Today, there is a growing interest in ecofriendly processes that are greatly needed as a result of the worldwide problem of environmental pollution. In
this study, Abietic acid (Aba), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and nano silver (AgNPs)were blended by mixing and dissolving in tetrahydrofuran. Pine (Pinus sylvestris) sapwood samples were impregnated with the solution of PVC-Aba-AgNPs under vacuum in a small-scale impregnation container. Thermal polymerization of PVC with Aba-AgNPs was carried out inside the Pine sapwood samples leading to wood composite material containing PVC-Aba with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). The weight percent gain, density, water absorption, swelling properties, and decay resistance of the treated wood were measured in detail. The decay test of wood treated with PVC-Aba-AgNPs against white-rot (Trametes versicolor) fungus was then investigated. In addition, the leaching test was carried out according to the EN 84 standard before decay test. PVC-Aba-AgNPs treatments decreased the water absorption and swelling properties of wood, whilst increasing water repellent efficiency and anti-swelling efficiency to approximately 12% after 8-day immersion in water. In general, the treated samples were found to be more resistant to decay compared to the control. Leached and unleached test samples indicated the same mass loss after decay tests.

Many chemicals and methods have been extensively studied for the removal of copper, chromium, and arsenic from wood treated with chromate copper arsenate (CCA). However, in these studies, it is seen that deep eutectic solvents (DES) are not used in the removal of copper, chromium, and arsenic. In this study, the effect of DES on the removal of copper, chromium, and arsenic from CCA-impregnated wood and the changes caused by DES solutions in wood samples were investigated. The DES solutions were prepared by mixing glycerol (GL) as the hydrogen bond donor (HBD) and choline chloride as the hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) in different molar ratios. According to the results obtained, it was observed that the LA solution prepared with GL: CL was removed 65.5% Cu, 40.21% Cr, and 15.20% As. It was obtained in FTIR analysis and lignin determination that the lignin ratio of the wood samples decreased after the remediation process. It seems that the crystallinity ratio decreased significantly. The physical and biological properties of the sheet were investigated by making a sheet from powder samples treated with DES solutions. According to the results obtained, while the brightness values of the samples did not change, the roughness values decreased. In addition, the water uptake values of the samples after 96 hours showed a decrease of approximately 40-50% compared to the control samples. After the decay test, the weight loss values decreased compared to the control samples.

The range of the Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) mainly covers the European continent and Asia. The mechanical and physical properties of wood predispose this species to a wide range of applications. One of them is sound absorption, which is used in the production of windows, doors or floors. Wood conducts sound which also makes it an ideal material for building musical instruments.
The paper contains results of research on technical quality of wood of selected genetic background of Scots Pine growing on experimental plot located in central Poland in LZD Rogów. Wood for the study came from the north-eastern and south-western parts of Poland and from the south and north of the country. The research material was obtained from 100 trees aged 52 years from the mixed broadleaved forest habitat (FMBF). 659 samples of 20x20x300 mm in size were used for the study.
The scope of the work included the performance and statistical analysis of the results of acoustic properties of wood. The ultrasonic method was used to investigate the acoustic properties of wood. The samples were subjected to ultrasonic testing using the UMT-1 material tester from UNIPAN, working with specialist software for visualisation and analysis of measurement signals UMT-LINK.
On the basis of the ultrasonic transit time measurements, the following were calculated: the speed of propagation of the acoustic wave in wood c [m/s], the dynamic modulus of elasticity along fibres E [MPa], the acoustic resistance of wood Z [kN*s/m³] and the sound attenuation T [m⁴/s*kg].
The best values of the analysed acoustic properties were determined for wood from the Nowy Targ – mountain origin. It is characterised by good attenuation, insulation and low acoustic resistance, which predisposes this wood to applications such as: frame walls, building elements or acoustic screens.

