forest with social interest, of an area of research, stimulation, awareness, and by this meaning pedagogical, for the whole society. It will be a place for recreation, but at the same time will gather information regarding the vegetation, fauna and the major role they play in the future existence of the human species

Detection and Prognosis Defoliators Tortrix viridana and Pristiphora abietina in the Northwestern Transylvania Forests

Forest pest detection and prognosis are important works in forest protection activities, and because of these it can be known the health of forests at any time of year. In the sylviculture point of view, there are the primary meaning forestry pests and pests distinguish secondary, the first that stands against a culture and under certain conditions of vegetation, climate and mass medium can replicate. Establishing forecasts to reflect the real situation of forest sampling of surfaces requires control data referring to quantity, quality and rate of injuries. Thus, for each stand or for groups of stands with similar conditions (in terms of stationary and stand composition and age) and the same degree of defoliation, it will be taken 32 samples of litter and soil. Each sample will represent the collected material on a surface of 25 x 25 cm. The data presented in this paper, on the forecast Tortrix viridana, 2010 shows that infestations will be very weak and weak, except for two bodies Forest Forest Departments in Oradea and Satu Mare, where defoliation will be strong and very strong

THE ECONOMICAL AND ECOLOGICAL EFFECT OF FORESTS ARSONS FROM CLUJ COUNTY

In county of Cluj the major causes of arsons are represented by the unattended fires (especially by tourist but also by the agricultural or sylvicultural workers) and because are light up meadows and the fire could not be controlled. The major overwhelming forest fires (more than 90 %) happened during spring time (after the snow melt down and before the vegetation started) and during autumn (after the leaves falls and before snowing). To localize and to extinguish fires is very difficult when winds are more or less intense. Another factor is represented by the situation of erbacee vegetation or shrubs and bushes which are directly proportioned with their drying grade. The high humidity of soil might stop or to reduce the propagation of forest arsons

Using Questionnaires for Monitoring the Environment Status

The ecology and the monitoring of the environment status are becoming important concerns for many government agencies and NGO’s involved in the durable development policies. In this domain, the data-collection activity plays an important role and we want to propose a system based on the new available technologies like portable devices, wireless data transfer and positioning systems. Another aspect is the precision of the collected data. For improving this aspect, we propose a system based on questionnaires developed and maintained by a group of supervisors in a central database system. Field operations are becoming much simpler because the operator has to respond to a series of questionnaires containing in most cases, a question and mutually exclusive answers