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ArticleExamining visitor feedback on communication education and public awareness materials of an ASEAN heritage park
XV World Forestry Congress, 2-6 May 2022
2022Also available in:
No results found.In the Philippines, ecotourism offers both opportunities and threats to natural and social environment. Sustainable and responsible ecotourism is important to minimize the threats. Mount Makiling Forest Reserve ASEAN Heritage Park (MMFR AHP) as an ecotourism destination continues to serve as a recreational area for the public being the nearest mountain to the capital city, Manila. Effectiveness of the visitor management strategies depend highly on communication. The study aimed to assess the perception of visitors on the communication education and public awareness (CEPA) materials of the MMFR AHP. Results showed that the CEPA materials in MMFR AHP, the 160 respondents identified as useful are directional signs (70%); map (67%); videos (51%); brochures (50%); and flyers (40%). The materials serve as guide, additional information, raises awareness, directions, and estimate distance to respondents. Suggested CEPA materials include trivia boards about MMFR AHP and its resources, exhibit, souvenirs, and infographic materials about flora and fauna. Respondents prefer to learn more about in MMFR AHP include history, natural resources, biodiversity, benefits, and role in influencing art, culture, and society, especially in the locality of MMFR AHP. The study confirmed the effectiveness of the materials to visitors, enhanced awareness, and that different groups of respondents needs different ways of communicating and promoting resources based on their interest. Furthermore, helped in shaping the visitor management strategies for MMFR AHP such as communicating conservation through interpretation program and development of package tour and carrying capacity standards. Development of other CEPA materials and programs to capture responsible visitors, featuring the uniqueness of different points of interests of MMFR AHP, and strengthening the educators for nature tourism for visitors to be more aware on what MMFR AHP can offer and the importance of the natural resources. Keywords: Visitor perception, Protected area management, Park interpretation ID: 3623356 -
DocumentImmersive Forest: Using VR to communicate the impacts of climate change and management practices on future forests
XV World Forestry Congress, 2-6 May 2022
2022Also available in:
No results found.The expected changes in the Earth’s climate could affect substantially how forests contribute to climate mitigation. Education, as a pillar for development and growth, needs practical tools to help future forestry experts better understand the underlying mechanisms and shape adaptive forest management strategies. Three-dimensional (3D) visualization and Virtual Reality (VR) have a great potential to help scientific knowledge transfer and enhance learning in forest management and planning. We developed a software system able to project forest stands under climate change uncertainty, by coupling a forest dynamics and ecosystem services simulator with VR technology.
As a case study, we selected representative forest stands along the climatic gradient of Catalonia, Spain, and projected them 100 years into the future under two climate change scenarios and increasing thinning intensities. Forest dynamics simulations were based on SORTIE-ND spatially explicit process-based model, while ecosystem services estimations relied on statistical models from the literature. The simulated outputs were translated into high fidelity 3D models and visualized in the VR platform developed in the Unity game engine. The VR application allows navigation through different stages of the simulation, exploring the impacts of management prescriptions and climate change scenarios on individual trees and forest ecosystem services.
Our approach can serve as an excellent exercise for forest management practitioners and forestry students. While we specifically focus on its educational potential, the VR tool can facilitate communication between experts and the public on the interactive effects of climate change and management actions on forested areas. Keywords: Climate change, Sustainable forest management, Adaptive and integrated management, Education ID: 3487007 -
DocumentMolecular tools for lophodermella needle cast management in pine forests in Colorado, USA
XV World Forestry Congress, 2-6 May 2022
2022Also available in:
No results found.Needle diseases in conifer stands have increased worldwide due to climate change. In Colorado, USA, Lophodermella needle cast epidemics caused by Lophodermella concolor and L. montivaga affected natural stands of Pinus contorta. Intense severity of needle disease may lead to low growth increments which could impact biomass production and ecosystems goods and services. Lophodermella pathogens are understudied species with limited molecular research that would elucidate phylogenetic relationships, fungal lifestyles, and interactions with host and microbial communities. Scant information about these pathogens could lead to difficulty in formulating efficient strategies to manage emerging needle diseases and in addressing the threat that they might pose in changing environments. This research uses molecular tools to address the relationships and interactions in needle pathosystems. It presents a multi-locus phylogeny showing the relationship of Lophodermella pathogens within Rhytismataceae. Fungal lifestyles and host-pathogen-microbe interactions were also investigated through next generation sequencing of environmental DNA and RNA samples. Molecular data were also used to develop markers for rapid needle pathogen identification. This research recommends further investigations on understudied fungal pathogens in forest ecosystems to address the gaps. Keywords: Biodiversity conservation, Climate change, Sustainable forest management, Genetic resources ID: 3486229
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