Global forest management data for 2015 at a 100 m resolution

Spatially explicit information on forest management at a global scale is critical for understanding the status of forests, for planning sustainable forest management and restoration, and conservation activities. Here, we produce the first reference data set and a prototype of a globally consistent forest management map with high spatial detail on the most prevalent forest management classes such as intact forests, managed forests with natural regeneration, planted forests, plantation forest (rotation up to 15 years), oil palm plantations, and agroforestry. We developed the reference dataset of 226 K unique locations through a series of expert and crowdsourcing campaigns using Geo-Wiki (https://www.geo-wiki.org/). We then combined the reference samples with time series from PROBA-V satellite imagery to create a global wall-to-wall map of forest management at a 100 m resolution for the year 2015, with forest management class accuracies ranging from 58% to 80%. The reference data set and the map present the status of forest ecosystems and can be used for investigating the value of forests for species, ecosystems and their services

Trends in forest fuel accumulation in pine forests of Kyiv Polissya in Ukraine

At present, forest fire research is becoming especially relevant in Ukraine. This study examines patterns of forest fuel accumulation in pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands that grow in different soil conditions with different pine stand structure. To estimate the load of forest fuel of different fractions, a combined methodology was used: the weighing method and the FIREMON (fuel load estimation) method. It was found that increase in surface forest fuel loads is not directly proportional to forest stands’ age. Fractional size distribution, capacity and loads of forest fuel depend on several factors, among which the greatest role is played by forestry characteristics of the pine stand. It was determined that in the forest site conditions of type C (fairly rich soils) in Kyiv Polissya, the share of forest litter compared to pine stands that grow in poor soil conditions (A) is smaller, ranging from 41% to 76% of the total forest fuel load. The mass proportion of the duff layer varies from 15% in young forest stands to 43% in mature stands. It was established that changes in forest fuel fractions for 1, 10, 100 and 1000 hours varied insignificantly with age rate. The share of substratum woody debris of 10 and 100 hours was insignificant and depended more on the forestry treatment regime on these sites. The mass proportion of coarse woody debris (1000 hours) was also insignificant, varying from 0% to 5.9% of the total load of surface fuel

Trends in forest fuel accumulation in pine forests of Kyiv Polissya in Ukraine

At present, forest fire research is becoming especially relevant in Ukraine. This study examines patterns of forest fuel accumulation in pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands that grow in different soil conditions with different pine stand structure. To estimate the load of forest fuel of different fractions, a combined methodology was used: the weighing method and the FIREMON (fuel load estimation) method. It was found that increase in surface forest fuel loads is not directly proportional to forest stands’ age. Fractional size distribution, capacity and loads of forest fuel depend on several factors, among which the greatest role is played by forestry characteristics of the pine stand. It was determined that in the forest site conditions of type C (fairly rich soils) in Kyiv Polissya, the share of forest litter compared to pine stands that grow in poor soil conditions (A) is smaller, ranging from 41% to 76% of the total forest fuel load. The mass proportion of the duff layer varies from 15% in young forest stands to 43% in mature stands. It was established that changes in forest fuel fractions for 1, 10, 100 and 1000 hours varied insignificantly with age rate. The share of substratum woody debris of 10 and 100 hours was insignificant and depended more on the forestry treatment regime on these sites. The mass proportion of coarse woody debris (1000 hours) was also insignificant, varying from 0% to 5.9% of the total load of surface fuel

Global forest management data for 2015 at a 100 m resolution

Spatially explicit information on forest management at a global scale is critical for understanding the status of forests, for planning sustainable forest management and restoration, and conservation activities. Here, we produce the first reference data set and a prototype of a globally consistent forest management map with high spatial detail on the most prevalent forest management classes such as intact forests, managed forests with natural regeneration, planted forests, plantation forest (rotation up to 15 years), oil palm plantations, and agroforestry. We developed the reference dataset of 226 K unique locations through a series of expert and crowdsourcing campaigns using Geo-Wiki (https://www.geo-wiki.org/). We then combined the reference samples with time series from PROBA-V satellite imagery to create a global wall-to-wall map of forest management at a 100 m resolution for the year 2015, with forest management class accuracies ranging from 58% to 80%. The reference data set and the map present the status of forest ecosystems and can be used for investigating the value of forests for species, ecosystems and their services