Is forest structure better explained by present or historical forest cover? A case study in Brașov, Romania
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19586995 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Dhananjana Rajakaruna (0000-0001-8364-0561), Samira Alhassan (0009-0001-3807-8351), Mihai Daniel Niță (0000-0002-6072-7784, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 24 |
| Pages | 101212 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Trees Forests and People (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2666-7193 • E-ISSN: 2666-7193 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.tfp.2026.101212 |
| OpenAlex | W7133119669 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 42 |
Forest ecosystems are not only shaped by their present conditions but also by their past land uses. Recognizing these influences of historical and current forest cover on forest structure is essential for conserving forest structural heterogeneity. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate how past and present forest cover affect the current forest structure in Brașov, Romania. We examined (i) which forest cover periods best predict present-day forest structure, and (ii) how historical and contemporary forest cover together influence current forest patterns. Forest cover changes were analyzed for five decades from 1970s to 2020s using topographic maps and satellite imagery, while the spatial scale ranged from 30 to 500 m. LiDAR data in 84 plots were collected to calculate seven structural indices. The relationship between forest cover and structural indices was checked using simple and multiple linear regression models. According to the simple linear regression, legacy effects were observed in both the Coefficient of Variation of the Vertical Profile (R2 = 0.24) and the Standard Deviation of the Canopy Height Model (R2 = 0.11) with 2000s forest cover at 100 m, reflecting a two-decade influence on forest structure, while the Vertical Complexity Index (R2 = 0.32) at 30 m responded to a one-decade influence with 2010s forest cover. This was further supported by multiple linear regression modeling. These findings show that forest structure has exhibited both time-lagged and scale-dependent responses to forest cover changes. Therefore, integrating historical data into current forest monitoring can enhance forest structural diversity conservation and management
Forest cover · Forest structure · Unit (ring theory) · Work (physics) · Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies · Plant Ecology and Soil Science · Urban Green Space and Health
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |