Academic literature on the topic 'Arid regions forestry'

Vegetation dynamics in arid and semi-arid regions have an important impact on carbon cycle, water cycle, and energy exchange at local, regional, and global scales. Therefore, it is of great significance for scientists to grasp the changes of vegetation cover in arid and semi-arid regions timely and accurately. Based on this, the applicability of ESTARFM model in the complex terrain area of arid and semi-arid Xinjiang was explored using Landsat and MODIS data fusion, and the overall change characteristics of vegetation cover (FVC) and the distribution and change patterns of different terrains in the study area in the past 15 years were analyzed by combining the dimidiate pixel model, unary linear regression and digital elevation model. The results show that: (1) the NDVI data fused by ESTARFM Model has high consistency with the real NDVI data, and it can be used for subsequent FVC estimation. (2) From 2006 to 2020, the inter FVC was at a high level as a whole, and the average annual FVC showed a weak increasing trend in fluctuation; there are obvious differences in spatial distribution, which is characterized by high distribution in the north and low in the south. (3) The improved area of vegetation cover in the study area is greater than the degraded area, accounting for 52.3% and 47.7% respectively; (4) In the elevation range of 2000 to 3500 m, the FVC showed a slight degradation trend on 25° to 45° slopes and south and southeast slopes, and the rest showed a slight improvement trend. ESTARFM-based model enables monitoring of vegetation cover changes in complex terrain areas of the arid and semi-arid regions in Xinjiang over a long time series. The overall FVC level in the study area is high, and there both are serious degradation and improvement phenomena.

Drylands are expected to be affected by greater global drought variability in the future; consequently, how dryland ecosystems respond to drought events needs urgent attention. In this study, the Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Standardized Precipitation and Evaporation Index (SPEI) were employed to quantify the resistance of ecosystem productivity to drought events in drylands of northern China between 1982 and 2015. The relationships and temporal trends of resistance and drought characteristics, which included length, severity, and interval, were examined. The temporal trends of resistance responded greatest to those of drought length, and drought length was the most sensitive and had the strongest negative effect with respect to resistance. Resistance decreased with increasing drought length and did not recover with decreasing drought length in hyper-arid regions after 2004, but did recover in arid and semi-arid regions from 2004 and in dry sub-humid regions from 1997. We reason that the regional differences in resistance may result from the seed bank and compensatory effects of plant species under drought events. In particular, this study implies that the ecosystem productivity of hyper-arid regions is the most vulnerable to drought events, and the drought–resistance and drought–recovery interactions are likely to respond abnormally or even shift under ongoing drought change.

As global climate change has a large effect on the carbon cycle of forests, it is very important to understand how forests in climate transition regions respond to climate change. Specifically, the LPJ-GUESS (Lund-Potsdam-Jena General Ecosystem Simulator) model was used to simulate net ecosystem productivity (NEP) and soil heterotrophic respiration (Rh) dynamics of two forest ecosystems of different origins between 1951 and 2100, to quantitatively analyze the carbon source and sink functions and potential changes in soil carbon dynamics in arid and humid regions under future climate change, simulate the dynamics of forest net primary productivity (NPP) under different climatic factors, and analyze the sensitivity of forests in arid and humid regions to temperature, precipitation, and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration. We found that: (1) in both the historical and future periods, the average NEP of both studied forests in the humid region was larger than that in the arid region, the carbon sink function of the humid region being predicted to become stronger and the arid zone possibly becoming a carbon source; (2) between 1951 and 2100, the forest soil Rh in the arid region was lower than that in the humid region and under future climate change, forest in the humid region may have higher soil carbon loss; (3) increasing temperature had a negative effect and CO2 concentration had a positive effect on the forests in the study area, and forests in arid areas are more sensitive to precipitation change. We believe our research could be applied to help policy makers in planning sustainable forest management under future climate change.

Juniperus sabina L., a shrub distributed in patches in arid and semi-arid areas of the northern hemisphere, plays an important role in preventing land desertification and maintaining ecosystems. However, few studies have reported genetic diversity and genetic structure of widely distributed populations of J. sabina in northwest China. Here, we evaluated the genetic diversity and genetic structure and predicted the isolation barriers among 11 populations based on 20 simple sequence repeats (SSRs). A total of 134 alleles were generated and the average number of alleles per locus was 6.70. The Shannon diversity index ranged from 0.659 to 0.951, with an average of 0.825. Population structure analysis revealed that the populations were assigned into two genetic groups. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that 88% of genetic variation existed within populations. Moderate population differentiation was occurred with FST value of 0.090. Finally, we concluded that geographic isolation is the main factor affecting the genetic structure of J. sabina populations. The results of this study provide a foundation for the strategies for J. sabina genetic conservation and management.

In arid and semi-arid regions, a better understanding of the effect of climate change mechanisms on environmental evolution can be used to guide regional ecological conservation and to improve water resource availability. Increased aridity in arid and semi-arid regions considerably affects the physiological functions of plants and the exchange of carbon and water with the environment. We collected Pinus tabuliformis Carr. samples from Ordos, Inner Mongolia, and measured their δ18O variations. Vapour pressure (VP) was the main factor dominating δ18O variations from July to August, indicating the regulatory role of plant leaf stomata. Based on the δ18O series in the Ordos region, we reconstructed VP variations for July–August (VPJA) for the past 205 years. Spatial analysis showed the reconstruction as spatially highly representative. VP variations in the Ordos region mainly reflected precipitation variations and did not show a significant correlation with temperature. Since the late 1950s, VP has been decreasing, which is related to the weakening of the Asian monsoon. The results of reconstruction decomposed using ensemble empirical mode decomposition showed that El Niño–Southern Oscillation may affect VP in the study area, and the effect of sea surface temperature on the central and eastern Pacific Ocean in the Ordos region may lead to an increase in the drought.

Semi-arid regions in India account for one fourth of its territory. It is not suitable for crops because of scanty and irregular rainfall, but it is a rich repository for animal agriculture, particularly goats. The economic exploitation of this region is feasible by creating high-yielding germ plasm and development of forage forestry systems for their sustenance and production.

