Biodiversity, i.e. the variety of all living beings, is a fundamental component of sustainable natural capital. It sustains and enables all the ecosystem goods and/or services which humanity needs and should value. At the same time biodiversity has irreplaceable value for our society. There is no doubt that there are important discrepancies between local demands and political guidelines with respect to the need to conserve biodiversity given its role in the well-being of society as established by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the 2030 Agenda. For this reason, it is essential to apply a common strategy capable of maintaining, improving and increasing current biodiversity. Under those circumstances, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), independent intergovernmental body, carries out periodic assessments about biodiversity and ecosystem services as well as their interrelationships. The scope is to assess the status and trends with respect to biodiversity and ecosystem services, the impact on human well-being and the effectiveness of the actions and plans performed. The state of ecosystem services is worrying in many regions and many essential services are expected to deteriorate and even be lost during the current century. Some recent research has related the results, effectiveness of actions and plans, to political needs, although its real influence is still very limited. Perhaps a strategy at a territorial level could facilitate cooperation between those countries with similar needs and problems, through the exchange of information and the common development of capabilities. This would guarantee the adoption of sustainable policies aimed at increasing the population's well-being.

Nypa fruticans, is a palm species that is found growing both in its natural habitat and in plantations along the coastal regions of Bangladesh. There is significant cultivation of this species through private initiatives in plantations established by rural farmers in coastal areas, particularly in the southern region of Bangladesh. The Nypa Sap Molasses are characterized by a unique and genuine taste profile. The product is strategically positioned to meet the needs of health-conscious consumers who are seeking distinctive culinary experiences. According to the market analysis, a favourable market environment exists in which Nypa Sap Molasses has the potential to secure a specialised market segment and emerge as a prominent contender. The business endeavours to enhance its visibility, stimulate engagement, and expand its reach in regional and nationwide markets by implementing proficient branding strategies, digital marketing initiatives, and focused outreach efforts. The business places significant emphasis on achieving operational excellence, which involves optimising production processes, implementing stringent quality control protocols, and ensuring efficient product delivery. Through utilising pre-existing infrastructure, the cultivation of robust partnerships with suppliers and vendors, and efficient resource management, the enterprise guarantees uniformity in product excellence and punctual delivery, thereby satisfying customer demands. The financial forecasts suggest a favourable perspective for Nypa Sap Molasses, attributable to its competitive pricing, efficient production techniques, and prospective funding prospects. The Nypa Sap Molasses business plan offers a persuasive prospect within the natural sweetener industry. The business is positioned for success due to its distinct product offering, focused marketing tactics, efficient operations, and optimistic financial forecasts. Through accommodating the changing inclinations of health-conscious customers and safeguarding the cultural legacy linked with Nypa Sap Molasses, the enterprise is poised to establish a significant foothold in the sector and make a valuable contribution to the regional economy.

Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) is an advanced engineered wood product mostly used for structural applications. Being lightweight, strong, eco-friendly and aesthetically sturdy, this material has gained immense popularity in the construction sector throughout the globe. Since the concept of CLT was originated in Europe, most of the work has been carried out on European softwoods. There is very little information available on the utilization of Indian softwood species for manufacturing CLT. The present study was carried out to investigate the mechanical (flexural modulus, flexural strength, compressive strength and block shear strength) and physical properties (delamination, density, water absorption, thickness and volumetric swelling) of polyurethane-bonded CLT fabricated using Pinus roxburghii (chirpine) wood, an indigenous timber species. The flexural modulus was 4.2 GPa. The average flexural, compressive and block shear strengths were 36.2, 15 and 3.5 MPa, respectively. The density of CLT samples was 0.43 g/cm³. Total delamination and maximum delamination were 6.72% and 25.38%, respectively. The thickness swelling, water absorption and volumetric swelling of CLT samples were 6.60 %, 26.96 % and 8.81 %, respectively. The findings of the present study provide valuable insights into the potential of manufacturing CLT using Pinus roxburghii wood as a construction material for low-load-bearing structures. Further studies can be carried out to assess the durability and fire performance of the CLT panels.

In our region, there has been a strong push towards establishing forest plantations with Neltuma alba (Algarrobo blanco), a species of great ecological and productive importance. Therefore, ongoing research on this species is crucial.

It is worth noting that for successful plantation establishment, it is essential to work with individuals exhibiting physiological and morphological characteristics that enable them to survive and adapt to field conditions after transplanting. Based on previous studies, the use of plant bioestimulants is suggested as a potential tool to reduce stress in N. alba plants during acclimatization and field planting stages. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of a phytoextract derived from Larrea divaricata (Jarilla) at different concentrations as a plant bioestimulant to improve the quality and stress response of N. alba seedlings.

This research involved sowing identified N. alba seeds in nursery tubes filled with a substrate composed of composted pine bark and perlite (50:50). Fungicides and insecticides were applied, and the irrigation program was adjusted according to environmental conditions and growth phases.

