Abstract
Forest stands in the semi-arid environment of northern Mongolia have an essential role in controlling ongoing desertification in the surrounding landscape. Over the last decade, the total forest area has decreased dramatically. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of natural regeneration as an essential element for ensuring sustainability of these forests. Based on field measurements from 120 plots in six sites, our assessment tool revealed five qualitative categories of forest regeneration, allowing us to assess impacts of both grazing and environmental conditions on the regeneration process. Grazing is a crucial factor and adversely affects regeneration. For sites with relatively low grazing intensity, low soil moisture levels represent the main reason for reduced regeneration. The approach to classification proposed in this study allows for the identification and interpretation of stand conditions where natural regeneration has failed. This study provides an important foundation to inform decision- making related to land protection and restoration actions. Our findings could be used in comparative studies and, importantly, may aid further mapping of Mongolian forests.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Acker SA, Kertis JA, Pabst RJ (2017) Tree regeneration, understory development, and biomass dynamics following wildfire in a mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana) forest. For Ecol Manag 384:72–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2016.09.047
Anenkhonov OA, Korolyuk AY, Sandanov DV, Liu H, Zverev AA, Guo D (2015) Soil-moisture conditions indicated by field-layer plants help identify vulnerable forests in the forest-steppe of semi-arid Southern Siberia. Ecol Indic 57:196–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.04.012
Asner GP, Elmore AJ, Olander LP, Martin RE, Harris T (2004) Grazing systems, ecosystem responses, and global change. Annu Rev Environ Res 29:261–299. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.energy.29.062403.102142
Batkhuu N-O, Lee DK, Tsogtbaatar J (2011) Forest and forestry research and education in Mongolia. J Sustain For 30(6):600–617. https://doi.org/10.1080/10549811.2011.548761
Bellingham PJ, Richardson SJ, Mason NWH, Veltman CJ, Allen RB, Allen WJ, Barker RJ, Forsyth DM, Nicol S, Ramsey DSL (2016) Introduced deer at low densities do not inhibit the regeneration of a dominant tree. For Ecol Manag 364:70–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2015.12.013
Belsky AJ, Blumenthal DM (1997) Effects of livestock grazing on stand dynamics and soils in upland forests of the interior west. Conserv Biol 11(2):315–327
Bohannon J (2008) The big thaw reaches Mongolia's Pristine North. Science 319(5863):567–568. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.319.5863.567
Bondarev A (1997) Age distribution patterns in open boreal Dahurican larch forests of Central Siberia. For Ecol Manag 93(3):205–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(96)03952-7
Breiman L (2001) Random forests. Mach Learn 45(1):5–32. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010933404324
Callegaro L (2012) Electrical impedance: principles, measurement, and applications. Cambridge University Press, Boca Raton, p 308
Child DR, Byington EK, Hansen HH (1992) Goats in the mixed hardwoods in the southeastern United States. In: Baker FH, Jones RK (eds) Multispecies grazing. Morrilton, Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development, pp 149–158
Dulamsuren Ch, Hauck M, Bader M, Osokhjhargal D, Oyungerel S, Nyambayar S, Runge M, Leuschner C (2009) Water relations and photosynthetic performance in Larix sibirica growing in the forest-steppe ecotone of northern Mongolia. Tree Physiol 29(1):99–110. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpn008
Dulamsuren Ch, Hauck M, Leuschner C (2010) Recent drought stress leads to growth reductions in Larix sibirica in the western Khentey. Mongolia. Glob Chang Biol 16(11):3024–3035
Erdenesan E (2016) Livestock Statistics in Mongolia. https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/ess/documents/apcas26/presentations/APCAS-166.3.5_-_Mongolia_-_Livestock_Statistics_in_Mongolia.pdf[accessed 22.1.2018].
Ermakov N, Cherosov M, Gogoleva P (2002) Classification of ultracontinental boreal forests in central Yakutia. Folia Geobotanica 37(4):419–440. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02803256
FAO (2015) Mongolia—global forest resources assessment 2015 – Country Report. Food and agriculture organization of the United Nations, Rome, p 97
Fleenor R (2016) Plant Guide for Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium). https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_chan9.pdf [accessed 22.1.2018].
Genxu W, Shengnan L, Hongchang H, Yuanshou L (2009) Water regime shifts in the active soil layer of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau permafrost region, under different levels of vegetation. Geoderma 149(3–4):280–289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2008.12.008
Genxu W, Guangsheng L, Chunjie L (2012) Effects of changes in alpine grassland vegetation cover on hillslope hydrological processes in a permafrost watershed. J Hydrol 444–445:22–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.03.033
GIZ (2016) Forest atlas. www.forest-atlas.mn [accessed 14.9.2017].