Ongoing climate change and human activities have a great effect on vegetation dynamics. Understanding the impact of climate change and human activities on vegetation dynamics in different ecologically vulnerable regions has great significance in ecosystem management. In this study, the predicted NPP (Net Primary Productivity) and the actual NPP based on different ecological process data and models were combined to estimate the vegetation dynamics and their driving forces in the Northern Wind-sand, Loess Plateau, Arid Desert, Tibetan Plateau, and Karst regions from 2000 to 2015. The results indicated that the NPP in all ecologically vulnerable regions showed a restoration trend, except for that in the Karst region, and the percentage of areas in which NPP increased were, in order, 78% for the Loess Plateau, 71% for the Northern Wind-sand, 69% for the Arid Desert, 54% for the Tibetan Plateau, and 31% for the Karst regions. Vegetation restorations in the Northern Wind-sand and Arid Desert regions were primarily attributable to human activities (86% and 61% of the restoration area, respectively), indicating the success of ecological restoration programs. The Loess Plateau had the largest proportion of vegetation restoration area (44%), which was driven by combined effects of climate and human factors. In the Tibetan Plateau, the vegetation changes due to climate factors were primarily distributed in the west, while those due to human factors were primarily distributed in the east. Human activities caused nearly 60% of the vegetation degradation in the Karst region. Based on these results, it is recognizable that regional climate conditions are the key factor that limits ecological restoration. Therefore, future policy-making should pay more attention to the local characteristics of different ecological vulnerable regions in regional ecosystem management to select reasonable restoration measures, improve restoration efficiency, and maximize the benefits of ecological restoration programs.

Platycladus orientalis and Amorpha fruticosa are important pioneer species in arid and semi-arid regions, playing a crucial role in ecological restoration in water-limited areas. The purpose of this research was to examine how different watering and rewatering schedules influence the antioxidant enzyme activities and biochemical responses of P. orientalis and A. fruticosa. Five different water regimes (100%, 88%, 70%, 52%, and 40% of soil relative water content) were applied to seedlings for 15, 30, 45, and 60 days, after which they were rewatered. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase), and osmotic solutes (soluble sugar and proline) were assessed in the leaves of P. orientalis and A. fruticosa. Measurements were taken at various growth stages, namely the initial, fast, and late stages, both during the drought period and after 2, 24, 48, and 72 h of rewatering. The results revealed that the malondialdehyde content in the leaves of P. orientalis and A. fruticosa increased with the level of stress. The activities of antioxidant enzymes and the levels of osmotic solutes in the leaves of P. orientalis and A. fruticosa exhibited varying enhancements as the water stress intensified. During the recovery phase, the antioxidant enzymes and soluble sugar content returned to the control level 72 h after rewatering at different growth stages. However, the proline content remained slightly elevated compared to the control plants. Overall, these findings suggest that the two plant species displayed minor differences in their responses to drought stress and rewatering in terms of antioxidant enzymes and other biochemical responses. This indicates their remarkable adaptability to severe drought conditions and their potential for rapid recovery after rewatering. These observations are highly significant for irrigation management strategies when establishing plantations in arid and semi-arid regions.

Condensation water has been a recent focus in ecological hydrology research. As one of the main water sources that maintains the food chain in arid regions, condensation water has a significant impact on water balance in arid environments and plays an important role in desert vegetation. This study takes drought desert areas and high-salinity habitats as its focus—selecting Halostachys caspica (M.Bieb.) C.A.Mey. and its community in mild, moderate, and severe salinity soil—analyzed the source of condensation water utilized by these plants, and calculated its percentage of contribution. I. Study results revealed: (1) Scale-like leaves can absorb condensation water and the order of condensation water contribution to plant growth in different salinity habitats are severe > mild > moderate, such that the average contribution rates were 11.13%, 7.10%, and 3.79%, respectively; (2) The migration path of water movement in these three communities are formed in two main ways: (a) rain and condensation water recharge the soil to compensate for groundwater, while some groundwater compensates for river water and partially returns to the atmosphere by soil evaporation and plant transpiration; and (b) rain and condensation water directly compensate for river water and plant roots absorb river water, groundwater, and soil water in order to grow; (3) in mild habitats, the water movement path in plants is as follows: shallow root → stem → branches → leaves and shallow root → deep root; (4) in moderate habitats, stems act as the bifurcation point and the path follows as: stem → branches → leaves and stem → shallow root → deep root; and (5) in severe habitats, the path is as follows: deep root → shallow root → stem → branches → leaves, and finally returning to the atmosphere. These results elucidate the contribution of condensation water on Halostachys caspica growth and the migration path through the Halostachys caspica body. Condensation water obtained by Halostachys caspica communities in different salinity habitats provides a theoretical basis and data supporting the need for future research of condensation water on plants at the physiological level in arid regions and provides reference for the protection of saline soil and its ecological environment in arid regions.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Riverside, 2009.
Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves ). Issued in print and online. Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations.

Levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have been steadily increasing since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s. The earth's climate is sensitive to alterations in these levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHG), with significant changes in climate predicted long term. The adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 heralded a new age in terms of greenhouse gas accounting and emissions responsibility, for all nations. In Australia, carbon emissions from the Land Use and Land Use Change and Forestry sector are responsible for a large proportion of the national total emissions. Radar remote sensing has demonstrated considerable potential in the estimation and mapping of vegetation biomass and subsequently carbon. The aim of this research is to investigate the potential of airborne polarimetric radar for quantifying and mapping the biomass and structural diversity of woodlands in semi-arid Australia. Initial investigation focussed on the physical structure of the woodland, which revealed that despite a diversity of woodland associations, the species diversity was relatively low. Both excurrent and decurrent growth forms were present, which subsequently resulted in varying allocation of biomass to the components (i.e., branches, trunks). In view of this, both empirical and modelling methodologies were explored. Empirical relationships were established between SAR backscatter and the total above ground biomass. Considerable scatter was present in these relationships, which was attributed to the large range of species and their associated structures. Comparison of actual and model simulations for C-, L- and P-band wavelengths, reveal that no significant difference existed for these wavelengths, except at CHH, and the cross-polarised data at L- and P-band. The study confirmed that microwaves at C-band interacted largely with the leaves and small branches, with scattering at VV polarization dominating. Compared to the lower frequencies, the return from the ground surface (as expected) was significant. The differences in scattering mechanisms (i.e., branch-ground versus trunk-ground) between excurrent and decurrent structures were due largely to the larger angular branches associated with Eucalyptus and Angophora species, which were absent from Callitris glaucophylla.