This work aims at evaluating the operational and environmental performance of a medium-sized chainsaw during a second thinning carried out on Calabrian Pine high forests. Trees, located at an altitude of 1100 m a.s.l, had on average diameter at the breast height of 30.6 cm and height of 18 m, for a density of 950 trees ha^-1. The terrain roughness presents obstacles on less than 1/3 of the surface, while the slope was between I and II classes (0-40%). Chainsaw is the most widely common tool used for tree felling, so a work time study was conducted based on its employment, considering a full-tree system. Thirty operational cycles were registered: observed time was separated into working time, which included main and complementary working times, calculated as average gross productivity inclusive of all delays up to the maximum event duration of 15 minutes. Team productivity, was equal to 10.30 trees h^-1, corresponding to a volume of timber of 11.2 m³ h^-1. Considering a working day of 8 hours, productivity was equal to 41 trees d^-1 worker^-1 for a volume of timber of 44.8 m³ d^-1 worker^-1. The life cycle assessment (LCA) approach was adopted for environmental performance. As Functional Unit 1 m³ of round wood was chosen. The inventory data related to background processes were collected from Agribalyse 3.0.1. while data from the foreground, such as materials and fuel consumption, were directly collected. Environmental impact data were processed using OpenLCA software and the ReCiPe 2016 method at the midpoint level. The contribution analysis performed shows that emissions related to the stage of use represented the major hotspot in “Global warming”, “Ozone Formation–Human Health”, “Fine particulate matter formation”, “Ozone formation–terrestrial ecosystems” and “Terrestrial ecotoxicity” categories.

We have developed a methodology and proposed a new three-stage method for calculating the C-CO₂ balance when growing forests and using wood. The service life of buildings made of wood fluctuates slightly, averaging about 50 years, the former timber will rot and turn back into CO₂. Part of the wood is used to make paper, cardboard, plywood, and furniture. However, these materials and products have a short life span. Paper and cardboard are consumed. Furniture usually lasts no more than 25 years.

The initial large carbon sink with industrial wood leads to a temporary (up to 150 years) removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere. The long-term cycle of C-CO₂ in the system atmosphere - green plants - industrial wood - man-made buildings - dust- the atmosphere ends only with a small positive balance. It is known that only a small part – 0.8-1.0% of the organic matter synthesized by plants enters the large geological cycle. There is a highly effective way of using forest plantations to regulate the content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This path is the use of a part of the wood for energy production and the replacement of fossil hydrocarbons. Indeed, when wood is used for energy, biomass carbon burns out and also enters the atmosphere in the form of CO₂. In this case, carbon dioxide does not replenish the pollutant pool. C-CO₂ simply recirculates. It is important to take into account that the transportation of biofuel from wood over long distances reduces its energy efficiency and increases C-CO₂ emissions into the atmosphere.

Residential development in forested areas increases the wildland-urban interface (WUI); in this area, wildfires are the primary conflict for humans and ecosystems. The methodologies to determine the WUI use dwellings location and vegetation fuels. The main difference in the WUI mapping has been the application of housing density limits and the maximum extent from houses into vegetation. Our objectives were to (i) determine the wildland-urban interface using a novel approach in the city of Bariloche, in NW Patagonia, Argentina; and (i) evaluate the relationship between the WUI and fire ignition points. We mapped the WUI based on housing information derived from a recently released building footprint dataset, land-cover data, and a digital elevation model. Our method improves the accuracy of mapping based on local terrain conditions, making it possible to apply it for local management and planning. The determined WUI has higher extension under steep slopes ascending towards dwellings (>20%), where the rate of fire spread is high. In 2021, the wildland-urban interface in Bariloche included 89% of the buildings, even though it occupied 25% (133 km²) of the municipal district. Between 2016-2018, 90% of fire ignitions occurred in the WUI, highlighting the importance of the WUI for planning and management to reduce wildfire risk.

Thermal modification processes are strategies to improve properties of wood with environmental liability when no chemicals is used. The VAP HolzSysteme®, developed in Brazil, promotes the thermal modification of wood in an atmosphere saturated with water vapor ensuring low oxygen content. In this process, the heat is directly transferred from the water vapor to the wood, providing conditions for thermal changes at low temperatures. To evaluate this process, samples of Pinus taeda and Eucalyptus grandis woods, used for decking, were treated in an industrial autoclave at a final temperature of 160ºC. The treated woods were evaluated through the characterization of the anatomical, physical properties, chemicalm mechanical properties, and thermal properties of the woods. The anatomical characteristics were maintained, allowing the identification of the wood after the term modification, however, reduction of the cell wall and cracks in the ray cells were observed in both species. The heat treatment promoted lower equilibrium moisture, reducing the hygroscopicity and improving the dimensional stability, however, the effect on the basic density of the wood was different, in the P. taeda wood there was a reduction, while in the wood of E. grandis there was an increase. Considering the chemical composition of the wood, the total lignin content and total extractives increased, while the hemicellulose content decreased in both woods. The heat-treated woods showed a reduction in static flexural strength and radial hardness, but the longitudinal hardness of P. taeda increased while its tangential hardness reduced, whereas the wood of E. grandis showed the opposite behavior. With heat treatment, the resistance to thermal degradation of wood increases, with a significant decrease in the curve in the range associated with the degradation of hemicelluloses, from 200 to 260°C. The heat treatment improved the wood stability, on the other hand it can impair mechanical properties.