During the final nursery stage (acclimatization stage), the Larrea-based bioestimulant was applied at concentrations of 3% and 4%, with two applications every 7 days, to evaluate its effectiveness on plant growth and quality. Height and stem diameter at collar height were recorded, and plant quality indices were determined. The results suggest that Larrea is a bioestimulant capable of enhancing stress resistance and improving quality parameters in algarrobo blanco.

Introduction. Forests in Central Siberia represent a vast massif composed of six major conifers that shape the boreal forest: Siberian pine, Siberian fir, Siberian spruce, Scots pine, and two larches (Siberian larch on permafrost-free areas and Gmelin larch on permafrost). First, we built a bioclimatic model to predict major forest-forming conifer distributions based on atmospheric climate: warmth, water, and cold and soil permafrost. Our goal in this study is to supplement our model with soil climates: soil warmth and moisture and fertility resources.

Methods. For the mountain forests in southern Siberia (90-100 E and 52-56 N), a soil model was developed that related the forest composition to basic soil characteristics (warmth, moisture, texture composition, soil type, humus content, pH, C:N ratio etc.). Soil data (100 sites) were collected from the literature, which were accompanied by forest compositions from forest inventories and calculated climate data. The future climate was derived from the GCM INM-CM5-0 climate model for two scenarios, ssp126 and ssp585, at the mid-century.

Results and Conclusions. Soil properties were found to be important for conifer distributions over the mountains but less important than the atmospheric climates were. The genetic soil types and soil warmth and moisture appeared to be most important for the forest composition. The rest of the soil characteristics were much less important. Siberian larch and Siberian pine were found to be the most plastic conifers; Siberian fir was found to be the most demanding conifer. In the future climates, under additional warmth and plentiful rain across the mountains, as follows from the climate change scenarios, hydro-thermal conditions in soils would be favourable for the sustainability and productivity of coniferous forests.

Macaranga gigantea (otherwise called Mahang Gajah, or Giant Mahang) is a large, fast-growing, and dioecious evergreen tree in the Euphorbiaceae family native to Southeast Asia (SEA). It is commonly used in traditional medicine, as well as for ornamental, ecological, and cultural purposes. It also plays an important role in the human and ecosystem interactions in the rainforests of SEA. However, M. gigantea generates large quantities of biomass from its broad, peltate, and trilobed leaves measuring 20-60 cm in length. Similarly, its high rate of leaf litter accumulation presents opportunities for valorisation into solid biofuels. Torrefaction is considered a technologically efficient and environmentally friendly approach for the valorisation of agroforestry biomass wastes into biocoal for clean energy applications. However, there are currently no studies in the literature on the torrefaction of M. gigantea leaves (MGL) into biocoal. Therefore, this study seeks to explore and highlight the biocoal potential of MGL through TGA torrefaction under a non-oxidative environment from 200-300 °C (ΔT = 50 °C) at 20 °C/min and 30 minutes. Results revealed that MGL experienced mass losses (M_L) which increased from 15.57-40.94%, whereas mass yields (M_Y) decreased from 84.43 to 59.06%. The higher heating value (HHV) increased from 21.30 to 23.67 MJ/kg and energy density (D_E) increased from 1.16 to 1.29, whereas energy yield (E_Y) decreased from 98.02 to 76.19%. The variations in M_L and M_Y may be due to the effect of torrefaction temperature on the dehydration, devolatilisation, and thermochemical degradation of MGL moisture, volatile matter, and holocellulose (hemicellulose and cellulose). In contrast, the high HHV and D_E values may be due to a decrease in the oxygen-to-carbon (O/C) and hydrogen-to-carbon (H/C) ratios. Overall, the study showed that the torrefaction of MGL is a potential route for the valorisation of the agroforestry wastes into biocoal, a solid biofuel with fuel properties similar to lignite and sub-bituminous coals.