[Truncated abstract] Insufficient water use by annual crop and pasture species leading to costly rises in saline watertables has prompted research into potentially profitable deep-rooted perennial species in the Western Australian wheatbelt. Native mallee eucalypts are currently being developed as a short-rotation coppice crop for production of leaf oils, activated carbon and bio-electricity for low rainfall areas (300—450 mm) too dry for many of the traditional timber and forage species. The research in this study was aimed at developing a knowledge base necessary to grow and manage coppiced mallee eucalypts for both high productivity and salinity control. This firstly necessitated identification of suitable species, climatic and site requirements favourable to rapid growth, and understanding of factors likely to affect yield of the desirable leaf oil constituent, 1,8-cineole. This was undertaken using nine mallee taxa at twelve sites with two harvest regimes. E. kochii subsp. plenissima emerged as showing promise in the central and northern wheatbelt, particularly at a deep acid sand site (Gn 2.61; Northcote, 1979), so further studies focussed on physiology of its resprouting, water use and water-use efficiency at a similar site near Kalannie. Young E. kochii trees were well equipped with large numbers of meristematic foci and adequate root starch reserves to endure repeated shoot removal. The cutting season and interval between cuts were then demonstrated to have a strong influence on productivity, since first-year coppice growth was slow and root systems appeared to cease in secondary growth during the first 1.5—2.5 years after cutting. After decapitation, trees altered their physiology to promote rapid replacement of shoots. Compared to uncut trees, leaves of coppices were formed with a low carbon content per unit area, and showed high stomatal conductance accompanied by high leaf photosynthetic rates. Whole-plant water use efficiency of coppiced trees was unusually high due to their fast relative growth rates associated with preferential investments of photosynthates into regenerating canopies rather than roots. Despite relatively small leaf areas on coppice shoots over the two years following decapitation, high leaf transpiration rates resulted in coppices using water at rates far in excess of that falling as rain on the tree belt area. Water budgets showed that 20 % of the study paddock would have been needed as 0—2 year coppices in 5 m wide twin-row belts in order to maintain hydrological balance over the study period. Maximum water use occurred where uncut trees were accessing a fresh perched aquifer, but where this was not present water budgets still showed transpiration of uncut trees occurring at rates equivalent to 3—4 times rainfall incident on the tree belt canopy. In this scenario, only 10 % of the paddock surface would have been required under 5 m wide tree belts to restore hydrological balance, but competition losses in adjacent pasture would have been greater

Hypothesised causes of the observed world-wide decline of amphibian populations are varied and in some cases contentious. Insufficient information relating to the autecology of many amphibian species can cause erroneous speculations regarding critical habitat requirements and hence management programs designed to enhance population viability are often unsuccessful. Most amphibians display a bi-phasic life history that involves occupation of an aquatic breeding habitat and terrestrial habitats that are used for foraging, and shelter from predation and environmental stress. However, the focus of most amphibian research is centred on the breeding habitat, with limited research being conducted into the terrestrial habitat requirements of most amphibian species. Barakula State Forest is a large continuous area of open woodland situated in the semi-arid region of Queensland. The forest supports 21 species of endemic anurans, many of which use ephemeral waterbodies for breeding. This area is, therefore, an ideal location to test the relative importance of terrestrial habitat on the distribution of a suite of frogs that display different morphological and physiological characteristics. On the landscape scale, the attributes of the terrestrial environment at three survey areas within Barakula were similar. However, at the patch scale, ground truthing showed there were considerable variations in vegetation and ground cover attributes within and between each survey site. Measured properties of the soil also tended to vary within and between sites. Soil texture ranged from sandy to heavy clay, soil pH ranged from 3.9 to 6.4 and soil moisture varied considerably. Agar models, used for testing evaporative moisture loss at different microhabitats, retained significantly higher levels of moisture when positioned in the buried microhabitat during summer, but in winter, models that were placed under leaf litter retained higher levels of moisture. Variations in levels of moisture loss at the five different microhabitats were evident within and between the survey sites. Despite a prolonged drought, 1844 native frogs representing 17 species were pitfall trapped. Members from the family Myobatrachidae comprised 94% of these captures, and burrowing species accounted for 75% of total captures. Species were not randomly distributed within or between the survey sites. Vegetation attributes and soil properties played a significant role in influencing the catch rates and traplines that supported similar vegetation and soil attributes also tended to catch similar species. Capture rates of six of the seven burrowing species were significantly influenced by soil properties. When given a choice of four different microhabitats created in enclosures, individuals from five species showed varying responses to habitat choice during night time activity. During daylight all species tended to avoid bare areas and burrowing species tended to burrow under some form of cover. Pseudophryne bibronii metamorphs showed a significant avoidance to soils with high pH. The number of Limnodynastes ornatus metamorphs was significantly and positively correlated with moisture levels surrounding a breeding area. Limnodynastes ornatus metamorphs tended to avoid areas that did not support some form of cover. Embryos from the terrestrial egg laying P. bibronii translocated to sites with varying levels of soil pH, suffered increased mortality where the soil pH was >4.8. In the laboratory, embryonic survival was not significantly different between the four pH treatments. There was a significant influence of fungal infection on survival rates and ranked fungal infection was significantly different between the four pH treatments. The terrestrial environment at the three survey sites has provided sufficient protection from environmental elements to allow a large diversity of anurans to persist for long periods without access to permanent water. Management must consider the importance of the non-breeding habitat when defining buffer zones, restoration programs and conservation strategies to ensure that the complete set of ecological requirements for frog species are provided.