Gravis GF, Zabolotnik SI, Sukhodrovsky VL, Gavrilova MK, Lisun AM (1974) Geocryological conditions in the People’s Republic of Mongolia. Nauka Publishing, Moscow, p 200
Hair JFJ, Hult TGH, Ringle C, Sarstedt MA (2013) Primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). SAGE Publications, Thousand Oaks, p 307
Hédl R, Svátek M, Dančák M, Rodzay AW, Salleh AB, Kamariah AS (2009) A new technique for inventory of permanent plots in tropical forests: a case study from lowland dipterocarp forest in Kuala Belalong, Brunei Darussalam. Blumea Biodiversity Evol Biogeogr Plants 54:124–130. https://doi.org/10.3767/000651909X475482
Hilbig W, Knapp HD (1983) Vegetationsmosaik und Florenelemente an der Wald-Steppen-Grenze im Chentej-Gebirge (Mongolei): a case study from lowland dipterocarp forest in Kuala Belalong, Brunei Darussalam. Flora 174:1–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-2530(17)31370-1
James TM (2011) Temperature sensitivity and recruitment dynamics of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica) and Siberian spruce (Picea obovata) in northern Mongolia’s boreal forest: a case study from lowland dipterocarp forest in Kuala Belalong, Brunei Darussalam. For Ecol Manag 262:629–636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2011.04.031
Juřička D, Sobotka M, Pangrác J, Brtnický M, Kynický J (2014) Possibilities of measuring with Z-Metr III in extreme natural conditions of permafrost areas in the north and north-west Mongolia. In: Pařílková J, Procházka L (eds) Eureka 2014, 2nd conference and working season within the frame of the international program EUREKA. Publisher VUTIUM, Brno, pp 87–96
Juřička D, Muchová M, Elbl J, Pecina V, Kynický J, Brtnický M, Rosická Z (2016) Construction of remains of small-scale mining activities as a possible innovative way how to prevent desertification. Int J Environ Sci Technol 13(6):1405–1418. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-016-0967-6
Juřička D, Novotná J, Houška J, Pařílková J, Hladký J, Pecina V, Cihlářová H, Burnog M, Elbl J, Rosická Z, Kynický J, Brtnický M (2018) Large-scale permafrost degradation as a primary factor in Larix sibirica forest dieback in the Khentii massif, northern Mongolia. Journal of Forestry Research 88:1–12
Kanoun O (2011) Lecture notes on impedance spectroscopy: measurement, modelling and applications. CRC Press, Boca Raton, p 112
Kaya A, Fang HY (1997) Identification of contaminated soils by dielectric constant and electrical conductivity J Environ Engrg 123:169–177. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1997)123:2(169)
Kokelj SV, Riseborough D, Coutts R, Kanigan JCN (2010) Permafrost and terrain conditions at northern drilling-mud sumps: impacts of vegetation and climate change and the management implications. Cold Reg Sci Technol 64(1):46–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2010.04.009
Kooijman AM, Emmer IM, Fanta J, Sevink J (2000) Natural regeneration potential of the degraded Krkonoše forests. Land Degrad Dev 11(5):459–473. https://doi.org/10.1002/1099-145X(200009/10)11:5%3c459:AID-LDR407%3e3.0.CO;2-F
Liaw A, Wiener M (2002) Classification and regression by RandomForest. The Newsletter of the R Project 2–3:18–22
Lioubimtseva E, Cole R, Adams JM, Kapustin G (2005) Impacts of climate and land-cover changes in arid lands of Central Asia. J Arid Environ 62(2005):285–308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2004.11.005
Lkhagvadorj D, Hauck M, Dulamsuren C, Tsogtbaatar J (2013) Pastoral nomadism in the forest-steppe of the Mongolian Altai under a changing economy and a warming climate. J Arid Environ 88:82–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2012.07.019
Ludwig R, Dorjsuren Ch, Baatarbileg N (2014) Manual for multipurpose national forest inventory field assessment. Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Ulaanbaatar, p 43
Maasri A, Gelhaus J (2011) The new era of the livestock production in Mongolia: Consequences on streams of the Great Lakes Depression. Sci Total Environ 409(22):4841–4846. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.08.005
Marin A (2010) Riders under storms: Contributions of nomadic herders’ observations to analysing climate change in Mongolia. Global Environmental Change 20(1):162–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2009.10.004
McCune B, Mefford MJ. 2011. PC-ORD. Multivariate Analysis of Ecological Data, Version 6.0 for Windows 2011. MjM Software, Gleneden Beach, 337 p.
Mitchel FJG, Kirby KJ (1990) The impact of large herbivores on the conservation of semi-natural woods in the British uplands. Forestry 63(4):333–353
Mongolian Forest Law. 2013. Mongolian Law on Forest. A revised version, Government Bulletin No. 22, 2012. Ulaanbaatar: Ministry of Environment and Green Development of Mongolia, p 66.
