This study explores the perspectives and adaptive strategies of forest stakeholders across five regions of Europe, North to South-Finland, Lithuania, Romania, Serbia, and Greece-regarding climate change challenges in forestry. 129 stakeholders were surveyed, including forest owners, professionals, environmental NGOs, government representatives, and recreationists, who pointed at soil quality, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and timber production as the main concerns. Regional threats varied, with storms and pests prevailing in Finland, illegal logging in Lithuania, Romania and Serbia, and fires and unsustainable grazing in Greece. Proposed solutions emphasise active forest management, stakeholder engagement and policy reforms. While Finland and Serbia are optimistic about future forest resilience, Lithuania and Romania are neutral. Greece shows mixed reactions, mainly due to concerns about the political will to implement effective forest policy. The study highlights nuanced regional responses to climate-related forest challenges and the need for region-specific approaches to forest management and policy, with broader implications for environmental governance strategies.

Black truffle, Tuber melanosporum Vittad., production is increasing due to an improvement in cultivation management and to the demand for this highly appreciated fungus. However, this intensification of truffle cultivation has led to the appearance of problems related to pest incidence. Specifically, the truffle beetle, Leiodes cinnamomeus (Panzer, 1793) (Coleoptera: Leiodidae), causes significant losses in black truffle marketability. However, its biology is still poorly known, and no effective agro-ecological methods exist to mitigate its damage to the truffles. This study aimed at assessing the population dynamics of L. cinnamomeus over four seasons (2019-2023) in an orchard located in NE Spain and relating these dynamics to weather variables and damage to truffle fruit bodies. Moreover, we described the diversity of arthropods captured in the traps in search of potential natural enemies of this beetle. The maximum population peak was observed in November, except for a single season in which it occurred in December. Moreover, the sex ratio was balanced (0.54 on average), but it varied over the growing season and among years. Significant and positive relationships of the population density of truffle beetles with air temperature and relative humidity were observed. The number of beetles per trap and day was strongly linked to heat accumulation. Finally, the Carabid Percus (Pseudopercus) patruelis (L. Daufour, 1820) was identified as a natural enemy of L. cinnamomeus. These results could be used in the future for monitoring and predicting truffle beetle populations.

Monilinia spp., which causes brown rot, is one of the most damaging pathogens in stone fruits. Researchers are exploring epiphytic and endophytic microorganisms with the potential to suppress pathogens, control pathogenic microorganisms, and/or promote plant growth. In this study, microorganisms with antagonistic activity against three Monilinia species were isolated from plum orchard soil and plum fruits. Antagonism tests in vitro showed strong antagonistic properties of six strains of bacteria and two yeast-like fungi against M. fructigena, M. fructicola, and M. laxa, with growth inhibition from 45.5 to 84.6%. The antagonists were identified and characterized at the genetic level using whole genome sequencing (WGS). Genes involved in antibiotic resistance, virulence, secondary metabolite synthesis, and plant growth promotion were identified and characterized through genome mapping, gene prediction, and annotation. None of the microorganisms studied were predicted to be pathogenic to humans. The results of this study indicate that the bacteria Bacillus pumilus, B. velezensis, two strains of Lysinibacillus agricola, Pseudomonas chlororaphis isolated from stone fruit orchard soil, and the yeast-like fungus Aureobasidium pullulans, isolated from plums, are promising candidates for the biological control of Monilinia spp.

This study aimed to evaluate ozone (O3) phytotoxic potential using AOT40F (accumulated O3 concentration over a threshold of 40 ppb for forest protection), document visible foliar O3 injury across eight forest monitoring plots, analyse MDA (malondialdehyde) content in leaves and needles, and assess the relationship between visible injury and plot conditions. Initial findings are based on data from the 2021 and 2022 vegetation seasons. AOT40F values exceeded the critical level of 5 ppmh-1 at all plots, with higher values in 2022. The correlation between AOT40F and visible injury was inconsistent; in 2021, minimal visible O3 injuries were observed, while these were more frequent in 2022, notably on Fagus sylvatica leaves. The altitude effect on O3 concentration indicates greater vegetation damage at higher altitudes. In contrast, the AOT40F-altitude relation was not significant. The 2021 vegetation season was characterised by lower temperatures and higher relative air humidity and soil moisture in comparison to 2022. Stomatal conductance conditions were similar in both years, except for lower soil moisture in 2022. Soil moisture, air humidity, and temperature together accounted for about 50% of the variance in visible injury in 2022. The findings suggest that the AOT40F capability for predicting damage to vegetation is limited and highlight the importance of future research focusing on stomatal O3 flux-based approaches.