Hypothesised causes of the observed world-wide decline of amphibian populations are varied and in some cases contentious. Insufficient information relating to the autecology of many amphibian species can cause erroneous speculations regarding critical habitat requirements and hence management programs designed to enhance population viability are often unsuccessful. Most amphibians display a bi-phasic life history that involves occupation of an aquatic breeding habitat and terrestrial habitats that are used for foraging, and shelter from predation and environmental stress. However, the focus of most amphibian research is centred on the breeding habitat, with limited research being conducted into the terrestrial habitat requirements of most amphibian species. Barakula State Forest is a large continuous area of open woodland situated in the semi-arid region of Queensland. The forest supports 21 species of endemic anurans, many of which use ephemeral waterbodies for breeding. This area is, therefore, an ideal location to test the relative importance of terrestrial habitat on the distribution of a suite of frogs that display different morphological and physiological characteristics. On the landscape scale, the attributes of the terrestrial environment at three survey areas within Barakula were similar. However, at the patch scale, ground truthing showed there were considerable variations in vegetation and ground cover attributes within and between each survey site. Measured properties of the soil also tended to vary within and between sites. Soil texture ranged from sandy to heavy clay, soil pH ranged from 3.9 to 6.4 and soil moisture varied considerably. Agar models, used for testing evaporative moisture loss at different microhabitats, retained significantly higher levels of moisture when positioned in the buried microhabitat during summer, but in winter, models that were placed under leaf litter retained higher levels of moisture. Variations in levels of moisture loss at the five different microhabitats were evident within and between the survey sites. Despite a prolonged drought, 1844 native frogs representing 17 species were pitfall trapped. Members from the family Myobatrachidae comprised 94% of these captures, and burrowing species accounted for 75% of total captures. Species were not randomly distributed within or between the survey sites. Vegetation attributes and soil properties played a significant role in influencing the catch rates and traplines that supported similar vegetation and soil attributes also tended to catch similar species. Capture rates of six of the seven burrowing species were significantly influenced by soil properties. When given a choice of four different microhabitats created in enclosures, individuals from five species showed varying responses to habitat choice during night time activity. During daylight all species tended to avoid bare areas and burrowing species tended to burrow under some form of cover. Pseudophryne bibronii metamorphs showed a significant avoidance to soils with high pH. The number of Limnodynastes ornatus metamorphs was significantly and positively correlated with moisture levels surrounding a breeding area. Limnodynastes ornatus metamorphs tended to avoid areas that did not support some form of cover. Embryos from the terrestrial egg laying P. bibronii translocated to sites with varying levels of soil pH, suffered increased mortality where the soil pH was >4.8. In the laboratory, embryonic survival was not significantly different between the four pH treatments. There was a significant influence of fungal infection on survival rates and ranked fungal infection was significantly different between the four pH treatments. The terrestrial environment at the three survey sites has provided sufficient protection from environmental elements to allow a large diversity of anurans to persist for long periods without access to permanent water. Management must consider the importance of the non-breeding habitat when defining buffer zones, restoration programs and conservation strategies to ensure that the complete set of ecological requirements for frog species are provided.

