Utilisation and Management Changes in South Kyrgyzstan's Mountain Forests

Using political ecology as its conceptual framework,this paper focuses on the changes in forest utilisation and management of South Kyrgyzstan’s walnut-fruit forests over the last century. The aim of this study on human-environment interactions is to investigate the relationship between actors on the one side,their interests and demands,and the forests and forested lands on the other. Forest resource utilisation and management — and even the recognition of different forest products as resources — are connected with political and socio-economic conditions that change with time. The walnut-fruit forests of South Kyrgyzstan are unique,characterised by high biodiversity and a multiplicity of usable products;and they have been utilised for a long time. Centralised and formal management of the forests started with the Russian occupation and was strengthened under Soviet rule,when the region became a part of the USSR. During this era,a state forest administration that was structured from Moscow all the way down to the local level drew up detailed plans and developed procedures for utilising the different forest products. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union,the socio-political and economic frame conditions have changed significantly,which has brought not only the sweeping changes in the managing institutions,but also the access rights and interests in the forest resources. At present,the region is suffering from a high unemployment rate,which has resulted in the forests’ gaining considerable importance in the livelihood strategies of the local population. Political and economic liberalization,increased communication and trans-regional exchange relations have opened the door for international companies and agents interested in the valuable forest products. Today,walnut wood and burls,walnuts,wild apples and mushrooms are all exported to various countries in the world. Scientists and members of various international organisations stress the ecological value of the forests and are trying to establish nature conservation areas. Nevertheless,it is to fear that a multiplicity of interrelated factors — the present transformation and globalization processes,the appearance of new actors,the local population’s insecure economic situation and the erosion of managing institutions — are all leading to an intensified and unregulated exploitation of the forests,resulting in their degradation.

Hydrological Services by Mountain Ecosystems in Qilian Mountain of China: A Review

Hydrological service is a hot issue in the current researches of ecosystem service, particularly in the upper reaches of mountain rivers in dry land areas, where the Qilian Mountain is a representative one. The Qilian Mountain, where forest, shrubland and grassland consist of its main ecosystems, can provide fresh water and many other ecosystem services, through a series of eco-hydrological process such as precipitation interception, soil water storage, and fresh water provision. Thus, monitoring water regulation and assessing the hydrological service of the Qilian Mountain are meaningful and helpful for the healthy development of the lower reaches of arid and semi-arid areas. In recent 10 years, hydrological services have been widely researched in terms of scale and landscape pattern, including water conservation, hydrological responses to afforestation and their ecological effects. This study, after analyzing lots of current models and applications of geographical information system（GIS） in hydrological services, gave a scientific and reasonable evaluation of mountain ecosystem in eco-hydrological services, by employing the combination of international forefronts and contentious issues into the Qilian Mountain. Assessments of hydrological services at regional or larger scales are limited compared with studies within watershed scale in the Qilian Mountain. In our evaluation results of forest ecosystems, it is concluded that long-term observation and dynamic monitoring of different types of ecosystem are indispensable, and the hydrological services and the potential variation in water supplement on regional and large scales should be central issues in the future research.v

Soil Microbial Activity and Functional Diversity in Primeval Beech Forests

Virgin forests are unique ecosystems, which can be used as etalon for basic biocoenotic investigation. Soil microorganisms are very sensitive reagents on influence of biotical factors, and at the same time are the active producers of phytotoxic and phytostimulating exometabolites. Studies of soil microbiota were conducted in virgin beech forests of Shyrokoluzhansky massif of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve. It was found the ratio and the number of different ecological-trophic groups of soil microorganisms changes with altitude. So the number of ammonificators with increasing of altitude above sea level was reduced. The soil at altitude of 1,100 meters above sea level was characterized by minimum content of organotrophes -1.22 × 10^6 （CFU-colony forming units/lg.a.d.s.）. At the altitude of 500 meters content of ammonificators increased at six times and was 7.07 ×10^6 CFU/lg.a.d.s., which indicates to accumulation of the soil organic matter. Similar changes occurred with the number of bacteria which are using mineral forms of nitrogen for their nutrition. Their maximum quantity （4.32 × 10^6 CFU/lg.a.d.s.） was in the soil of biotope disposed at altitude of 500 meters above sea level. Fluctuations in the number of soil micromycetes of virgin forest ecosystems have not been as significant as the bacterial microbiota （within 17 ×10^3-28 × 10^3 CFU/lg.a.d.s.）. Among a wide spectrum of bacterial microbiota were isolated strains with high phytostimulating action.