Mining activities have emerged as major contributors to environmental damage. This paper offers an analyse of the actual situation of environmental damages caused by mining activities in Europe. Alarmingly, pollution from mining activities in the European Union is increasing. Surface and underground mining have detrimental effects on air and water quality, land degradation, waste disposal, noise pollution, deforestation and loss of biodiversity, endangered species, microbiota, economy, and health. Moreover, the risk of dam destruction because of climate change is increased. Globally this fact ranked Europe in second place in terms of dangerousness. The situation of protected species is critical and their status remains poor. The rehabilitation cost is exorbitant, and enforcement of regulations is lacking. It is evident that, due to economic demand for metals, mining will playa central role in EU's future despite the growing emphasis on green initiatives and transition. Unfortunately, public awareness regarding environmental impact of mining activities is insufficient, and their voices are often disregarded. In order to reduce the negative impact of mining on the environment, economy and public health, it is necessary to take urgent political and technical measures. This paper aims to present a comprehensive overview and offer suggestions for future actions.

Featured Application The Middle European ecotype of Cd hyperaccumulator Solanum nigrum L. ssp. nigrum was found to show extraordinarily strong tolerance to high contents of Cd in soil (over 50 mg kg-1 Cd) and high Cd accumulation capacity at this concentration range. Its adapted A50 variety obtained from the seeds of first-generation plants grown in soil with 50 mg kg-1 Cd appeared to display further considerable enhancement of resistance to Cd stress, accumulation capacity, and healthy state. This makes the Middle European ecotype and its adapted variety A50 particularly useful to sustainable decontamination of heavily polluted hot spots in degraded post-industrial areas.Abstract The Cd hyperaccumulator Solanum nigrum L. exhibits a cosmopolitan character and proven high and differentiated efficiency. This suggests the possibility of optimizing its Cd phytoremediation capacity and applicability through searching among remote ecotypes/genotypes. However, the extensive studies on this hyperaccumulator have been limited to Far East (Asian) regions. Pioneer pot experiments on the Middle European ecotype of S. nigrum within a concentration range of 0-50 mg kg-1 Cd in soil revealed its Cd phytoremediation capacity to be comparable to Asian ecotypes but with a fundamentally different Cd tolerance threshold. While biomass of the Asian ecotypes declined sharply at Csoil approximate to 10 mg kg-1 Cd, in the Middle European ecotype, a gradual mild biomass decrease occurred within the whole Csoil approximate to 0-50 mg kg-1 Cd range with no toxic symptoms. Its adapted A50 variety was obtained from the seeds of first-generation plants grown in soil with Csoil approximate to 50 mg kg-1 Cd. In this variety, Cd tolerance, accumulation performance, and all physiological parameters (chlorophyll, carotenoids, RuBisCO, and first- and second-line defense anti-oxidant activity) were significantly enhanced, while cell damage by ROS was considerably lesser. This makes the Middle European ecotype and its adapted variety A50 particularly useful to sustainable decontamination of heavily polluted hot spots in degraded post-industrial areas.

The urgency of protecting ecosystems and their recovery from contamination has been highlighted in several recent European strategies because Europe's biodiversity and landscapes are declining rapidly due to different human pressures. Despite the existence of EU and national laws addressing environmental contamination, practical procedures are often missing. For example, competent authorities must deal promptly and effectively with environmental accidents, noncompliance, and criminal offenses but relevant tools that facilitate these processes are often lacking. For example, thorough planning is crucial for effective investigation and assessment to improve environmental damage assessments in line with the European Environmental Liability Directive (ELD, 2004/35/EC). With regard to soils, a specific European legislation for their protection, the European Soil Monitoring Law, is currently being developed. However, it is crucial that this law bridges the gaps between existing chemical regulations and that it aligns with current European strategies for environmental protection and sustainability. Continuous feedback of soil monitoring results to regulatory frameworks will be essential. This feedback loop ensures that chemical regulations are relevant and effective in protecting soil health. In this context, development and sharing of effective and practical procedures for recovering ecosystems from contamination are crucial. This was the case at the RemTech Europe meeting, which was held online and onsite in Ferrara, Italy, in September 2022. The discussion covered all aspects of environmental contaminants. It ranged from the basic understanding of these contaminants to the various types that pose a threat to organisms, studies of their environmental fate, detection methods, and sustainable practices for contaminant management. The special series dedicated to RemTech Europe 2022 is particularly relevant to these purposes and resulted in six articles that were selected from oral presentations. The articles emphasize the need for integrated approaches to risk management and remediation to address the problems of soil, sediment, and groundwater contamination. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-5. (c) 2024 The Author(s). Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