The Kyoto Protocol (KP) came into force in February 2005, after the ratification by the Russian Federation, and became fully operative following the Marrakech Accords reached during the first COP/MOP in the same year. The agro-forestry activities (LULUCF sector) were highly controversial during the negotiations, but in the end the sink capacity of these ecosystems was recognized. The principle articles for these activities are the 3.3 (afforestation, reforestation and deforestation) and 3.4 (forest management), as well as 6 (joint implementation) and 12 (clean development mechanism) for the offset projects outside the national border. According to art. 3.3 of the KP, Parties included in Annex I shall report the net changes in greenhouse gas emissions by sources and removals by sinks resulting from afforestation, reforestation and deforestation activities (ARD); to assess these activities, all the Annex I Parties have to define methods to estimate land use change occurring after 31 December 1989 as well as identify methods to evaluate the carbon sink and source of these activities. However, all these countries have the possibility to elect some additional activities; Italy has chosen only forest management (FM) as additional human-induced activity to attain the goals of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In Italy the majority of areas subjected to forest plans satisfy the definition of forest management proposed by the Marrakech Accords. The aims of this work were: (i) to assess the carbon stock and sink of the forest in the Veneto Region (NE Italy), making specific surveys to complete the information available in the forest management plan, and (ii) to estimate the area subjected to ARD activities and propose a methodology to assess the carbon sink of these neo-forest formations, according to the Good Practice Guidance for Climate Change (IPCC). Study area Veneto Region, as reported by the National Forest Inventory (INFC), has about 397889 ha of forest, equivalent to about 21.6% of the total regional area, divided into: ? 395460 ha of forests, of which 24.4% are spruce, 20.9% are mixed broadleaves and 16.95 are beech; about 39% of these forests are coppices and about 83.6% are aged; ? 2090 ha are plantations; ? 339 ha are temporarily without tree cover. About 67% of the total forest surface is private and there are three different management levels: ? 95.65% of the total forest surface is submitted to general prescriptions; ? 4.3% is subjected to orientation prescriptions (besides the general prescriptions); ? 31% is submitted to detailed prescriptions (besides the general prescriptions). The INFC results show that about 91% of the forest area in the Veneto Region is available for harvesting, without any silvicultural limitation due to legal or physical causes. Forest management activities In this study we have considered all the forest compartments with a forest management plan; from the available data of the Veneto Region we have drawn some sample forest compartments using a stratified sample design; in each sample forest compartment we did a survey in order to obtain the complete diameter distribution. Applying appropriate allometric equations the carbon stock of the forest was assessed. We also collected core samples to assess the forest growth; comparing the new surveys and the data in the management plans we assessed the carbon sink of the sample forest compartments. Allometric equations Aboveground tree biomass (M) can be estimated using a power function in the form of , where a and b are the scaling coefficient and scaling exponent respectively and D the tree breast-height diameter. Both a and b are reported to vary with species, site and age. However, West et al. (1999) suggested that M should scale against Dbh with a universal exponent (b=8/3), because the scaling exponent would depend on an optimal tree architecture. Moreover a should be related with the wood density (?) (Enquist et al., 1999). A recent study by Pilli et al. (2006a) shows that the b exponent can be considered constant among three different stages (young, adult and mature) to better estimate the total aboveground biomass of a forest. With regard to the a coefficient, this should be correlated with the site and species considered; in particular, different studies hypothesize a correlation with the wood density (Niklas 1994, Ketterings et al. 2001, Zianis and Mencuccini 2004). In this research, we studied the a coefficient further, verifying the correlation with the wood basic density, considering for conifers an average value between branch and stem wood basic density. The average aboveground stock estimated for the high forest by allometric equation is 98.92 Mg C ha-1 with a standard deviation of 11.07, while for the coppices it is about 139 Mg C ha-1 (SD 21.49). The total aboveground carbon stock of the forest with management plan in the Veneto Region is about 12.9 million Mg C, while this increases to 39.1 million Mg C considering the whole forest surface area. The average carbon sink is 1.2 Mg C ha-1 yr-1 for the high forests and 2.6 Mg C ha-1 yr-1 for the coppices; the regional sink is 22798 Mg C yr-1 considering only the forest with management plan and 91588 Mg C yr-1 taking into account all the forests, which equals 3.3% of the Italian CAP. Afforestation, reforestation and deforestation activities The methodology proposed by different authors (Anfodillo et al. 2006b, Corona et al. 2007, De Natale et al. 2007) was used to assess the 1990 forest surface and to estimate the area subject to ARD activities. The approach was tested in two Comunità Montana (CM): Agordina and Valle del Boite, considered as pilot sites in the alpine area. Land-use change relative to the forest area was assessed by multitemporal classification of 1220 sampling points in the Agordina CM and 184 points in the Valle del Boite CM on orthocorrected aerial photos taken in 1991, 2000 and 2003. The forest area and land use changes were assessed. We then did a specific survey on the points with AR activities to estimate the carbon sink. Considering also the data available from the preliminary research (Pilli 2006) and the forest surface data of the INFC we assessed the total value of the ARD activities in the Veneto Region. Between 1991 and 2003, the total annual variation rate was 0.095% in the alpine area; the carbon sink of this area was 0.69 Mg C ha-1 yr-1. Considering the whole Veneto Region the increase in forested area is 1235 ha yr-1 with a sink of about 852.12 Mg C ha-1 yr-1.
Il Protocollo di Kyoto, in vigore dal febbraio 2005 dopo la ratifica della Federazione Russa, è divenuto completamente operativo a seguito degli accordi raggiunti nel corso della COP/MOP1 svoltasi a Marrakech nello stesso anno. Le attività agro-forestali di mitigazione sono state quelle più discusse nel corso degli anni di negoziazione, ma in conclusione la capacità di assorbire CO2 da parte di tali ecosistemi è stata formalmente riconosciuta. Gli articoli di riferimento inerenti tali attività sono il 3.3 (afforestazione, riforestazione e deforestazione) e il 3.4 (gestione forestale), nonché il 6 (joint implementation) e il 12 (clean development mechanism) per quanto riguarda la possibilità di sviluppare progetti agro-forestali anche al di fuori dei confini nazionali. L’articolo 3.3 del Protocollo di Kyoto (PK) impegna l’Italia e gli altri Paesi inseriti nell’Annesso I, a redigere un bilancio tra assorbimenti ed emissioni di gas ad effetto serra legati ad attività di afforestation e reforestation al netto della deforestation (ARD); ogni nazione deve innanzitutto stimare la variazione della superficie boscata occorsa a partire dal 1990 (anno di riferimento), per azione diretta dell’uomo e poi valutare i relativi assorbimenti o emissioni. Il PK consente inoltre ai Paesi dell’Annesso I di ricorrere ai crediti generati dalle attività legate alla gestione forestale come misura complementare per il raggiungimento degli obiettivi fissati in sede internazionale; le aree assestate presenti in Italia possono soddisfare, anche se con alcuni limiti, la definizione di gestione forestale proposta dagli Accordi di Marrakech. Gli obiettivi del presente studio sono (i) stimare lo stock ed il sink di carbonio delle foreste presenti nel territorio regionale, svolgendo rilievi in campo specifici per integrare le informazioni disponibili provenienti dai piani di assestamento; (ii) valutare l’entità dei fenomeni di variazione di superficie boscata attraverso una metodologia conforme alle indicazioni fornite dalle Good Practice Guidance dell’Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Area di studio La superficie forestale presente nella regione Veneto, secondo i dati riportati dall’Inventario Nazionale delle Foreste e dei Serbatoi di Carbonio (INFC), si estende su un’area di circa 397889 ha, corrispondenti a circa il 21.6% dell’intero territorio regionale; la superficie forestale appare così suddivisa: ? 395460 ha di boschi alti, di cui il 24.4% di abete rosso, il 20.9% di ostrieti e carpineti ed il 16.9% faggete; il 39% dei boschi alti sono gestiti a ceduo e di questi l’83.6% risultano allo stadio adulto o invecchiati; ? 2090 ha di impianti di arboricoltura da legno ? 339 ha temporaneamente privi di soprassuolo Il 67% di tale superficie boscata è di proprietà privata, mentre a livello di pianificazione il 95.6% è soggetto a pianificazione derivante da prescrizione di massima e di polizia forestale; tra le superficie sottoposte a tali prescrizioni alcune aree sono soggette a prescrizioni più specifiche, in particolare: ? pianificazione di orientamento: 4.3%; ? pianificazione di dettaglio: 31.0%. I risultati dell’Inventario Nazionale delle Foreste indica poi come in Veneto il 91% della superficie boscata risulti disponibile al prelievo, ovvero non soggetta a limitazioni significative delle attività selvicolturali dovute a norme, vincoli o cause fisiche. Gestione Forestale Le aree soggette a gestione forestale prese in esame nel presente studio sono rappresentate dalle formazioni assestate. Utilizzando la banca dati della regione Veneto relativa a tali aree si è provveduto all’estrazione, attraverso un campionamento stratificato, di un campione di particelle forestali su cui effettuare dei rilievi in modo da ottenere la seriazione diametrica completa, sia delle piante vive, sia delle piante morte; attraverso l’utilizzo di apposite equazioni allometriche è stato dunque stimato lo stock medio di carbonio per le diverse categorie forestali rilevate. Il prelievo di carotine di legno su piante campione ha anche permesso di stimare l’accrescimento medio dei boschi analizzati, confrontato con il sink medio di carbonio rilevato dalla comparazione tra i nuovi rilievi eseguiti ed i precedenti rilievi presenti nei Piani di Assestamento. Applicazione di equazioni allometriche Le Good Practice Guidance propongono, oltre all’impiego di fattori di espansione (BEF), anche quello di un approccio inventariale basato sull’applicazione di equazioni allometriche. La stima della biomassa totale epigea (M) mediante l’impiego di tali relazioni si basa sul rilievo di parametri dendrometrici facilmente misurabili, quali il diametro (Dbh) e l’altezza (H). Tra le numerose relazioni di tipo allometrico utilizzate in ambito forestale la power function è la più diffusa (Niklas 1994, Kaitaniemi 2004): M = a Dbhb , I valori dei parametri a e b vengono generalmente stimati attraverso il campionamento di un certo numero di alberi modello rappresentativi delle condizioni stazionali e delle specie presenti