Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

This study aimed to investigate how nano-magnesium oxide (nano-MgO) and nano-zinc oxide (nano-ZnO) impregnation in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood with a solution of 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% affects its physical, mechanical and thermal properties. The properties examined were density, retention value, compression strength, thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) and crystallinity index (CI) by using X-ray diffraction (XRD). In general, the mean compression strength parallel to the grain in the wood material increased when the quantity of nanoparticles of MgO added to impregnation solution increased from 0.1% to 0.3%, whereas it decreased in the case of nano-ZnO addition into the solution. The thermal stability of the nano-MgO and nano-ZnO treated Scots pine wood were better than untreated ones. In general, the CI of the specimens increased with increasing content of the nano-MgO and nano-ZnO. This study provides an overview of the advantages of using nano-ZnO and nano-MgO as impregnating agents to improve the properties of wood.

Tropical montane cloud forest is a highly biodiverse and disturbed vegetation type in Mexico, so it is necessary to implement management activities for its conservation and restoration. This study analyzes alpha, beta, and gamma diversity of dung beetle assemblages in four adjacent habitats with contrasting management activities in a montane cloud forest landscape in Huatusco, Veracruz, Mexico. In each habitat, three transects with five sample units were established where several biophysical structure characteristics were measured, and a pitfall trap was installed in the dry and rainy season of 2021. A total of 1397 individuals belonging to 11 species, seven tribes and seven genera were collected. Primary forest habitat showed greater richness and dominance and a different compositional similarity to habitats of active and passive restoration and grassland for livestock use. Structural complexity of vegetation in restored habitats provides microclimatic conditions and resource availability that increase regional diversity. Therefore, management activities may promote suitable habitat characteristics for dung beetle assemblages, and their implementation is highly important for biodiversity in cloud forest landscapes.

Variations in density measurement, the lack of data by species and the diversity of expression of densities generate inaccuracies in the final biomass values, which consequently generate inaccuracies in the carbon stock values. The objective of this research was to determine the anhydrous density of 14 forest species typical of capueras of Misiones province and compare them with density values reported in the bibliography, both the values themselves and their performance in calculations of carbon stocks in a forest inventory (FI). Three slices of wood with bark per species were collected from three different specimens at a height of 1.3 m. They were divided into three sections: bark (C), outer xylem (E) and inner xylem (I), determining their anhydrous density according to IRAM 9544 (Instituto Argentino de Normaliación y Certificación). A weighted average was obtained per species with area and density values per section, and it was compared against bibliographic data. The results of carbon stocks per stratum of an FI were compared using the anhydrous densities of this work and bibliographic ones. For all species, significant differences were found between the anhydrous density of C and I. A maximum difference in carbon stocks of 4.13 ± 9.71 t ha-1 was generated, which represents a decrease of 100 344.6 t of total carbon in the stratum with the highest presence of native species (Nectandra). It is suggested to include the C, E, and I in density measurement methodologies and to use these values in the estimation of fixed carbon, contributing to more accurate estimates.

Forest fires are a disturbing agent of natural or anthropogenic origin that occur in different types of forest ecosystems in Mexico and the world. Currently, they are manifesting themselves with increasing intensity as a result of the complex dynamics of land use in combination with climate change. This increase is reflected in a greater frequency, intensity and increase in the area burned, which leads to economic losses, increased social vulnerability and environmental degradation. Therefore, it is a priority to identify areas with high probability and risk of forest fires in conservation areas. In this sense, a spatially explicit probability model for forest fires was developed, using the weights of evidence method and a set of socio-environmental variables. The study area was the Cañón del Sumidero National Park (CSNP), a region of great tourist importance and rich in biodiversity in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. To evaluate the probability model, it was compared with the fires that occurred in 2009 using the ROC test.  The area under the curve values obtained were acceptable between 0.66 and 0.70. The vegetation type with a higher probability of occurrence to forest fires is low deciduous forest with an average burned area of 161 ha in the period of 2016-2021. Finally, the probability map was classified into four risk categories: (1) low; (2) medium; (3) high; and (4) very high. This mapping is fundamental for integrated risk management in the face of the forest fire problem in the CSNP.

Most contemporary rural societies still rely on the cultivation and gathering of plants to satisfy, to some extent, their food requirements. The main objective of this work was to document ethnobotanically the richness of domesticated and wild food plants used in different landscape units in a peasant reserve zone located in the Department of Cundinamarca, Colombia. Semi-structured interviews, participatory lists of flora, collections of plant material for identification, as well as participant observation with 14 key informants belonging to ten peasant families were carried out. We documented the use of 101 species belonging to 77 genera and 45 families, including six new records of wild edible plants for Colombia. Of these, 69 are cultivated, 28 are wild and four are subject to both types of management. The orchards managed in domestic contexts, as well as the Andean forests, were the two landscape units in which the greatest amount of food plants were used. 90% of the plants are used only for self-supply and the remaining ten percent are used for both self-supply and for marketing in regional markets. We conclude by reflecting on the importance of broadening and deepening ethnobotanical research in the Colombian Andean strip, an agrobiodiverse region that has been little studied due to a long history of armed conflict and migration.

