Svetoslav Anev

Department of Dendrology, Faculty of Forestry, University of Forestry, 10 Kliment Ohridski Blvd., 1797 Sofia, Bulgaria. *E-mail: svetoslav.anev@ltu.bg

This study investigates variations of two main phenological events of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) across geographical gradients in its range in Bulgaria between 2017 and 2023. We found that altitude is the primary driver of leaf unfolding date, which is delayed by approximately 2.52 days per 100 m of elevation gain. In contrast, leaf colouring date is less influenced by altitude and more strongly driven by latitude, with a delay of about 2.12 days per degree northward. Leaf colouring date appeared more abrupt and latitude-dependent, likely due to regional climate differences in separate mountains. A modest influence of longitude on phenology was also detected, possibly linked to changes in continental climatic conditions in the west-east direction. These findings contribute to understanding how complex of geographic gradients shape the timing of phenological events and duration of vegetation period in European beech under the current climate
in Bulgaria. They could be used as a basis for impact forecasting of future climate scenarios in the south-eastern part of the distribution of European beech forests.

Received: 13 May 2025 / Accepted: 05 July 2025 / Available online: 18 August 2025

Open Access: This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Slamet Arif Susanto*, Heru Joko Budirianto, and Agatha Cecilia Maturbongs

Department Biology, Faculty Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Papua, Jalan
Gunung Salju Amban, Manokwari, West Papua Province 98314, Indonesia.
E-mails: s.susanto@unipa.ac.id*, herujokobudirianto@gmail.com, a.maturbongs@unipa.ac.id

Litterfall plays a crucial role in transferring nutrients from vegetation to soil, particularly in the carbon and nitrogen cycles. This study aims to estimate and compare the carbon stock in it from dominant tree species in 15-year-old fallow land. Litterfall traps measuring 1 × 1 m were placed beneath the stands of dominant tree species Pometia pinnata J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., Dracontomelon dao (Blanco) Merr. & Rolfe, and Octomeles sumatrana Miq., with three replicates. Carbon stock was calculated using the drying method to achieve constant litterfall weight. The stock of carbon measurement data were analysed using one-way ANOVA, followed by the Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at a p level <0.05. A significant difference was found in mean weekly carbon stock in litterfall between P. pinnata (11.33 ±7.8 g·m-2·week-1) and D. dao (19.50 ±8.8 g·m-2·week-1) and O. sumatrana (18.85 ±7.1 g·m-2·week-1), but D. dao and O. sumatrana did not differ significantly. The difference in carbon stock production is due to peak leaf shedding of D. dao and O. sumatrana during the study period, whereas P. pinnata was not shedding leaves, leading to its lowest carbon stock production. Additionally, canopy height may influence litterfall capture in the trap. Estimates of annual carbon stock in it showed high values: 5.73 t·ha-1·yr-1 for P. pinnata, 9.89 t·ha-1·yr-1 for D. dao, and 9.37 t·ha-1·yr-1 for O. sumatrana. Fallow land in Womnowi Village, Manokwari after 15 years, makes a substantial contribution to carbon stock. From the perspective of soil fertility for agricultural land, high carbon stock suggests that fallow land can be reutilised for agricultural purposes.

Received: 30 June 2025 / Accepted: 15 August 2025 / Available online: 22 August 2025

Open Access: This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Anna Betekhtina (1), Olga Nekrasova (1)*, Mikhail Malygin (1),
and Denis Veselkin (2)

1. Department of Earth and Space Science, Ural Federal University, 48 Kuibysheva Str., 620043
Yekaterinburg, Russia. E-mails: A.A.Betekhtina@urfu.ru (AB), o_nekr@mail.ru* (ON),
astett8@gmail.com (MM)
2. Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 202
8th March Str., 620144 Yekaterinburg, Russia. E-mail: denis_v@ipae.uran.ru

The aim of this study was to establish whether there are common peculiarities of root structure and ectomycorrhizas for two deciduous tree species growing on fly ash - artificial substrate with specific properties. The research was conducted in the southern taiga subzone of the Middle Urals at two ash dumps and typical zonal habitat. The roots of Betula pendula Roth and Populus tremula L. were studied. The following parameters were analysed: (i) soil concentrations of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P); (ii) micromorphological structure of fine roots and ectomycorrhizas; (iii) content of C and N in fine roots. The soils of ash dumps contained low amounts of N and high amounts of P compared with zonal soils. No species-specific features of fine root structure were detected for B. pendula and P. tremula. The size of roots, their vitality, the ratio of non-mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal roots, as well as the content and ratio of C and N did not differ between the trees of ash dumps and control area. Differences in the root structure between growing at ash dumps and in natural habitat B. pendula and P. tremula were generally low and affected only the features characterizing the size of the fungal mantle in ectomycorrhizas. The thickness of the mantle and its proportion in the total volume of ectomycorrhizae were less on the ash dumps than in the control habitat. Thus, the adaptation of the absorptive apparatus of B. pendula and P. tremula when living on fly ash occurs not due to autonomous rearrangements carried out by the plants, but probably by regulating the development of fungal symbionts.

