<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Information about the status of agricultural land is of strategic interest in every country. In Estonia, different and even contradicting estimates of area of actively used as agricultural land exist. To solve this problem, airborne laser scanning (ALS) data can be used to map the woody plant cover (values range from 0 to 1 corresponding to the no cover and full tree canopy cover) in agricultural land and to provide digital maps for further analysis. Canopy cover was estimated from ALS data by setting reference height to 2 m from ground. Validation dataset was created from ortophotos on 442 rectangular 100 m2 elementary sampling units. The relationship was linear and determination coefficient was high (R2 = 0.795) and the model fitting residual standard error was 0.116 indicating good applicability of ALS for woody plant cover mapping. The method can be easily automated, does not require additional fieldwork and can be applied in all places where ALS data are available</abstract>

Tartu Observatory, 61602 Tõravere, Tartumaa, Estonia

Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51014 Tartu, Estonia

A simple method for mapping woody plant cover in agricultural fields using airborne lidar / Lihtne meetod aerolidari andmete põhjal puitttaimestiku kaardistamiseks mahajäetud põllumaadel

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The effect of drainage in peatland forests has been studied in Estonia but research on bog pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands is lacking and mixed opinions on the expediency of amelioration in this site type are found. In order to obtain more information on the post drainage effects, measurements were conducted in a drained oligotrophic bog Scots pine stand (with a relatively thin peat layer) in Järvselja. Relationship between stand characteristics and distance from the drainage ditch was described and measurement data was compared with data that had been collected 59 years earlier in the same stand. Over time the stand structure and productivity had changed. Due to lengthy drainage, increase in several stand characteristics became evident: mean height 84% (8.60 ± 0.39 m), mean DBH 48% (6.55 ± 0.59 cm), basal area 59% (10.6 ± 3.4 m2 ha-1) and growing stock 179% (169 ± 32 m3 ha-1). Growth conditions had improved (site class improvement 1.8 units) and since earlier comparison data was from an already drained stand, actual change in stand characteristics and productivity compared to pre-drained state, has to be even greater. The studied stand is a good example of successful forest drainage in a bog pine forest and these results contribute to a better understanding of post drainage developments in these types of forests</abstract>

Kuivenduse mõju rabamänniku arengule Järvselja Õppe- ja Katsemetskonna kuivendatud puistu näitel / Effect of drainage on the development of an oligotrophic bog Scots pine (P. sylvestris L.) stand in Järvselja

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The space-borne Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data based net primary production (NPP) product from Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group (NTSG) was tested in the Kurzeme region, Latvia using a stand-wise forest inventory database. The NPP product has been validated globally and found to have no overall bias. In this study the NPP product was compared with stem biomass increment and soil fertility in respect to distance from the Baltic Sea coast. For each MODIS NPP product pixel we calculated forest cover, share of coniferous trees, average stem biomass increment and average site fertility (growth potential estimate). Then, 2432 pixels with a forest cover over 75% were selected for analysis. The results indicated that MODIS NPP decreased with distance from Baltic Sea coast but stem biomass increment and site fertility indicated a trend of increase. There was no functional relationship between MODIS NPP and stem biomass increment. Analysis of the landcover map used by NTSG for MODIS NPP product showed that the classes “Evergreen needleleaf” and “Mixed forests” differentiated only 10% by mode value of coniferous proportions in species composition. A non-natural jump was detected in the MODIS NPP values at a longitude of 22.5 degrees east corresponding to the border of the coarse scale meteorological dataset (NCEP Reanalysis (R2)) data representation unit. According to the results the MODIS NPP product is not applicable for regional level planning but can probably provide only rough average estimates of NPP for the Baltic region</abstract>

Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences

Assessment of NTSG MODIS NPP product for forests in Kurzeme region, Latvia / Kuramaa metsade primaarproduktsiooni hindamisest NTSG MODIS NPP andmestiku abil

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> In several national and international meetings of forest and general plant pathology, when discussing possible causes of current arrivals of new alien pathogens in Estonia, we demonstrated the climate characteristic “monthly mean temperatures” as coloured grid-boxes, colours of which indicate the statistical relation of the definite months’ characteristic to its’ long time mean value. It was met with approval and evaluated as suitable and pictorial way for the visualization of shorter (until some few decades) drastically differing periods in climate warming for more trustworthy connecting of these two scientifically-experimentally only heavily connectable natural processes - climate warming and epidemics of alien forest pathogens. During the winters of the 20th century, apparently not only freezing, but also warming periods had caused serious aftermaths in forest pathology</abstract>

Simple visualization of climate change for improving the public perception in forest pathology / Kliimamuutuste visualiseerimise lihtne viis seoste paremaks tajumiseks metsapatoloogias