Mongolian Statistics Information Service (2017) Number of livestock. https://www.1212.mn/statHtml/statHtml.do?orgId=976&tblId=DT_NSO_1001_021V1&conn_path=I2&language=en [accessed 22.1.2018].
Mookhor K, Dulamsuren C, Dorjburegdaa L, Leuschner Ch, Hauck M (2013) Contrasting responses of seedling and sapling densities to livestock density in the Mongolian forest-steppe. Plant Ecol 214(1):1391–1403. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-013-0259-x
Mühlenberg M, Appelfelder J, Hoffmann H, Ayush E, Wilson K (2012) Structure of the montane taiga forests of West Khentii, Northern Mongolia. Journal of Forest Science 58(2):45–56
Oswald BP, Neuenschwander LF (1993) Microsite Variability and Safe Site Description for Western Larch Germination and Establishment. Bull Torrey Bot Club 120(2):148–156
Oyuntuya S, Dorj B, Shurentsetseg B, Bayarjargal E (2015) Agrometeorological information for the adaptation to climate change. In: Badmaev NB, Khutakova CB (eds), Soils of Steppe and Forest Steppe Ecosystems of Inner Asia and Problems of Their Sustainable Utilization, 1st edn. Buryat State Academy of Agriculture named after V.R. Philipov, Ulan-Ude, pp 135–140. doi: 10.1016/S0168–1923(00)00110–6
Pařílková J, Radkovský K (2011) Z-meter III – User’s Manual. Print Copy General Ltd, Brno, p 25
Pejchal M, Šimek P (2012) Evaluation of potential of woody species vegetation components in objects of landscape architecture. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae. Brunensis 60:199–204
Reimoser F, Armstrong H, Suchant R (1999) Measuring forest damage of ungulates: what should be considered? For Ecol Manag 120(1–3):47–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(98)00542-8
Sankey TT, Montagne C, Graumlich L, Lawrence R, Nielsen J (2006) Lower forest-grassland ecotones and 20th Century livestock herbivory effects in northern Mongolia. For Ecol Manag 233(1):36–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2006.05.070
Sato T, Kimura F, Kitoh A (2007) Projection of global warming onto regional precipitation over Mongolia using a regional climate model. J Hydrol 333(1):144–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2006.07.023
Sharkhuu N. 2003. Recent changes in the permafrost of Mongolia. In: Philips M, Springman SM, Arenson LU (eds), Proceedings of the 8th international conference on permafrost, 21–25 July 2003. Zurich: CEC press, pp 1029–1034.
Sternberg T, Thomas D, Middleton N (2011) Drought dynamics on the Mongolian steppe, 1970–2006. Int J Climatol 31:1823–1830. https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.2195
Thomas DSG, Middleton NJ (1994) Desertification: exploding the myth. Wiley-Blackwell, New Jersey, p 208
Tsogtbaatar J (2004) Deforestation and reforestation needs in Mongolia. For Ecol Manag 201:57–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2004.06.011
Tutubalina OV, Rees WG (2001) Vegetation degradation in a permafrost region as seen from space: Noril'sk (1961–1999). Cold Reg Sci Technol 32(1–2):191–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-232X(01)00049-0
Vallentine JF (2001) Grazing management, 2nd edn. Academic Press, San Diego, p 659
Yang X, Ci L, Zhang KJ (2006) Artificial woodland degradation in semi-arid agro-pastoral transitional area: conceptual model and status assessment. J For Res 17(3):193–196. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-006-0045-x
Ykhanbai H (2010) Mongolia forestry outlook study. Asia-pacific forestry sector outlook study II: working paper no. APFSOS II/WP/2009/21. https://www.fao.org/docrep/014/am616e/am616e00.pdf [accessed 22.1.2018].
Yuan XZR, Song C, Wang H, Zhang J (2010) Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in PEM fuel cells. Springer, London, p 420
Acknowledgements
We thank for support and background based on the Memorandum of Understanding provided by the Mongolian University of Life Sciences, Mongolian University of Science and Technology and the active cooperation with the Czech Embassy in Ulaanbaatar, especially Mr. Oldřich Zajíček.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Project funding: This work was supported by funding provided by the project CEITEC 2020 (LQ1601), project of the Czech Development Agency CzDA-RO-MN-2014-6-31210 and the Research Fund of the FFWT at Mendel University in Brno (Reg. Number: LDF_PSV_2017008).
The online version is available at http://www.springerlink.com
Corresponding editor: Zhu Hong.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Juřička, D., Kusbach, A., Pařílková, J. et al. Evaluation of natural forest regeneration as a part of land restoration in the Khentii massif, Mongolia. J. For. Res. 31, 1773–1786 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-019-00962-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-019-00962-5