Forest management is an essential strategy for achieving ecosystem conservation and restoration goals. Payment for ecosystem services (PES) programs has emerged as a mainstream public policy to promote forest conservation and, more recently, to support vector control methods. However, PES programs often rely on economic approaches that emphasize the market value of ecosystems, neglecting the diverse non-economic (social and cultural) values that communities associate with natural environments. This paper discusses two case studies in which deliberative research tools were conducted to identify non-economic values associated with forests. In Veracruz, Mexico, a hypothetical PES program was designed, while in Maine, United States, forest management and vector control strategies, including a PES program, were explored. Both cases underscored the importance of incorporating non-economic values – such as environmental protection, shared responsibility, trust among social and institutional actors, and the intrinsic value of forests and natural resources – into the design of PES and other forest management strategies. This article discusses how deliberative approaches can facilitate the identification of forest management strategies that align with local values. Finally, this paper highlights the importance of engaging local stakeholders in the design and implementation of PES programs to address environmental and public health challenges.

The combined effect of climate and forest management has not been studied widely in Mexican forests. This study evaluated how temperature, precipitation, and evaporation affect the radial growth of Pinus patula under two silvicultural management methods (Silvicultural Development Method–MDS, and the Mexican Method of Irregular Forest Management–MMOBI) and an unmanaged reference site. Dendrochronological data were collected at the tree level from 34 fixed-dimension sites (1000 m²), correlating them with daily climatic information. The dendrochronological series were transformed into basal area increment (BAI, cm² year⁻¹) and modeled using mixed-effects models. Precipitation was the variable with the greatest influence on growth (r = 0.73, January 13 to May 28), while minimum temperature had the least impact (r = 0.37, March 01 to March 22). Maximum temperature (r = -0.58, April 04 to May 15) and evaporation showed negative effects (r = -0.67, April 02 to June 30). The highest BAI was observed in MMOBI ([15.9 ± 0.44] cm² year⁻¹), followed by MDS ([13.0 ± 0.50] cm² year⁻¹) and the reference site ([11.0 ± 0.80] cm² year⁻¹). The mixed-effects model included management method, basal area, tree density, precipitation, and evaporation (R2marginal = 0.46 y R2conditional = 0.70). Although the reference forest has maintained its growth rate, it remains below that of managed forests. Incorporating dendrochronological information into silviculture allows for a more detailed assessment of individual tree responses to climatic disturbances and forest management.

Pinus patula is widely used in production forestry in the Neotropics, but its impact on native biodiversity is still debated. Although species richness has been compared between areas planted with pine and areas of natural regeneration without pine, little has been done about species composition and turnover. This study compared plant diversity and edaphic characteristics between an unmanaged P. patula plantation and an area of secondary vegetation (native forest). Plots were established in each ecosystem to assess species richness, species composition and environmental variables such as pH, leaf litter and canopy cover. Alpha and beta diversity analysis, indicator species and multivariate ordination were used to identify ecological patterns. Nineteen species were recorded, 16 in the native forest and 12 in the pine plantation. Although richness did not show differences, composition varied significantly, with indicator species unique to each ecosystem. Alchornea grandiflora and Guadua angustifolia were indicators of the pine plantation, while Alchornea triplinervia, Clusia multiflora, Cyathea caracasana and Nectandra acutifolia were indicators of the native forest. Leaf litter and pH were lower in the pine plantation and electrical conductivity was higher, suggesting edaphic changes associated with the presence of this species, which could eventually affect the regeneration of native species. Thus, it is recommended that future management strategies be evaluated to mitigate the impact on biodiversity and promote ecosystem restoration.

Abstract The loss of temperate forests in central Mexico has made restoration and monitoring efforts essential. This study evaluated the floristic and structural attributes of reference systems (oak forest and its secondary vegetation) and a four-year-old reforestation site in the metropolitan area of the State of Mexico, northwest of Mexico City. The goal was to compare these systems and identify key attributes to guide restoration strategies. Sampling units were established to collect plant data and measure structural variables. Indicators such as distribution, origin, and synanthropy were analyzed, and the sampling units were classified by similarity. Species richness, importance values by stratum, structural estimators, and the Simpson diversity index were also calculated. Three reference systems were identified: oak forest (BQ), secondary shrub vegetation (VSC), and herbaceous vegetation (VSH). BQ had the highest species richness (70 species), with a low percentage of synanthropic species and over 50% endemism, making it a strong reference system. The reforested areas (RF) were grouped into four clusters, totaling 117 species. RF1 and RF3 showed tree densities similar to BQ, while the other sites require tree replacement and strategies to improve survival. Tree and shrub diversity was lower in the reforested sites, highlighting the need for enrichment. The presence of non-native species underscores the importance of monitoring to prevent invasions. The attributes assessed in this study serve as key tools for guiding restoration efforts aimed at recovering biodiversity and structural complexity.

Gender inequalities can hinder efforts to reduce deforestation and forest degradation. At the same time, forest policies that ignore these inequalities can perpetuate or aggravate them. Given the growing body of research on the human dimensions of forests, there is a need to synthesize this knowledge to identify information gaps and facilitate forest policies that adequately address the gender issues highlighted by scientific literature. This research analyzes case studies on gender and forests in Mexico published between 2010 and 2020 through a systematized literature review. It was found that constructivist and critical approaches to the relationship between gender and environment predominate, focused on ejidos or forest communities in central and southern Mexico and in temperate forests. The three main themes identified are: socio-environmental practices and social reproduction strategies; participation and power in forest governance; and effects of environmental policies on gender. The analysis made it possible to recognize gender patterns in forest management that contribute to inequality and information gaps that need to be addressed. This synthesis can contribute to guide research agendas on gender and forests and to advance the integration of the gender perspective in Mexico's forest policies.