Principles for assessing forest management risks associated with natural hazards

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-198
Author(s):  
Elena S. VOLKOVA ◽  
Mariya A. MEL'NIK ◽  
Sergei A. MEL'NIK

Subject. This article examines the risks associated with the loss of ecological and resource potential of forests, and those affecting timber harvesting activities. Objectives. The article aims to develop and test methodological approaches and principles for assessing risks to certain forest management types associated with natural hazards. Methods. For the study, we used the methods of general scientific research, statistical, comparative, logical, and geoinformation analyses. Results. The article presents a developed method of calculating the environmental and economic damage to the fir forests of Western Siberia as a result of the invasion of bark beetles, Polygraphus proximus Blandford. It describes the main natural factors that disrupt the operation of special equipment and the conditions for harvested wood transportation and assesses the most likely risks of logging activities in winter. The testing of a comprehensive assessment of forest risks at the regional level shows the region's area differences in terms of risk both for individual natural hazard factors and in their totality. Conclusions. Forest management risk analysis can be successfully implemented through using methods based on general scientific principles. Specially designed approaches should be used to address narrowly focused industry challenges.

2018 ◽  
pp. 54-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Basnyat ◽  
T. Treue ◽  
R. K. Pokharel

Following a case study approach, this paper explains how scientific forest management plans were developed and implemented in community forests of a mid-hill district in Nepal. Field observations were carried over a period of two years (December 2014 to December 2016) in two community forests. User group members, forest officials, forest technicians and executive committee members were consulted. The plans were prepared simply by compiling the administrative requirements where management prescriptions were defined either based on forest technicians’ knowledge or taken directly from the guidelines with little reference to the actual site quality, management objectives, and forest stand conditions. Apart from harvesting of trees, users hardly implemented the plans’ silvicultural prescriptions and forest restoration activities. Moreover, forest officials administratively reduced the number of trees that users could harvest to around half of what the plans allow. Accordingly, forest user groups face a paradoxical forest administration that promotes timber harvesting according to so-called scientific principles, which it then brushes aside to satisfy bureaucratic demands. The study concludes that the concept of scientific forestry is merely used as a “brand” or a seemingly sound “narrative” in community forestry, while it is of little practical relevance because administrative decisions are more powerful in guiding forest management decisions. Hence, the study suggests a replacement of the current schizophrenic mix of so-called “scientific forest management” and sweeping administrative orders with adaptive management practices in community forests. Banko JanakariA Journal of Forestry Information for Nepal Special Issue No. 4, 2018, Page : 54-64


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 860-884
Author(s):  
V.G. Kogdenko ◽  
A.A. Sanzharov

Subject. The article deals with the analysis of suppliers in the public procurement system based on reasonable prequalification parameters. Objectives. The aim is to test the hypothesis about strong reputation characteristics of the winners in the public procurement system and develop a methodology for assessing the reputation of suppliers for prequalification purposes. Methods. We employ general scientific principles and methods of research, like abstraction, generalization of approaches used by domestic and foreign authors for prequalification and assessment of reputation of public procurement participants. Results. To test the hypothesis, we calculated four groups of indicators on corporate, financial, market, and social components of reputation. The methodology was tested on the data obtained from SPARK-Interfax and SPARK-Marketing information resources. Conclusions. The study revealed that not all reputational characteristics of public procurement winners can be regarded as high level. In terms of the corporate component, it is the low level of share capital, indicating the mistrust on the part of owners and their reluctance to invest in the business, and the low percentage of non-current assets. In terms of the market component, it is a low sales growth rate, as well as low return on sales. As to the financial component, it is a low capitalization of winners, low share of long-term debt capital and low credit limit. With respect to the social component, it is a below-average tax burden.


2020 ◽  
Vol 90 ◽  
pp. 74-84
Author(s):  
A. A. Tanygina ◽  
◽  
R. V. Khalikov ◽  

Introduction. The article provides an algorithm for assessing the damage from a fire on the territory of gas compressor stations using a multifactor model of scenarios for the development of a fire. The causes of fires at the facilities of gas compressor stations are analyzed on the basis of statistical data. The established algorithm was verified by calculating the damage from fires, and the most dangerous causes of fires on the territory of gas compressor stations were established by the values of the frequency of emergency ruptures. The purpose of the study is establishing an algorithm for assessing fire damage based on a multivariate analysis of scenarios for the development of fires at gas compressor stations. Research methods. To obtain the results, general scientific and special methods of scientific knowledge were used. These are analysis, generalization, economic analysis, analysis of empirical data, which were based on the general provisions of the theory of analysis and systems analysis. The results of the study. A multivariate analysis of scenarios for the development of fires on the territory of gas compressor stations is carried out. An algorithm is found for assessing fire damage based on a multivariate analysis of scenarios for the development of fires at gas compressor stations. Conclusion. Using the results of the analysis of scenarios of fire development on the territory of gas compressor stations and calculations of indicators of economic damage from fires at these facilities, it is possible to draw up an algorithm for assessing fire damage on the territory of gas compressor stations. Key words: efficiency, analysis, statistics, fire, gas compressor stations, state fire control authorities, damage calculation.


1999 ◽  
Vol 150 (12) ◽  
pp. 484-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolf Hockenjos

Concepts of near-natural forestry are in great demand these days. Most German forest administrations and private forest enterprises attach great importance to being as «near-natural» as possible. This should allow them to make the most of biological rationalisation. The concept of near-natural forestry is widely accepted, especially by conservationists. However, it is much too early to analyse how successful near-natural forestry has been to date, and therefore to decide whether an era of genuine near-natural forest management has really begun. Despite wide-spread recognition, near-natural forestry is jeopardised by mechanised timber harvesting, and particularly by the large-timber harvester. The risk is that machines, which are currently just one element of the timber harvest will gain in importance and gradually become the decisive element. The forest would then be forced to meet the needs of machinery, not the other way round. Forests would consequently become so inhospitable that they would bear no resemblance to the sylvan image conjured up by potential visitors. This could mean taking a huge step backwards: from a near-natural forest to a forest dominated by machinery. The model of multipurpose forest management would become less viable, and the forest would become divided into areas for production, and separate areas for recreation and ecology. The consequences of technical intervention need to be carefully considered, if near-natural forestry is not to become a thing of the past.


2012 ◽  
Vol 163 (12) ◽  
pp. 481-492
Author(s):  
Andreas Rigling ◽  
Ché Elkin ◽  
Matthias Dobbertin ◽  
Britta Eilmann ◽  
Arnaud Giuggiola ◽  
...  

Forest and climate change in the inner-Alpine dry region of Visp Over the past decades, observed increases in temperature have been particularly pronounced in mountain regions. If this trend should continue in the 21st Century, frequency and intensity of droughts will increase, and will pose major challenges for forest management. Under current conditions drought-related tree mortality is already an important factor of forest ecosystems in dry inner-Alpine valleys. Here we assess the sensitivity of forest ecosystems to climate change and evaluate alternative forest management strategies in the Visp region. We integrate data from forest monitoring plots, field experiments and dynamic forests models to evaluate how the forest ecosystem services timber production, protection against natural hazards, carbon storage and biodiver-sity will be impacted. Our results suggest that at dry low elevation sites the drought tolerance of native tree species will be exceeded so that in the longer term a transition to more drought-adapted species should be considered. At medium elevations, drought and insect disturbances as by bark beetles are projected to be important for forest development, while at high elevations forests are projected to expand and grow better. All of the ecosystem services that we considered are projected to be impacted by changing forest conditions, with the specific impacts often being elevation-dependent. In the medium term, forest management that aims to increase the resilience of forests to drought can help maintain forest ecosystem services temporarily. However, our results suggest that relatively rigid management interventions are required to achieve significant effects. By using a combination of environmental monitoring, field experiments and modeling, we are able to gain insight into how forest ecosystem, and the services they provide, will respond to future changes.


2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 985-997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M Schuler

Long-term silvicultural trials contribute to sustainable forest management by providing a better scientific understanding of how forest ecosystems respond to periodic timber harvesting. In this study, species composition, diversity, and net periodic growth of tree species in a mixed mesophytic forest in the central Appalachians were evaluated after about a half century of management. Three partial cutting practices on 18 research compartments and on 3 unmanaged reference compartments were evaluated (1951–2001) on 280 ha. Single-tree selection, diameter-limit harvesting, and timber harvesting in 0.162-ha patches were assessed on three northern red oak site index50 (SI) classes: 24, 21, and 18. Shannon–Weiner's diversity index (H′) declined from the first (1951–1959) to last (1987–2001) measurements and was related to both SI (P = 0.004) and treatment (P = 0.009). Sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) and red maple (Acer rubrum L.) were the two most abundant species in recent years (1987–2001); in contrast, in initial inventories (1951–1959), northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) and chestnut oak (Quercus prinus L.) were most abundant. Net periodic annual increment (PAI) of merchantable trees (DBH ≥12.7 cm) was related to both SI (P = 0.004) and treatment (P = 0.003). Mean PAI ranged from 4.6 m3·ha–1·year–1 for single-tree selection to 2.5 m3·ha–1·year–1 for unmanaged reference areas across all SI classes. The decline of oak species suggests that only intensive and specific forest management focused on maintaining oak species can obtain historical levels of diversity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-244
Author(s):  
Mikhailo KOBCHENKO

Introduction. The purpose of this article is to define methodological grounds of assessment of agricultural land using efficiency. The article is devoted to definition of the indicators system of land using efficiency. Methods of research. The solution of the tasks in the article is carried out with the help of such scientific and special research methods as: analysis and synthesis, systematization and generalization, the dialectical approach. Results. The structural balance between cost of land and production resources has been investigated, which leads to the need of many alternatives for the purpose and use of the respective territories on the basis of the modern system of land using efficiency assessment when determining the benefits of land resources using for agricultural production. Originality. It has been proved that to create and enforce a uniform indicators system of land using efficiency is necessary to determine all the factors that affect land use, to reflect the degree and type of each factor influence using the indicators of efficiency of the land use. Indicators of economic efficiency of land using and the intensity of land use are systemized. Practical importance. The methodical approach of agricultural lands using evaluation in the following areas has been justifed in the article: completeness of land use, rational land use, the level of land use intensity, efficient land use. The methodical approach has been presented to the calculation of potential losses from specific land uses in specific circumstances. It is proposed to assess the land using efficiency on the basis of indicators calculations of environmental and economic damage. Basic scientific principles can be used in the practice of agricultural enterprises. Keywords: management, methodological bases, evaluation, efficiency, and agricultural land use.


Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Russell ◽  
Stephanie Patton ◽  
David Wilson ◽  
Grant Domke ◽  
Katie Frerker

The amount of biomass stored in forest ecosystems is a result of past natural disturbances, forest management activities, and current structure and composition such as age class distributions. Although natural disturbances are projected to increase in their frequency and severity on a global scale in the future, forest management and timber harvesting decisions continue to be made at local scales, e.g., the ownership or stand level. This study simulated potential changes in natural disturbance regimes and their interaction with timber harvest goals across the Superior National Forest (SNF) in northeastern Minnesota, USA. Forest biomass stocks and stock changes were simulated for 120 years under three natural disturbance and four harvest scenarios. A volume control approach was used to estimate biomass availability across the SNF and a smaller project area within the SNF (Jeanette Project Area; JPA). Results indicate that under current harvest rates and assuming disturbances were twice that of normal levels resulted in reductions of 2.62 to 10.38% of forest biomass across the four primary forest types in the SNF and JPA, respectively. Under this scenario, total biomass stocks remained consistent after 50 years at current and 50% disturbance rates, but biomass continued to decrease under a 200%-disturbance scenario through 120 years. In comparison, scenarios that assumed both harvest and disturbance were twice that of normal levels and resulted in reductions ranging from 14.18 to 29.85% of forest biomass. These results suggest that both natural disturbances and timber harvesting should be considered to understand their impacts to future forest structure and composition. The implications from simulations like these can provide managers with strategic approaches to determine the economic and ecological outcomes associated with timber harvesting and disturbances.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-356
Author(s):  
Vyacheslav BABURIN ◽  
◽  
Svetlana BADINA ◽  

The article proposes a methodological approach to potential damage from natural hazards forecasting in case of large-scale investment projects realization in ski tourism planning, as well as to assessing changes in the vulnerability of the territory in which these projects will be implemented. The method was verified on the data of the “Northern Caucasus Resorts” tourist cluster. The study purpose is the creation and verification of a methodology for socio-economic damage predicting in limit values and vulnerability changing in the regions of the “North Caucasus Resorts” tourist cluster objects localization for the long term. Research methods – statistical (a structural approach based on the identification of common structural patterns of several sets). The lack of statistical information on significant parameters for forecasting determine necessitates of using the various logically non-contradictory revaluations based on the identified structural similarities for the calculation of their values within the planning horizon. The study results and main conclusions – in case of the “North Caucasus Resorts” tourist cluster creation the number of people potentially located in avalanche and mudflow danger areas will significantly increase in all of its facilities localization municipalities, which indicate an increase in the individual risk of death level for this territory. The present population in the ski season in some of the most remote and underdeveloped areas can increase up to 30 times. The increment in the value of the fixed assets for the municipalities under consideration will be from two to 90 times, potential damages in limit values will reach tens of billions rubles.


2021 ◽  
pp. 54-61
Author(s):  
S. G. Trifonov ◽  
◽  
K. V. Trifonova

Currently, the Ombudsman is a traditional component of democratic legal systems. The creation of such a body, as noted in the Council of Europe Resolution «On the role of commissioners/ombudsmen in the protection of citizens’ rights», which would try to ensure justice, respect for the foundations of the rule of law and at the same time be able to establish a dialogue with citizens, is necessary in many States. The purpose and objectives of this article are to consider the issues of the emergence and development of the constitutional-legal institution as an Ombudsman in General, and the evolution of this institution, in which there were various models and types of ombudsmen. It is also necessary to describe the existing models of the Ombudsman applied in different States. The article examines the functional specialization of ombudsmen, which occurs through the introduction of ombudsmen in certain areas of public relations or to protect the rights and interests of the most legally vulnerable categories and groups of the population, and specifically the emergence of the institution of migration ombudsmen. The methodology of the article is based on a set of philosophical and worldview, General scientific principles and approaches and special scientific methods of cognition of constitutional and legal phenomena. When writing, a number of General scientific and special scientific methods were used, including: system and structural-functional methods, sociological method, formal-logical method, comparative-legal method. As a result of the research, we can conclude that the essential characteristics of the Ombudsman institution have changed from the institution of supervision of the administration and the court to the most important human rights mechanism that it represents at the present stage. Within the framework of the functioning of the institution of the Ombudsman, different models have been identified in different States and specialized ombudsmen have appeared, including those dealing with the protection of the legal rights and interests of migrant workers.


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