In light of the growing plastic waste problem worldwide, including in agriculture, this study focuses on the usefulness of both conventional, non-degradable plastics and environmentally friendly bioplastics in the agricultural sector. Although conventional plastic products are still essential in modern, even ecological agriculture, the increasing contamination by these materials, especially in a fragmented form, highlights the urgent need to search for alternative, easily biodegradable materials that could replace the non-degradable ones. According to the literature, polymers are widely used in agriculture for the preparation of agrochemicals (mostly fertilizers) with prolonged release. They also play a role as functional polymers against pests, serve as very useful super absorbents of water to improve crop health under drought conditions, and are commonly used as mulching films, membranes, mats, non-woven fabrics, protective nets, seed coatings, agrochemical packaging, or greenhouse coverings. This widespread application leads to the uncontrolled contamination of soil with disintegrated polymeric materials. Therefore, this study highlights the possible applications of bio-based materials as alternatives to conventional polyolefins or other environmentally persistent polymers. Bio-based polymers align with the strategy of innovative agricultural advancements, leading to more productive farming by reducing plastic contamination and adverse ecotoxicological impacts on aquatic and terrestrial organisms. On the other hand, advanced polymer membranes act as catching agents for agrochemicals, protecting against environmental intoxication. The global versatility of polymer applications in agriculture will not permit the elimination of already existing technologies involving polymers in the near future. However, in line with ecological trends in modern agriculture, more green polymers should be employed in this sector. Moreover, we highlight that more comprehensive legislative work on these aspects should be undertaken at the European Union level to guarantee environmental and climate protection. From the EU legislation point of view, the implementation of a unified, legally binding system on applications of bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics should be a priority to be addressed. In this respect, the EU already demonstrates an initial action plan. Unfortunately, these are still projected directions for future EU policy, which require in-depth analysis.

The frequent outbreaks of European spruce bark beetle Ips typographus (L.) have destroyed huge amounts of Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) forests in central and Northern Europe. Identifying the risk factors and estimating the damage level is important for strategic damage control. The risk factors of forest damage by spruce bark beetles have mostly been analyzed on the landscape scale, while the in-stand risk factors have been less investigated. This study aims at exploring the local-scale risk factors in a flat area with spruce-dominated forest in southern Sweden. The investigated factors include four abiotic factors, i.e., soil wetness, solar radiation, slope gradient, and aspect, and three biotic factors, i.e., the number of deciduous trees and trees that died from attacks in previous years that remained (TreesLeft) and removed (TreesRemoved) from the forest stand. We put up 24 pheromone bags in six stands attacked by bark beetle in the previous years, resulting in different numbers of infested trees in each plot. We explored in which microenvironment a pheromone bag resulted in more colonization, the impact radius of each factor, and the necessary factors for a risk model. The environmental factors were obtained from remote sensing-based products and images. A generalized linear model (GLM) was used with the environmental factors as the explanatory variables and the damage levels as the response variables, i.e., the number of attacked trees for the plot scale, and healthy/infested for the single-tree scale. Using 50 m and 15 m radius of the environmental factors resulted in the best fit for the model at plot and individual tree scales, respectively. At those radii, the damage risk increased both at plot and individual tree level when spruce were surrounded by more deciduous trees, surrounded by dead trees that had been removed from the forest, and spruces located at the north and east slopes (315 degrees-135 degrees of aspect, > 2 degrees slope). Soil wetness, solar radiation, and remaining standing dead trees in the surrounding did not significantly impact the damage level in the microenvironment of the study area. The GLM risk model yielded an overall accuracy of 0.69 in predicting individual trees being infested or healthy. Our efforts to investigate the risk factors provide a context for wall-to-wall mapping in-stand infestation risks, using remote sensing-based data.

New soils formed after glacier retreat can provide insights into the rates of soil formation in the context of accelerated warming due to climate change. Recently deglacierized terrains (since the Little Ice Age) are subject to weathering and pedogenesis, and freshly exposed sediments are prone to react readily with the environment. This study aims to determine the impact of parent material and time on soil physical and chemical properties of nine proglacial landscapes distributed in the Tropical Andes and Alps. A total of 188 soil samples were collected along chronosequences of deglacierization and from sites that differed in terms of parent material and classified following three parent material groups: (1) Granodiorite-Tonalite (GT), (2) Gneiss-Shales-Schists (GSS), and (3) Mont-Blanc Granite (MBG). We determined physical and chemical soil properties such as contents of clay, silt, sand, organic carbon, bulk density (BD), pH, extractable cation (exCa, exMg, exK), elemental composition by Xray fluorescence (Al, Si, P, S, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Hg, Pb) and ICP-MS (Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, P, S, Zn), and mineral phase (XRD diffraction analysis). Parent material-controlled particle-size distribution, SOC, pH, available P, exCa, and exMg, whereas time since deglacierization only affected SOC and P, and exMg globally. Most of the significant differences in soil properties between parent material groups occurred within the first 17 years after deglacierization, and then we observed a homogenization between sites. While the higher SOC and P contents observed within the GT Andean sites might be due to the parent material composition leading to faster initial soil formation, we identified potential As, Cu, Mo, and Mn toxicity within those soils. Our study highlights the need to investigate further proglacial soil's buffering capacity and carbon sequestration to globally inform the conservation and management of novel proglacial ecosystems.