Integrated Analysis of the Trees and Associated UnderCanopy Species in a Subalpine Forest of Western Himalaya,Uttarakhand, India

Subalpine forests are known as outstanding habitats due to co-existence of both temperate and alpine vegetation and are classic example of ecotonal zones. Limited but diverse physiognomy of trees inhabiting in subalpine forest results in variability within under-canopy habitat conditions. Studies were undertaken to assess population status, habitat preference and interferences to the trees and associated under-canopy herbs in a subalpine forest of western Himalaya. A total of lo woody and 23 under-canopy herbs were recorded in the selected subalpine forest area. At each stand, the number of tree species and under-canopy herbs ranged from 2 to 4 and 8 to lo respectively. Abies spectabilis, Acer caesium, Quercus floribunda, Q. semecarpifolia and Rhododendron arboreum were key tree species in this area. The density of main woody species was 280 to 119o individuals ha-1 at different stands. Herbaceous plants with rosette and clump growth habits were observed to have higher values for total basal cover and importance value index. Presence of some under- canopy herbs like; Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Malaxis muscifera, Picrorhiza kurrooa, Polygonatum cirrhifolium habitats also and Skimmia laureola showed that they are in the habitat specific specific. However, the presence of Frageria nubicola and Viola sp. was common in the selected stands. Felling of trees for timber, construction of temporary huts, fuel wood and lopping for fodder were main interferences for trees. On the other hand, trampling driven damage due to grazing, habitats degradation and overexploitation were observed key threats for under-canopy herbs. Integrated analysis including population studies, habitats preference and interferences to the trees and under-canopy herbs in this sensitive and important ecosystem will be useful for determining the conservation plans and ecosystem management.

中山陵园景区添新绿

景区建设拉近了山林生态与市民的距离，更多的城里人有了经常享用“天然氧吧”

Leaf litter decomposition characteristics and controlling factors across two contrasting forest types

Plant leaf litter decomposition provides a source of energy and nutrients in forest ecosystems.In addition to traditional environmental factors,the degradation process of litter is also affected by plant functional traits and litter quality.However,at the community level,it is still unclear whether the relative importance of plant traits and litter quality on the litter decomposition rate is consistent.A year-long mixed leaf litter decomposition experiment in a similar environment was implemented by using the litterbag method in seven typical forest types in Dongling Mountain,Beijing,North China,including six monodominant communities dominated by Juglans mandshurica,Populus cathayana,Betula dahurica,Betula platyphylla,Pinus tabuliformis and Larix gmelinii var.principis-rupprechtii and one codominant community dominated by Fraxinus rhynchophylla,Quercus mongolica and Tilia mongolica.The results showed that there were considerable differences in the litter decomposition rate(k-rate)among the different forest types.The community weighted mean(CWM)traits of green leaves and litter quality explained 35.60%and 9.05%of the k-rate variations,respectively,and the interpretation rate of their interaction was 23.37%,indicating that the CWM traits and their interaction with litter quality are the main factors affecting the k-rate variations.In the recommended daily allowance,leaf nitrogen content,leaf dry matter content,leaf tannin content and specific leaf area were the main factors affecting the k-rate variations.Therefore,we suggest that future studies should focus on the effects of the CWM traits of green leaves on litter decomposition at the community level.