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| RIJEÈ UREDNIŠTVA | ||
| Uredništvo HŠD | 113 | |
| Deforestation and devaluation of forests in Croatia leads to the collapse of forest sustainability, forest ecosystem services, and their multifunctional role |  
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| According to the current Forest Act, deforestation is the felling of all or almost all trees and/or their shrubby forms in a forest for the purpose of implementing spatial plans or constructing forest infrastructure. Deforestation can be permitted in the manner prescribed by law: for the construction of forest infrastructure, if the forest or forest land needs to be repurposed for the interests of the Republic of Croatia, if required for national security and defense, for the implementation of spatial development interventions in accordance with spatial planning documents, and for the construction of buildings that, according to the spatial plan or specific regulations, may be built outside construction zones. With the latest amendments to the Forest Act in March 2024, deforestation was additionally allowed for the purpose of preserving habitat types and habitats of species of interest to the European Union in degraded stands of garrigue and scrub. During the public consultation and at the session of the Committee on Agriculture of the Croatian Parliament, the Croatian Forestry Society warned about the illogicality and danger of such a provision. Garrigue and scrub are degraded forms that originated from forests which historically grew in those habitats. They are living proof that forests are the original vegetation on those sites. Their deforestation only increases barren areas of forest land. Our objection was not accepted, and thus we reached a historical absurdity. For the first time in the 260-year history of Croatian forestry, the Forest Act enables the clearing of degraded forest forms, prevents forest progression, and facilitates the creation and maintenance of barren areas on forest land. The historical absurdities do not end there, as the devaluation of forests followed. In 2019, the relevant Ministry passed a decision to reduce the value coefficient used to determine compensation for certain silvicultural forms of forest stands. The decision reduced the compensation for the diminished forest ecosystem services during the exclusion of forests and forest land owned by the Republic of Croatia from the forest management area. For thickets, scrub, maquis, and garrigue, the value coefficient was reduced by 90%; for forest cultures and plantations, by 50%; and for seed-origin forests on Mediterranean karst and coppices, by 30%. For high silvicultural forms—namely, seed-origin forests in continental areas—the value coefficient was not changed at that time. Finally, in March 2025, the month when we celebrate the International Day of Forests, the Ministry of Agriculture adopted an amendment to the regulation on determining compensation for forests and forest land. This amendment reduced the compensation by 99% in cases of donating property to local and regional self-government units and to state administration bodies for the purpose of exclusion from the forest management area of the Republic of Croatia. This applies to the entire compensation, which includes parts for the forest (timber stock), forest land, and for the reduction of forest ecosystem services. This effectively legalized the repurposing of forests for just 1% of the total compensation amount. It should be remembered that the entire concept of compensation for forests, forest land, and the reduction of forest ecosystem services was designed so that everyone would be aware of their great value, multifunctional role, and the need to compensate for lost forest areas. This especially applied to degraded forests that do not have valuable timber stock but are proven to have high public benefit value. The compensation paid was intended to allow the state, through the public company of special interest—Croatian Forests Ltd.—to establish a new forest on the same or larger area and to restore forests after fires, thereby maintaining the fundamental principle of forest sustainability. This approach, and the reduction of financial compensation, practically makes this impossible. The adoption of provisions that expand the possibilities for deforestation and devaluation of forests directly undermines the principles of sustainability, forest ecosystem services, and their multifunctional role. Forest ecosystem services are reflected in soil protection from erosion, torrents, and floods, regulation of the water regime and hydro-energy system, improvement of soil fertility and agricultural production, positive influence on the climate, protection and enhancement of the human environment, oxygen production, air purification, landscape beautification, creation of special conditions for rest and recreation, development of tourism and hunting, and preservation of biodiversity and the gene pool. It seems that only foresters are aware of this. Editorial Board |
authors: Uredništvo HŠD | |
| IZVORNI ZNANSTVENI ÈLANCI | ||
| Damir Drvodeliæ, Ela Španjol, Marko Vukoviæ, Tomislav Jemriæ | https://doi.org/10.31298/sl.149.3-4.1 |
115 |
| Medlar (Mespilus germanica L.) fruit morphology depending on fruit size |