Received: 15 June 2025 / Accepted: 29 August 2025 / Available online: 20 September 2025

Open Access: This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Hamzari Palaguna (1)*, Ariyanti (2), Misrah (3), Andi Sahri Alam (4), and Imran Rachman (5)

1. Forestry Department, Faculty of Forestry, Tadulako University, Soekarno Hatta Street, Km 10,
94118 Palu, Indonesia. E-mail: hapalaguna@gmail.com

Indigenous forest governance has received growing recognition worldwide, yet its integration with modern spatial technologies remains limited in Southeast Asia. This study explores the integration of GIS with Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) to analyse the structure and function of the Customary Forest Management Unit (CFMU) in Toro customary forest, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Toro community, renowned for its intricate customary zoning, faces contemporary hallenges of tenure insecurity, external encroachment, and ecological pressure, creating an urgent need for hybrid governance approaches. A mixed-methods framework was employed, combining high-resolution satellite imagery, GIS-based Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE), GPS surveys, and participatory mapping with 35 community stakeholders, complemented by interviews and field observations. Toro forest, covering 20,276.98 ha, was classified into three functional categories: limited production forest (11,629.41 ha; 57.35 %), protected forest (6,292.22 ha; 31.03 %), and permanent production forest (2,355.35 ha; 11.62 %). MCE model achieved 88.7 % accuracy (Kappa = 0.83). Six customary zones were delineated – Wana Ngkiki, Wana, Pangale, Pahawa Pongko, Oma, and Balingkea – each serving distinct ecological and socio-cultural purposes. Overlay analysis revealed strong congruence: more than 90 % of core zones (Wana Ngkiki and Wana) coincide with steep slopes and intact forests, while over 70 % of peripheral zones (Oma and Balingkea) correspond with agroforestry mosaics. Findings confirm that Toro’s concentric zoning is not only a cultural construct but also ecologically rational, simultaneously safeguarding biodiversity in core areas and supporting diversified livelihoods through agroforestry and non-timber forest products. This dual outcome underscores the role of customary governance as both an ecological safeguard and a foundation for green economic pathways. Beyond its local relevance, Toro case contributes to global discourses on biocultural conservation and sustainable development. By demonstrating how TEK and GIS can be synergistically integrated, this study provides a replicable and adaptive model for strengthening indigenous forest governance, enhancing tenure security, and embedding cultural values within contemporary conservation frameworks.

Received: 01 July 2025 / Accepted: 13 September 2025 / Available online: 20 September 2025

Open Access: This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Kouame Jean-Marc Kouman (1)*, Kobenan Pierre N’gouran (2), Kouassi Apollinaire Kouakou (1), Gislain Danmo Konan (1), Adjo Annie Yvette Assalé (1), N’golo Konaté (3), Golou Gizèle Zanh (1), Akoua Tamia Madeleine Kouakou (1), Abdoulaye Diarrassouba (4), and Yao Sadaiou Sabas Barima (1)

1. Department of Environment, Faculty of Environment, Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire. *E-mail: jm.kouman@gmail.com
2. Department of Agroforestry, Faculty of Agroforestry, Jean Lorougnon Guédé University, Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire.
3. Department of Economics and Management, Faculty of Economics and Management, Jean
Lorougnon Guédé University, Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire.
4. Ivorian Office of Parks and Reserves, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Taï National Park (PNT) is drained mainly by Hana River, which rises outside it. It provides a source of water for the park’s many animals and is an important ecosystem for maintaining Ivorian biodiversity. However, the river has been severely degraded by artisanal and illegal gold mining. It carries a load of pollutants into the Park from mining activities conducted upstream on the outskirts of the PNT. The general objective of this study is to study the development of land use, in particular, the dynamics of illegal artisanal gold panning in Hana River source area between 2021 and 2024 to improve park management. To achieve this, the methodology relies on the processing of Sentinel-2 satellite images. The classification of these images was carried out using the Random Forest algorithm and validated with several performance tests. Analysis of land-use change showed a significant increase in artisanal gold panning and food crops, with annual increases of 120.5 % and 14.1 % respectively. However, fallow land and water areas experienced a decrease in surface area, with regression rates of 21.7 % and 28.5 % respectively. The study highlighted the risks and dangers of illegal artisanal gold panning for Taï National Park. To preserve this natural heritage, it is imperative to prohibit gold panning activities in the peripheral zone of the Park and to implement measures for the ecological restoration of abandoned sites.

Received: 14 July 2025 / Accepted: 28 September 2025 / Available online: 16 October 2025

Open Access: This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.