nell’area di indagine, quindi le relazioni allometriche normalmente disponibili in bibliografia risultano, in genere, applicabili localmente e limitatamente alle specie per le quali sono state sviluppate (Brown 2002). In alternativa a questo approccio, di tipo empirico, il valore di b può essere desunto attraverso delle relazioni funzionali che, in accordo con quanto indicato da Niklas (1994), permettano di prevedere il valore assunto da una variabile attraverso una funzione matematica basata su di una relazione causa – effetto. Su tale principio si basa in particolare il modello proposto da West et al. (1999), noto come WBE model. Secondo tale modello tutte le piante vascolari, indipendentemente dalla specie e dall’età, presentano la stessa struttura di base, come conseguenza del fatto che tutte sono sottoposte alle stesse pressioni evolutive. Il modello è stato sino ad oggi oggetto di numerosi studi che ne hanno in parte confermato la validità (Niklas 2004, Mcculloh and Sperry 2005, Meinzer et al. 2005, Anfodillo et al. 2006a, Coomes 2006, Niklas 2006, Pilli et al. 2006a, Coomes et al. 2007), evidenziando però anche alcune incongruità (Bokma 2004, Kozlowski and Konarzewski 2004, Zianis and Mencuccini 2004, Emile et al. 2008). In un recente studio (Pilli et al. 2006a) sono stati definiti valori più precisi di a e b, dividendo le piante arboree in tre stadi ontogenetici (giovane, adulto e maturo), ai fini di una valutazione più corretta della massa epigea totale di un popolamento arboreo. Gli Autori dimostrano come il valore medio stimato per il parametro b nella fase adulta (2.64 ± S.D. 0.30) sia statisticamente uguale al valore teorico previsto dal modello WBE (2.67). Per quanto riguarda la stima del coefficiente di scala esso dovrebbe risultare correlato con la specie ed il sito oggetto di indagine; diversi Autori (Niklas 1994, Ketterings et al. 2001, Zianis and Mencuccini 2004, Pilli et al. 2006a) hanno ipotizzato una relazione tra il valore assunto dal coefficiente a e la densità media del legno della specie esaminata (?). Partendo da questa ipotesi in questa ricerca è stato approfondito lo studio sul coefficiente a verificando la correlazione tra tale parametro e la densità basale delle singole specie, utilizzando in particolare per le conifere un valore di densità medio tra il fusto e i rami. I risultati delle elaborazioni indicano che lo stock medio epigeo per unità di superficie nelle fustaie è pari a 98.92 Mg C ha-1 con uno scarto quadratico medio di 11.07, mentre per i cedui in gran parte ormai in conversione è risultato pari a 138.91 Mg C ha-1 (SD 21.49). Lo stock epigeo complessivo afferente alle particelle assestate della regione Veneto risulta pari a 12.9 milioni Mg C, mentre, considerando l’intera superficie boscata regionale è stato stimato in 39.1 milioni Mg C; il sink medio di carbonio risulta essere 1.2 Mg C ha-1 anno-1 per le fustaie e 2.6 Mg C ha-1 anno-1 per i cedui, corrispondenti ad un sink regionale pari a 22798 Mg C anno-1, considerando le sole particelle con piano di assestamento e di 91588 Mg C anno-1 per l’intera superficie boscata regionale, pari al 3.3% del CAP nazionale. L’approccio, basato sull’impiego dei dati assestamentali disponibili, risulta conforme alle indicazioni delle Good Practice Guidance dell’IPCC. Stima della variazione di superficie boscata A tale scopo è stato condotto uno studio nell’ambito di due Comunità Montane: Agordina e Valle del Boite (BL), assunte come area rappresentative della fascia montana delle alpi orientali. Sono state confrontate le ortofoto relative al 2003 ed al 2000 con le foto aeree del 1991 georiferite. E’ stato predisposto un protocollo di campionamento multistadio ed è stata valutata la variazione di categoria d’uso del suolo relativa a 1220 punti campione per la comunità montana Agordina e 184 punti nella CM del Boite, disposti sulla superficie in esame; in seguito sono stati svolti opportuni rilievi sui punti soggetti ad afforestation/reforestation per la stima dell’assorbimento di carbonio relativa a tali boschi di neoformazione. Integrando poi quanto emerso in questo studio con i dati scaturiti nel corso dell’indagine preliminare (Pilli, 2006) ed i dati di superficie forestale dell’INFC è stato stimato il contributo complessivo delle attività ARD per l’intera regione Veneto. Viene presentata non solo una stima della variazione di superficie boscata, ma anche una prima proposta per la valutazione dell’assorbimento di carbonio da parte di queste formazione, formatesi dopo il 1990. Lo studio evidenzia l’incremento della superficie boscata in atto lungo la fascia montana delle alpi orientali con un tasso di espansione del bosco pari allo 0.095% anno-1 rispetto alla superficie boscata stimata al 1991, per il periodo e l’area presi in esame. L’assorbimento di carbonio di tale formazioni risulta essere pari a 0.69 Mg ha-1 anno-1, mentre per l’intera superficie regionale è stato stimato un incremento di circa 1235 ha anno-1 ed un assorbimento medio pari a 852.12 Mg C anno-1.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Bush encroachment in savannas leads to reduced diversity, productivity and profitability of rangelands. This holds important implications for the livestock and eco-tourism industries, as well as for subsistence ranchers in the South African semi-arid savannas, who depend on this vegetation type for economic and livelihood purposes. Soil moisture, nutrients, rue and herbivory are generally regarded as the principal factors determining vegetation structure and function within savannas. The factors and processes involved in the determination of the tree:grass ratio within savannas are, however, not clearly understood. We investigated the role of soil type and management strategy (cattle, game and communal grazing) in the determination of the presence and distribution of plant species in general, and on the presence and distribution of the encroaching tree species, Acacia mellifera, specifically. Both shortand long-term trends were investigated. The study area, the Kimberley Triangle, (Northern Cape Province, South Africa), was ideal for this kind of study because it has different management strategies practised on several soil types, and bush encroachment is a widespread phenomenon. Contrary to the belief that heavy livestock grazing is the main cause of increases in the tree:grass ratio, we found that soil type, through its effects on plant growth and on the presence and availability of soil moisture and nutrients, is more important in determining vegetation composition than management strategy. It was found that the various types of grazing management mainly influenced vegetation structure and function by affecting the competitive interactions between Ns-fixing woody species and non-Ns-fixing grasses. Of the soil factors affecting vegetation composition, soil texture was a good indicator of the physical conditions for plant growth in an area, and also of the presence and availability of soil moisture and nutrients. We found that sand and clay soils are relatively resistant to bush encroachment as compared to loamy-sand and -clay mixes. This is because woody growth is impaired in the first-mentioned habitats by soil texture, soil moisture regimes and heavy utilisation. In soils with combinations of loam, sand and clay, soil texture and moisture are not limiting to woody growth and if the repressive competitive effect of grasses on woody vegetation is removed, opportunities are created for recruitment of woody species and encroachment. Additionally, rockiness increases soil moisture infiltration. In the study area, woody species, and specifically A. mellifera, are associated with these areas. We suggest that in the study area, rocky areas are naturally encroached. This is in agreement with the patchdynamic approach to savanna vegetation dynamics. Because soil moisture is such an important factor in the determination of the tree:grass ratio in the study area, we further suggest that in above-average rainfall years, when soil moisture conditions are optimal for woody seed germination, establishment and growth, heavy grazing should be avoided, as it would provide the opportunity for encroachment. Keywords: Bush encroachment; N2-fixing species; game, cattle, communal grazing; soil texture; soil moisture; soil nutrients; Acacia mellifera; tree-grass competition.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Bosindringing in savanna gebiede het verlaagde diversiteit, produktiwiteit en winsgewendheid van natuurlike weivelde tot gevolg. Behalwe dat dit die Suid-Afrikaanse vee- en ekotoerisme bedrywe raak, is verskeie bestaansboerderye afhanklik van die plantegroei-tipe vir oorlewing. Grondvog, grondvoedingstowwe, vuur en beweiding word algemeen aanvaar as die belangrikste faktore wat die struktuur en funksie van savannas bepaal. Daar is egter nog nie duidelikheid oor die prosesse wat betrokke is in die bepaling van die boom-gras verhouding in savannas nie. In dié studie het ons ondersoek ingestel na die invloed van grond tipe en beweidingstrategieë (beweiding deur beeste, wild, of kommunale beweiding) op die algemene verspreiding van verskillende plant spesies, en ook op die van die indringer spesie, Acacia mellifera. Beide kort- en lang-termyn patrone is ondersoek. Die studiegebied, die Kimberley Driehoek in die Noord-Kaap, Suid-Afrika, was ideaal vir so 'n ondersoek omdat verskillende beweiding strategieë op verskeie grond-tipes beoefen word maar bosindringing steeds 'n algemene verskynsel in die gebied is. Ons bevinding was dat, ten spyte van die feit dat daar oor die algemeen geglo word dat swaar beweiding die hoof oorsaak van bosindringing is, grond-tipe belangriker is in die bepaling van die spesie-samestelling van 'n gebied. Dit is as gevolg van die feit dat grond-tipe die groei van plante beïnvloed deur die teenwoordigheid en beskikbaarheid van grondvog en -nutriënte te bepaal. Die verskillende beweidingstrategieë beïnvloed meerendeels die kompetatiewe interaksies tussen N2-bindende hout-agtige spesies teenoor nie-Nj-bindende gras-agtige spesies. Grond-tekstuur was 'n goeie aanduiding van die algemene toestande vir plantegroei en ook van die teenwoordigheid en beskikbaarheid van grondvog en -nutriënte. Ons het bevind dat sand en klei grond, relatief tot leem, sand en klei kombinasies, weerstandbiedend is teen bosindringing as gevolg van die tekstuur, water-regimes en swaar beweidings vlakke wat op die grond-tipes voorkom. Omdat grond-tekstuur en grondvog nie beperkend is op die leem-, sand- en klei-grond kombinasies nie, kan bosindringing maklik hier voorkom as die onderdrukkende effek wat grasse op houtagtige plantegroei het, deur swaar beweiding verwyder word. A. mellifera is ook oor die algemeen met klipperige gebiede geassosieer omdat klipperigheid lei tot verhoogde infiltrasie van grondvog. In die studie-gebied is klipperige areas dan ook van nature ingedring deur A. mellifera. Dit stem ooreen met die siening dat savannas bestaan uit "laslappe" van verskillende plantegroei (patch-dynamic approach). Dit was duidelik dat grondvog 'n belangrike bepalende faktor is in die bepaling van die boom-gras verhouding in die studiegebied. Ons stel dus voor dat in bo-gemiddelde reënval jare, swaar beweiding vermy moet word, omdat houtagtige saailinge gedurende die tydperke maklik kan ontkiem en vestig juis omdat grondvog dan nie beperkend is nie. Sleutelwoorde: Bosindringing; N2-bindende spesies; bees, wild, kommunale beweiding; grond tekstuur; grond-vog; grond-nutriënte; Acacia mellifera; boom-gras kompetisie.