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| The present study aims to investigate the effects of fruit size of medlar (Mespilus germanica L.) on fruit and seed morphology. Medlar fruits were harvested from the crowns of ten trees near Ðulovac, Croatia, in autumn 2022 and 2023 at commercial maturity. Before morphological analysis, the fruits were divided into three groups according to their weight: small (< 14g), medium-sized (14 – 17g) and large (> 17g). Fruit size, year and the interaction between the fruit size and year had a significant influence (P < 0.01) on fruit weight, fruit length, fruit width, geometric mean diameter, sphericity and fruit shape index. Fruit length and width showed a significant correlation with fruit weight in almost all cases, with the only exception of the medium-sized fruit in 2022 for fruit length. Fruit sphericity was positively correlated with fruit width and negatively correlated with fruit length and fruit shape index. The number of filled seeds per fruit correlated only slightly or not at all with fruit weight, fruit length, fruit width, fruit shape index and the geometric mean diameter of the fruit. The results of the discriminant analysis show that large fruits harvested in 2022 and 2023 can be clearly separated from other fruit categories, which can be attributed to effect of crop load on fruit morphology. It can be concluded that there is a high variability of medlar fruits even at a single location and thus that they have high breeding potential. Therefore, future studies analysing the entire area of the Republic of Croatia are needed. |
authors: Damir Drvodeliæ ŠL Ela Španjol Marko Vukoviæ Tomislav Jemriæ | |
| Peter Vindiš, Damijan Kelc, Peter Berk | https://doi.org/10.31298/sl.149.3-4.2 |
127 |
| Detection of bark beetle infestations by drone and image analysis in spruce forests |
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| Bark beetles, such as the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus L.) and the six-toothed spruce bark beetle (Pityogenes chalcographus L.), cause extreme economic and environmental damage in forests, especially in areas dominated by Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.). Fast detection and containment of bark beetle outbreaks are crucial in the battle against bark beetles, but unfortunately, the infestation detection system in Slovenia is somewhat outdated. As part of a research project, an experiment was conducted using a drone and a multispectral camera to search for bark beetle infestations. The experiment covered a forested area of 21.02 hectares, which was surveyed by the drone to capture images with the multispectral camera. By processing the collected data, an orthomosaic and NDVI index were created. Based on the analysis of the NDVI index, potential locations of bark beetle infestations were identified. The actual conditions in nature were verified through physical inspection of the area. The results of the experiment revealed that in all three areas where bark beetle infestations were predicted, Norway spruce trees showed signs of attack by the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle were present. |
authors: Peter Vindiš Damijan Kelc Peter Berk | |
| Özkan Evcin, Büºra Kalleci | https://doi.org/10.31298/sl.149.3-4.3 |
137 |
| New records of marbled polecat, Vormla peregusna (Guldenstaedt, 1770) in Türkiye, current and potential distribution under climate change |
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| The marbled polecat, Vormela peregusna (Güldenstäedt, 1770) is a member of the Mustelidae family. Although this rare species has a wide distribution at the local or regional level in Türkiye, it is represented with a low population. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the marbled polecat is listed in the Vulnerable (VU) category. In this study, we first determined location information on social media platforms (YouTube and Instagram), GBIF, TRAMEM, and literature studies to assess the current distribution areas of the species in Türkiye. As a result of research conducted through different sources, we determined the species recorded existence in 103 locations in Türkiye. Moreover, as a result of the field studies, a rare species was observed and recorded in Kastamonu province. We used the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) method to model the species current and future potential distribution areas depending on two climate change scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5). When the modeling results were evaluated, it was seen that the AUC values of the climate change scenarios were between 0.89 and 0.91. According to jackknife test results, Bio14 was the most important bioclimatic variable contributing to the marbled polecat potential distribution model for SSP 2-4.5 and SSP 5-8.5 scenarios. Modeling results provide a basis for making current and future predictions of the regional distribution of marbled polecat in Türkiye according to climate change scenarios. |
authors: Özkan Evcin Büºra Kalleci | |
| Kadir Alperen Coskuner, Ismet Harman, Sadiq Zeynalov, Ertugrul Bilgili | https://doi.org/10.31298/sl.149.3-4.4 |
153 |
| Exploring long-term wildfire dynamics across land cover types in relation to climate in the Eastern Mediterranean landscapes |