The aim of the study was to investigate the real axle loads of roundwood transport vehicles resulting from the gross vehicle weight (GVW) of the transport unit in different seasons of the year and depending on the type of transport unit and the type of wood assortments. Measurements of axle loads for round wood trucks were carried out on the sites of three large wood industry companies from the north of Poland, which process different types of wood.

In total, measurements were made for 904 round wood deliveries, made by different transport sets: truck and trailer unit with 473 deliveries, including 344 deliveries by six-axle sets, truck and semi-trailer, 334 deliveries, where 193 was made by six-axle sets. The lowest axle load for all sets occurs on first axle in the range of average values of 7.07-7.86t with a spread of results from 4.49 to 10.20t. The highest average axle loads of 9.15-12.43t were found on second axle for all observed transport unit, where a maximum value of 14.52t was also found.

Statistically significant differences were found in the values of loads on individual axles depending on the type of truck unit and type of wood assortment. The distribution of the total gross vehicle weight of the set is on average 58-60% to the truck (three axles) and 40-42% to the trailer/semi-trailer (two axles) in five-axle sets, and in six-axle sets the truck and trailer/semi-trailer (three axles). The loads of transported wood (assortments) influence the resulting axle loads, which was confirmed by statistical analysis. For most axles there are differences in axle loads between transport units with MS (medium-size round wood, industrial wood) and the other wood assortments. Additionally on axles 4-5 there are differences between LS (large-size round wood) and the other loads (multiple mean rank test).

A method for predicting the spatial and temporal dynamics of traditional forest pests has been developed and implemented. However, due to climate change and anthropogenic activity, the species composition of pests and their role in forest ecosystems continuously change. On the one hand, more than 20 alien forest pests have invaded the forests and urban plantings of Ukraine in recent years. On the other hand, the changes in forest structure have an influence on host trees’ abundance and health condition, and the suitability of forest plots for native and alien pests as well as for their natural enemies. The effect of changing the climate and microclimate of certain forest plots on the seasonal development of pests, their hibernation, and survival should be taken into account when predicting the time of the outbreak start and the dates of pest detection, assessment, and control.

Therefore, the forecast for forest protection covers the following issues:

– which species can damage the forest, planting material, or forest products;

– where (in which regions and forest plots) such damage has economic or ecological consequences;

– how to assess the harmfulness of certain pests and the necessity of their control;

– how to choose the optimal timing for pest detection, assessment, and control.

Fagaceae species predominate a diverse range of habitats in the northern hemisphere and are critical to the ecosystem and economy. The high morphological and genetic diversity of these species serves as the foundation for adaptation to environmental stress. To comprehend the diversity, an evolutionary viewpoint is required. However, we found extensive conflicts among gene trees at the genus level, resulting in inconclusive phylogenetic inferences based on various genetic markers. Unresolved phylogeny would affect taxonomy, biogeographic inference, and ancestral state. In this study, we aimed to look deeply into the source of phylogenetic discordance in Fagaceae. We sampled 65 species from six genera (Fagus, Lithocarpus, Quercus, Castanea, Castanopsis, and Notholithocarpus) and obtained 603,809 SNPs from transcriptome sequences. In addition to concatenated and coalescence-based approaches for phylogenetic inference, we also reconstruct 256 gene topologies to investigate conflict among nuclear genes. Our results show that the conflicts arise mainly from the relationship between Lithocarpus and Quercus, with approximately 34% of genes supporting the two genera as a sister group. We also try to know why the genes of minority topologies are different from those of majority topologies. To answer the question, we performed a functional enrichment analysis to determine the function of the minority topological genes. According to the GO terms, their functions are primarily related to cellular structure or organelle. In the following step, we would investigate whether the main sources of discordance are introgression, incomplete lineage sorting, or selection.