AbstractFire is the great consumer of Africa’s vegetation cover, most markedly since the Late Miocene (10 Million years ago) due to the cooling and drying, and increased seasonality, of the climate. Dry winters presented ideal conditions for extensive fires, opening forests and expanding grassy savannas and their fire adapted trees and C4 grasses. This Chapter describes the complex geophysical and biological process and feedback mechanisms that govern different fire regimes and fire types, collectively termed pyromes. Fire regimes differ widely across Angola, with frequent, cool, small fires being typical of the miombo mesic savannas, rare, intense and large fires typical of arid savannas. Frequent, intense, large fires are typical of the extensive peneplains of the Lundas and Cuando Cubango. Responses of plants and animals to fires differ between biomes. Pyrophobic forest trees are fire-intolerant, but pyrophilic savanna trees have evolved many adaptive traits, such as thick bark, ligno-tubers, epicormic buds and self-pruning. The responses of humans to fire have evolved over millennia, being used as a tool in agriculture and hunting, but increasingly, with a frequency that is detrimental to ecosystem resilience and human wellbeing.

Introductory chapter ‘New Vistas in Natural Resources Law’ provides a synthesized overview of constituent diverse chapters exploring legal aspects in various sectors. Beginning with biodiversity conservation and cross-border perspectives in Canada and the United States, the chapters delve into specialized areas such as climate change mitigation through forest governance in the European Union, wildlife conflicts in Brazilian semi-arid regions, and human rights-based conservation initiatives. They extend to comparative studies of biopesticide and biofertilizer regulations in India, Canada, and Ukraine, emphasizing sustainable agricultural practices. Furthermore, they examine the United States National Park System, policy-making in Mediterranean and Eurasian pastoral areas, and legal definitions of gemological objects in Ukraine. Through interdisciplinary analyses, these chapters dissect intricate legal frameworks, propose reforms, and address challenges in diverse fields such as forestry, agriculture, conservation, rangelands, and mining. They advocate for comprehensive approaches to environmental and resource management, stressing the importance of integrating Indigenous knowledge, community participation, and human rights principles. Overall, the composition of the book encapsulates a rich tapestry of legal research spanning global and regional contexts, highlighting the complexities and opportunities in navigating legal landscapes to promote sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and equitable resource governance.