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| The Mediterranean region is characterized by diverse landscapes and unique climatic conditions, making this region of crucial importance in the context of wildfires. Türkiye is one of the largest countries in the Mediterranean region with remarkable ecological richness, characterized by diverse land covers encompassing a variety of ecosystems and habitats. Fires play a crucial role in shaping ecosystems in fire prone areas in the country. Understanding the relationship between vegetation composition, climatic factors and historical fire patterns is thus crucial for effective fire management and conservation efforts in the Eastern Mediterranean and the world in general. This study reports and discusses fire dynamics in Türkiye spanning from 2001 to 2020 across diverse land cover classes, employing both the ESA FireCCI51 burned area product and ground-based fire data. This study aims to provide insights into the complex relationship between wildfire activities by examining the interactions and long-term climate variables, vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and the Angström index. The analysis of FireCCI51 data revealed different spatial patterns of wildfire occurrence in different landscapes of the study area. Fires were mainly concentrated in needle-leaved and shrubland landscapes in the west and south, while broad-leaved, herbaceous, and agricultural fires were prevalent in various parts of Türkiye. Despite legal restrictions, stubble burning remains a common practice, contributing to fire occurrences, especially during dry and hot periods after harvest. Long-term climate trends, particularly increasing VPD and decreasing rainfall, significantly impact wildfire dynamics in the study area. High VPD values correlate well with increased fire activity, indicating its role in fuel moisture and burned area. The increasing trend in VPD and decreasing trend in the Angström index underscores the landscapes increasing susceptibility to wildfires, suggesting a potential impact of climate change on burned area. |
authors: Kadir Alperen Coskuner Ismet Harman Sadiq Zeynalov Ertugrul Bilgili | |
| Canpolat Kaya, Ahmet Acarer, Sibel Tekin | https://doi.org/10.31298/sl.149.3-4.5 |
169 |
| Global climate change, a threat: example of the chamois’ case |
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| Global climate change is predicted to be one of the most severe destructions impacting Earth. This study investigated whether global climate change poses a threat to mountain ecosystems, particularly considering that wild animals in these habitats are highly mobile. Accordingly, the research aimed to map the habitat suitability of the chamois, a species with a wide distribution across Europe, under various climate scenarios for both the present and the future. To achieve this, the MaxEnt modelling method was preferred, utilizing the latest WorldClim climate data to illustrate global climate change impacts. The current habitat suitability for chamois falls within the “good” model category, with an AUC score of 0.839 on the training dataset and 0.834 on the test dataset. The variables contributing to the model are ruggedness index, elevation, annual precipitation and temperature annual range, respectively. Based on these variables, future habitat suitability maps for chamois were created using the SSP126, SSP245, and SSP585 climate scenarios for the year 2100, employing the HadGEM3-GC31-LL model from WorldClim. According to the classification, recent chamois habitat suitable map predicts that 27.71% of Europe is suitable for habitation. In contrast, the future suitability under the SSP126 scenario covers 24.71%, SSP245 covers 21.53%, and SSP585 covers only 16.21%. Therefore, compared to the current model, the SSP585 scenario for 2100 projects a reduction in suitable area by approximately 42%. According to this rate, global climate change is a threat to the distribution of the chamois. |
authors: Canpolat Kaya Ahmet Acarer Sibel Tekin | |
| PREGLEDNI ÈLANCI | ||
| Louiza Soualah, Mouatez Billah Boussouf, Abdelhafid Bouzekri | https://doi.org/10.31298/sl.149.3-4.6 |
183 |
| Trends in research on forest fire mapping and management: a bibliometric review |
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| Forest fires are a significant environmental challenge, impacting ecosystems, biodiversity, and human communities. Over the past decade, research on forest fire mapping and management has surged, reflecting the urgent need for effective strategies to mitigate these risks. This review examines the relation between the mapping and management of forest fires from 2013 to 2023 using a bibliometric analysis based on the PRISMA framework. The Scopus database was selected for its extensive range of publications, ensuring comprehensive coverage of relevant research. An initial search identified 927 documents, which were refined to 240 publications through specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The analysis reveals a notable increase in publications since 2019, highlighting the most productive journals, authors, institutions, and countries in this field. Key findings include the identification of leading research hubs and influential contributors, as well as emerging trends and prevalent keywords. The growing number of literature underscores the critical role of mapping and managing forest fires, particularly in the context of global climate change and its exacerbating effects on fire incidence and severity. This review provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of forest fire research, emphasizing the importance of continued innovation and collaboration. |
authors: Louiza Soualah Mouatez Billah Boussouf Abdelhafid Bouzekri | |