Issues

This study aims to map land potential and estimate pine resin yield in Abulo Sibatang Forest Farmers Group (KTH), Laiya Village, enrana Subdistrict, Maros Regency, using drone technology and field data. The research method was carried out by aerial hotography using UAV to produce orthomosaic and land cover maps which were then combined with dendrometric data, specifically trunk iameter and tree height. Data analysis was performed using a regression model and testing the classification accuracy through a confusion atrix. The inventory data showed 12,590 pine trees with a height distribution of 25–27 m (29.5 %), 28–30 m (54.6 %) and ≥30 m (15.9 %). The estimated resin yield from the tall class reached 51,034 kg·yr-1, or more than half of the total production. Factors affecting production included tree morphometric characteristics, particularly diameter at breast height and tree height, supported by spatial and site-related factors. The combination of UAV and field data proved successful in identifying priority tapping areas and improving resource management efficiency. This finding confirms the positive correlation between tree dimensions and resin yield and demonstrates the great potential of UAV technology to support non-timber forest products.

Received: 03 October 2025 / Accepted: 24 April 2026 / Available online: 11 May 2026

Open Access: This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

This study evaluates the trophic spectrum of the Pharaoh Eagle-Owl (Bubo ascalaphus Savigny, 1809), a nocturnal raptor, in the Northern Algerian Sahara (El Menia region) to assess its ecological role in arid ecosystems. Analysis of 92 pellets collected between June and December 2018 revealed dietary composition and seasonal trophic dynamics. A total of 586 prey items representing 36 species across five taxonomic classes were identified. Mammals dominated the diet (69.6 %), followed by birds (10.9 %), insects (10.4 %), arachnids (5.0 %), and reptiles (4.1 %). Desert-adapted rodents formed the principal prey base, with Gerbillus nanus Blanford, 1875, Mus musculus Linnaeus, 1758, and Rattus rattus Linnaeus, 1758 being the most abundant species. Rodents contributed 72.8 % of total biomass, whilst dietary diversity showed marked seasonal variation, peaking during summer months. These findings demonstrate a generalist trophic strategy with pronounced seasonal plasticity, confirming the species’ role as a top predator in Saharan food webs. This baseline supports future biodiversity monitoring and conservation planning in arid ecosystems.

18 February 2026 / Accepted: 04 May 2026 / Available online: 14 May 2026

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The study of ecological and biological characteristics and adaptation mechanisms of speciesin anthropogenically transformed habitats is an important aspect of biodiversity conservation. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that environmental conditions influence the population structure and anatomical and morphological traits of Pyrola chlorantha Sw. in anthropogenically disturbed and natural habitats in the Middle Urals. To address this, we characterised the habitats and analysed the population structure and anatomical–morphological features of the species. Studies have shown that P. chlorantha grows in mixed and small-leaved forest phytocoenoses dominated by Pinus sylvestris L., Populus tremula L. and Betula pendula Roth. Forest communities on industrial dumps are characterised by lower values of tree canopy density, projective cover of the shrub and the herb–shrub layer compared to natural habitats. In all studied sites, P. chlorantha grew in small groups. In anthropogenic habitats, density ranged from 21 to 62 shoots per 100 m2, and in natural habitats from 33 to 106 shoots per 100 m2. All studied populations of P. chlorantha are predominantly vegetative type. Only in the population growing on a reclaimed area of a hydrodump of alluvial gold deposits, the proportions of vegetative and generative shoots were equal. P. chlorantha plants, growing in anthropogenic and natural habitats, did not differ in most morphological characteristics. Adaptation of P. chlorantha to technogenic environmental conditions occurred through rearrangements of the anatomical and morphological parameters of the leaves of generative shoots, involving a decrease in leaf area, an increase in leaf thickness, and a decrease in the total assimilating surface. Correlation analysis demonstrated a statistically significant negative correlation between the total leaf area of generative shoots and habitat light availability, according to Ellenberg indicator values.

Received: 19 March 2026 / Accepted: 05 Maj 2026 / Available online: 14 Maj 2026

Open Access: This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Nepenthes spp. inhabit nutrient-poor environments where nutrient acquisition may involve not only carnivory but also interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). However, information on AMF morphotype diversity associated with endemic Nepenthes species in tropical forest ecosystems remains limited. This study aimed to assess the diversity of AMF in the rhizosphere of Nepenthes pitopangii along the Rore Kautimbu Hiking Trail, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Soil samples were collected from five sampling points, and AMF spores were isolated using wet sieving and decanting followed by centrifugation, and identified based on morphological characteristics. Six AMF morphotypes belonging to two genera, Glomus and Acaulospora, were identified, with Glomus as the dominant genus. Spore density varied among sampling points, while soil conditions were characterised by acidic pH and low phosphorus availability. These conditions may favour AMF occurrence, particularly Glomus, which appears to have higher ecological tolerance to nutrient-limited environments. This study provides initial ecological insights into AMF diversity associated with N. pitopangii and highlights the importance of plant-microbe interactions in nutrient-poor ecosystems. Further studies, incorporating root colonisation and molecular approaches, are recommended.