The link between precipitation, drought indices, and NDVI is discussed in this paper. The data were processed on the example of the extreme eastern region of GeorgiaKakheti for the period 2016-2020. The study area has landscapes of natural (mixed and deciduous forests) and agriculture (vineyards, orchards, cereals, and vegetables). The NDVI was generated using Sentinel 2 images with a 10 m pixel resolution, and the average monthly NDVI was derived using Arc map 10.8. Drought indices (SPI and SPEI) were calculated according to the daily climate data from five rain gauges located in the study area in program R. Several trends emerged from the results. The correlation between NDVI, precipitation and drought indices vary according to natural and agricultural landscapes. A relatively low correlation was observed between the average monthly NDVI, precipitation and drought indices in the case of forests in Lagodekhi. These areas are relatively humid locations in Kakheti. In the southeast of the region, where arid forests are represented, NDVI was found to be more sensitive to precipitation and, consequently, drought indices. However, in contrast to the previously described locations, SPI and SPEI differed significantly from each other. In the case of agriculture landscapes, this connection is more complex and depends on the crop type and the vegetation period.

Electricity production has the greatest impact on socio-economic development in Romania. However, it is also responsible for the cumulative (often negative) environmental effects. In order to meet the energy demand, while achieving the Energy and Climate Change goals, Renewable Energy has become an important alternative, especially during 2010-2013 period when substantial funding has been allocated. Renewable energy sources available in Romania (hydro, solar, geothermal, wind and biomass) have the capacity to reduce greenhouse gases and improve population health by producing energy without using fossil fuels. The current study focuses on the examination of environmental and socio-economic impact of photovoltaic (PV) energy in the West Development Region (WDR). The area is located in the western part of Romania, covering 32,028 km2 (13.4% of the country's surface) and gathering 1,828 million inhabitants (9.4% of the country's population). It includes four counties: Timiș, Arad, Caraş-Severin and Hunedoara. For the current study, 35 photovoltaic parks were identified, mapped and analysed, based on which several indicators were computed in order to highlight the environmental and socio-economic consequences: share of PV parks/land use category/main soil type; distance to forests, waters, Natura 2000; no. of jobs created during the construction/operation of the PV parks; the value of PV parks investment; the impact on the local budget. The total analyzed area covers 177.76 ha.

In the coming decades, the Great Lakes region is projected to become one of the most desirable places to live in North America. While the devastating ecological effects of climate change will make arid, tropical, and coastal zones uninhabitable, the cities by the lakes are considered by some to be climate havens—areas which are expected to remain relatively comfortable. They are far enough north to maintain tolerable summer temperatures, are surrounded by the resources of abundant boreal forests, and will be insulated from the worst effects of drought by a five-lake reserve that contains 20% of the world’s surface fresh water. The arrival of climate migrants will carry significant pressure to accommodate more people, as well as a renewed possibility of land dispossession and displacement for the many indigenous communities that call the area home. If the Great Lakes can expect many millions of new arrivals in this century, what kind of urban development will this bring? Are there other waysto imagine the region’s future beyond the extractive infrastructure and carbon-intensive architecture that are typically thought to be prerequisites for urbanization?This paper proposes that the lighter methods of construction practiced by native people in the area for millennia are ideal alternatives. For centuries prior to colonization and industrialization, the lands around the lakes were already home to a thriving Anishinaabe culture, which continues to build in ways better suited to the environment than conventional modernism. By following the models of ephemeral dwelling and impermanent urbanism that characterized indigenous practices of land use here for thousands of years, a more ecologically responsible and ethical model for development in the region might be possible.

The researchers analysed spatial land use data for the past two decades for four counties that are primarily arid and semiarid lands (ASAL): Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet and Narok. Based on various land-use scenarios, they projected possible outcomes for 2050 with an eye to achieving more than 10% forest cover in these counties.

The trees, developed green spaces, and natural areas within the City of Austin’s 400,882 acres will face direct and indirect impacts from a changing climate over the 21st century. This assessment evaluates the vulnerability of urban trees and natural and developed landscapes within the City Austin to a range of future climates. We synthesized and summarized information on the contemporary landscape, provided information on past climate trends, and illustrated a range of projected future climates. We used this information to inform models of habitat suitability for trees native to the area. Projected shifts in plant hardiness and heat zones were used to understand how less common native species, nonnative species, and cultivars may tolerate future conditions. We also assessed the adaptability of planted and naturally occurring trees to stressors that may not be accounted for in habitat suitability models such as drought, flooding, wind damage, and air pollution. The summary of the contemporary landscape identifies major stressors currently threatening trees and forests in Austin. Major current threats to the region’s urban forest include invasive species, pests and disease, and development. Austin has been warming at a rate of about 0.4°F per decade since measurements began in 1938 and temperature is expected to increase by 5 to 10°F by the end of this century compared to the most recent 30-year average. Both increases in heavy rain events and severe droughts are projected for the future, and the overall balance of precipitation and temperature may shift Austin’s climate to be more similar to the arid Southwest. Species distribution modeling of native trees suggests that suitable habitat may decrease for 14 primarily northern species, and increase for four more southern species. An analysis of tree species vulnerability that combines model projections, shifts in hardiness and heat zones, and adaptive capacity showed that only 3% of the trees estimated to be present in Austin based on the most recent Urban FIA estimate were considered to have low vulnerability in developed areas. Using a panel of local experts, we also assessed the vulnerability of developed and natural areas. All areas were rated as having moderate to moderate-high vulnerability, but the underlying factors driving that vulnerability differed by natural community and between East and West Austin. These projected changes in climate and their associated impacts and vulnerabilities will have important implications for urban forest management, including the planting and maintenance of street and park trees, management of natural areas, and long-term planning.