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Airborne laser scanner (ALS) measurements from two test sites in Estonia were used to estimate forest canopy-base height (HVL). The ALS data was collected by Estonian Land Board using Leica ALS50-II scanner. The HVL was estimated by using mode value and standard deviation of the ALS pulse reflection position height distribution. The pulse reflections which had height less than 0.5 m over the estimated digital terrain model were excluded from the analysis. In situ measurements of canopy base height (HVA) were carried out in 20 mesotrophic Norway spruce and silver birch forest stands in Järvselja and in 45, mostly Scots pine dominant, mesotrophic forest stands in Aegviidu. Determination coefficients of linear regression between HVL and HVA for both test sites were over 0.8 and the residual standard errors of the models were less than two meters. The influence of forest understory vegetation to the estimation of HVL was tested by excluding the near-to-ground vegetation reflections which had height less than 1.5 m. The test results revealed no significant impact of forest understory to the HVL models. The cross validation showed that the HVL models were independent of test sites and tree species composition. The Järvselja data based HVL model had 1.3 m negative bias if applied to Aegviidu forests and the Aegviidu data based HVL model had 1.4 m positive bias if applied to Järvselja forests. In the Aegviidu test site, difference of HVL models of coniferous and deciduous stands was tested and the difference was found not to be significant</abstract>

Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, Tartu 51014, Estonia

State Forest Management Centre, 10149, Toompuiestee 24, Tallinn

Puistu esimese rinde võrastiku alguse kõrguse hindamine lennukilidari mõõdistusandmete järgi / A simple model to estimate forest canopy base height from airborne lidar data

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The protection of late-succession forest habitats and continuous woodlands
is the primary goal in Estonian forest nature conservation. Therefore ecological
qualities of almost all forest stands in Estonian protected areas are described. Forest
patches will be mapped and protected as Annex I forest habitats if they have enough
structural and functional qualities. The member states of the European Union report
in every six years about the conservation status of European Habitats Directive Annex
I habitats. Changes in area as well as changes in habitat type’s structure and
functions are also declared. In the present paper the dynamics in tree species composition,
stand age and larger diameter trees of monitored Annex I forest habitats
is analyzed. The mean age of stands is older than the Estonian mean value, but it
is only slightly higher than the cutting age of the corresponding tree species. The
mean diameter of larger living trees is in general larger than dead wood, which
is indicative of the forest succession and historical low-intensive forest management.
Currently, conservation activities support natural succession in forests that
formerly were managed economically. Therefore, changes in the composition of
tree layer species are to be expected. The dominance of spruce and the abundance
of broad-leaved trees are increasing in non-managed forest habitats. In contrast, the
proportion of pine, birch and aspen decreases significantly. In general the number
of tree species in habitat patches will increase; thereby the dominance of certain
species will decline. According to the Estonian interpretation of the forest types in
the Manual of the Habitats Directive, some stands with changed main tree species
will need to be reclassified. Therefore the area of some forest habitat types may
increase in the future. On contrary the area and functional quality of some other
habitat types may decrease.</abstract>

Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu,
46 Vanemuise St., Tartu 51014, Estonia

Institute of Mathematical Statistics, University
of Tartu, 2 Juhan Liivi St., Tartu 50409, Estonia

Dynamics of tree layer composition, tree age and large
diameter trees in Habitats Directive Annex I forest
habitats in Estonia on the basis of monitoring data
collected from 2010–2012

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Forestry Studies

 Forestry Studies | Metsanduslikud Uurimused is a peer-reviewed journal managed by the Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences. The journal publishes original research articles, reviews, technical reports and short communications. Papers are published in English or Estonian with English summary. Authors whose mother tongue is not English are strongly urged to have their manuscripts reviewed linguistically before submission. Submission of an article is understood to imply that the article is original and is not being considered for publication elsewhere. Manuscripts generally should not exceed 25 one-sided 1.5-spaced printed pages, including tables, illustrations, references and abstract. Reviews must not exceed 20 pages, technical reports 5 pages. The authors should aim to submit their work as concisely as possible and longer papers will be accepted under exceptional circumstances. Suitable manuscripts are considered by at least two independent referees before acceptance.   Why subscribe and read   the journal publishes research papers on all aspects of forestry (silviculture, dendrology, tree physiology and genetics, forest products, forest operation and techniques, forest economics and policy, etc.), and also close subjects (environmental protection, ecology, botany, zoology, entomology, pathology, soil science, etc.),  the journal is published twice a year in paper and electronic versions,  peer reviewed journal by experts from Europe and US,  publishing history since 1939.   Why submit   submissions accepted in a wide range of categories: original research articles, reviews, technical reports and short communications,  rapid review (by two independent referees) and fast editing process,  coverage by major abstracting and indexing services,  publishing without charge,  accessibility through MetaPress platform.   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 