Received: 07 February 2026 / Accepted: 15 May 2026 / Available online: 21 May 2026

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Urban areas face increasing challenges, including air and water pollution, rising temperatures, and natural resource depletion. The effective management of green infrastructure has the potential to mitigate urban heat, reduce air pollutants, and enhance economic benefits. This study aims to develop a conceptual decision-support model for urban green infrastructure management based on KPI evaluation and smart technologies. The model was demonstrated through a pilot case study for Tsar Simeon Garden in Plovdiv using secondary environmental data (temperature, humidity, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations, and NDVI) and proxy-based estimates of KPIs. Key performance indicators were derived and evaluated using an AHP–TOPSIS framework. In addition, a scenario-based simulation was conducted to assess the potential effect of alternative management strategies, including vegetation enhancement, smart rrigation, and integrated interventions. The proposed framework supports more efficient management of urban green infrastructure, improving cooling, vegetation health, and resource use. The results indicate that KPI-based, data- informed evaluation can enhance decision-making for urban green infrastructure, particularly under data-constrained conditions.

Received: 15 March 2026 / Accepted: 25 May 2026 / Available online: 02 June 2026

Open Access: This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License

The current study aims to characterise the unique dendroflora of Bulgarian Rhodopes and to gather information for conservation-significant plant species. We found a total of 288 arboreal species belonging to 123 genera and 51 families. It represents 65.2 % of all species, 79.4 % of all genera, and 82.3 % of all families of Bulgarian dendroflora. We present a floristic analysis summarizing the information of species distribution across the Western, Central and Eastern Rhodopes floristic sub-regions and their floristic similarity. The analysis of systematic structure of the Rhodopean dendroflora by divisions, classes, families and genera is done for the whole mountains. The distribution of tree and shrub species by biological type and life form is also presented. The analysis of floristic elements follows the classification of Stefanov (1943). Thermophytes, mesotherms, and microtherms dominate in the mountain centre, while most tree species are stationary. Floristic elements according to Walter’s classification show predominance of Mediterranean elements, followed by European floristic elements. Analysis of the altitudinal distribution of tree and shrub species is also presented. The analysis of conservation significance of the studied species compares data from the Red Data Book of Bulgaria (1984, 2015); the List of Rare, Endangered and Endemic Plants of Europe (1983), the 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants (1998), as well as Bulgarian national legislation acts (Biological Diversity Act 2002, 2007). Relic and endemic species for Rhodope dendroflora are presented. The dendroflora from the Bulgarian part of the Rhodope Mountains is the richest among the floristic regions of Bulgaria and has high conservation value for Bulgaria and Europe. Finally, we present a full systematic list of the dendroflora of the Bulgarian Rhodopes.

Received: 23 December 2025 / Accepted: 25 May 2026 / Available online: 02 June 2026

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The study aimed to assess the genetic diversity and population differentiation of Bulgarian Populus tremula L. using chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) markers. Samples were collected from 14 natural populations, and the genetic variation was analysed using PCR–RFLP of six cpDNA regions. A total of 11 cpDNA haplotypes were identified, with the most frequent haplotype occurring in the majority of populations. Haplotypic diversity within populations varied considerably, ranging from monomorphic populations to populations harbouring up to five haplotypes. Overall genetic diversity was moderate to high, while population differentiation was of moderate magnitude, indicating both shared ancestry and local differentiation. Some haplotypes not reported before were identified, indicating distinctive haplotypic compositions and suggesting the presence of regionally important genetic lineages. Comparative analysis with published European data revealed both shared and unique haplotypes. The results are consistent with the hypothesis of Balkans and Bulgaria as part of a complex and important glacial refugium but larger sample set is necessary for more general inferences.

Received: 24 May 2026 / Accepted: 05 June 2026 / Available online: 22 June 2026

Open Access: This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Natural heritage increasingly plays a strategic role in contemporary sustainable tourism policies. Forest landscapes provide essential ecosystem services that support both environmental stability and human well-being. There is limited research specifically addressing how forest environments can support psychophysical balance and well-being. Using an interdisciplinary approach integrating forestry science, recreational studies, and wellness tourism research, the study analyses the potential of forest-based wellness practices such as forest medicine and forest art therapy. The obtained statistical value (p = 0.05) cover the conventional threshold for statistical significance. Nevertheless, the findings indicate that exposure to forest environments and the implementation of forest art therapy may contribute to the reduction of psychological stress, enhancement of emotional resilience, and improvement of oxygenation status through the restoration of mind–body balance. Wellness tourism is rapidly growing globally, with nature-based programmes that support socio-economic sustainability while simultaneously contributing to the conservation of forest environments. The study suggests that natural heritage should be recognised as a strategic resource for health and wellness tourism. This study aims to assess the effects of forest art therapy conducted in Bulgarian forest environments on key indicators of psychological and physiological well-being.

Received: 04 April 2026 / Accepted: 17 June 2026 / Available online: 22 June 2026

Open Access: This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.