Acacia mangium is a flowering tree species native to Papua New Guinea and Australia. It is widely used in agroforestry, forestry, and reforestation due to its fast-growing and adaptable nature. Due to its semi-evergreen or semi-deciduous nature, A. mangium has a high leaf litter rate of 8.8–10.5 tonnes/hectare/annum. However, its high leaf litter presents potential biomass for conversion into biocoal and other solid fuels through torrefaction. The torrefaction of A. mangium leaves (AML) as previously reported yielded good biocoal properties. However, using ultra-pure nitrogen gas for torrefaction is expensive, impractical, and unsustainable, particularly in industrial biocoal production. Therefore, this study examines the potential of oxidative (in air) torrefaction of AML through thermogravimetric analysis from 200–300 °C (ΔT = 25 °C) at 20 °C/min for 30 minutes. The results revealed that mass losses (M_L) increased from 15.63 to 62.98%, whereas mass yields (M_Y) decreased from 84.37 to 37.02%. The higher heating value (HHV) increased from 21.31 to 25.73 MJ/kg, and energy density (D_E) from 1.01 to 1.22, whereas energy yield (E_Y) decreased from 85.17 to 45.12%. The variations in M_L and M_Y may be due to the impact of temperature on the thermo-chemical degradation of AML’s lignocellulosic components. In contrast, the high HHV and D_E values may be due to carbon deposition and oxygen depletion. In comparison, the oxidative process yielded higher HHV (25.73 MJ/kg) and D_E (1.22) at 300 °C, when compared to the non-oxidative process (HHV = 24.15 MJ/kg; D_E = 1.14) reported in the literature for AML. Overall, the study findings reveal that AML torrefaction is a practical approach for valorising streams of agroforestry wastes into biocoal—a solid biofuel with fuel characteristics comparable to lignite and sub-bituminous coals.

Wood from teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) is a commercially prized material due to its strength, color, and natural resistance to decay and insects. Some of these properties are attributed in part to its high extractive content. The subject of this study was to investigate the influence of extractives on the fire performance of teak wood. Two sets of dimensionally identical (100 mm × 12.5 mm × 12.5 mm) samples were prepared. One set of samples was extracted using soxhlet extraction equipment in three steps: first, for 24 hours, using a mixture of acetone, ethanol, and toluene (1:1:4); next, for 8 hours, using ethanol; and last, with distilled water to remove water-soluble extractives. The fire performance of both sets was evaluated using a rate of burning test according to BIS IS: 1734 (Part 3)—1983. Extracted wood samples exhibited a significant change in weight and surface color compared to their non-extracted counterparts. The surface color tended to become lighter and weight reduced significantly for extracted wood samples. Importantly, the extracted samples displayed a significantly slower burning rate than the non-extracted ones. These findings of the present study highlight the role of extractives in determining the fire performance of teak wood and demonstrate that the presence of wood extractives negatively influences the fire performance of teak wood.

Wood is a renewable and versatile material comprising cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin as its main structural components, and is widely used for both outdoor and indoor purposes. However, as a lignocellulosic material, wood suffers degradation mainly from UV radiation and moisture uptake. The degraded wood not only loses its strength and dimensional stability, but also its aesthetic appeal. Therefore, it is necessary to protect wood from the above-mentioned agents of degradation. This study focuses on the preparation of a superhydrophobic and UV-resistant coating for the protection of wood. Superhydrophobic coatings are a smart class of coatings which repel water from the surface of wood, thus increasing its longevity. Achieving hydrophobicity is a two-step procedure which includes inducing surface roughness, followed by treatment with a low-surface-energy material. Certain metal oxide nanoparticles like ZnO, CeO₂, and TiO₂ nanoparticles additionally provide protection against UV light along with adequate surface roughness, and materials like silanes act as low-surface-energy materials. A simple one-step method was used to prepare the nanodispersions. ZnO/TiO₂ nanoparticles and silane were mixed together with a suitable non-volatile and non-corrosive solvent, and homogenised together, followed by ultrasonication to obtain the desired nanodispersion. The size of the nanoparticles was analysed using DLS and found to be within 100nm. The solution was then coated on the wood surface. Hydrophobicity was measured using a contact angle analyser and the results were between 150º and 160º, which confirmed the coating's superhydrophobicity. The morphology was analysed using SEM. The coated samples were then tested for UV stability in an indoor accelerated UV weathering tester and were analysed on the basis of their colour change, seen with the help of a HunterLab Labscan XE spectrocolorimeter. The photodegradation of the coated samples was analysed using FTIR. The samples thus exhibited superhydrophobicity as well as UV stability.

This study investigates the decreasing resistance of dark coniferous forests to adverse environmental factors, which are becoming increasingly pronounced yearly because of modern global climate change. Boreal coniferous forest degradation and dieback are observed in a large area of ​​Russian forest lands, including dark coniferous forests in the north of the European part of Russia. The research objects are dark coniferous forests of various condition categories in areas of intense drying out in the Arkhangelsk region and old trees growing in conditions with an expressed impact of a specific limiting factor. A study of dead and drying tree areas was carried out on the territory of the Sursky forest district (Arkhangelsk region), and a climate reconstruction was implemented for the Sursky forest district and the coast of the Unskaya Bay (Onega Pomorie National Park). Pine was chosen as an auxiliary species for dendroclimatic analysis since old pine trees grow on the Onega Pomorie territory and exhibit long-term climatic signals. The dendrochronological method was applied to determine the relationship between meteorological parameters and tree growth, and a forest pathological examination of trees was conducted. The determined fundamental causes of forest dieback were the trees weakening under the influence of adverse climatic conditions, droughts in particular, and subsequent tree damage by stem pests.