Monitoring spatiotemporal changes in global change drivers and their effects on semiarid woodlands and forests - fieldwork protocol

TL;DR

This paper describes a training school protocol for monitoring how global changes affect semiarid woodlands and forests, focusing on fieldwork techniques and sustainable management.

Contribution

The paper introduces a standardized fieldwork protocol for monitoring global change effects on semiarid woodlands and forests, suitable for replication in future studies.

Findings

Participants learned and applied methods to assess forest health, including tree physiology, mortality, and soil properties.

The field trip protocol included biodiversity assessments and the study of lichens as indicators of air quality.

Data collected during the fieldwork informed recommendations for sustainable forest management under global change.

Abstract

Training schools play a vital role in COST actions, particularly for young researchers, as they provide opportunities to visit international laboratories and learn new methodologies. In May 2024, CLEANFOREST organized its first training school,
Monitoring Spatiotemporal Changes in Global Change Drivers and Their Effects on Semiarid Woodlands and Forests, held at the Faculty of Science of the Universidade de Lisboa.

The training school included a field trip designed to explore global change drivers and their impacts on semiarid woodlands and forests. Participants engaged in hands-on activities to understand how forest ecosystems interact with key global change factors such as air quality and climate change. They were introduced to various monitoring techniques and parameters for assessing forest health, including ecosystem fluxes, tree physiology, mortality, and regeneration. Additionally, participants examined plant biodiversity and functional ecology, focusing on lichens and their connection to air quality. Soil-related topics, such as the characterization of forest soils and their physico-chemical properties, were also addressed.

Participants applied these methodologies in real-world scenarios, conducting measurements in different grazing management settings to assess their effects on tree growth, biodiversity, and soil properties. They then processed and analyzed the collected data, synthesizing their results to develop recommendations for sustainable forest management in the context of global change.

This paper presents the field trip protocol used at Companhia das Lezírias, where simplified versions of established methodologies for sampling various ecosystem components were employed. The protocol provides a valuable reference for replicating similar studies, ensuring consistency in methodologies for future training and monitoring efforts.

Training schools provide young researchers, especially PhD students, with opportunities to learn new skills by working with experts. In May 2024, CLEANFOREST held its first training school,
Monitoring Spatiotemporal Changes in Global Change Drivers and Their Effects on Semiarid Woodlands and Forests, at the Universidade de Lisboa.

Participants went on a field trip to study how environmental changes, like air quality and climate change, impact forests. They learned methods to monitor forest health, looking at tree growth, soil quality, and biodiversity. The training also included studying organisms like lichens, which reflect air quality, and how different grazing practices affect ecosystems.

Using these experiences, participants analyzed data and suggested ways to manage forests sustainably in response to global environmental challenges.

This paper explains the step-by-step approach from the field trip, offering a guide for future studies.

Figures