Congratulations to our PhD student, Tomiwa Oluwajuwon, on the recent publication of two impactful papers! We're incredibly proud of the contributions Tomiwa's research is making to the fields of forest science and agroforestry.
Paper 1: Describing and Modelling Stem Form of Tropical Tree Species with Form Factor: A Comprehensive Review
Published in Forests, this paper presents a comprehensive review of stem form and its modelling for tropical tree species, with a special focus on the use of form factor.
Key points include:
- Tree shape is influenced by things like soil, climate, tree species, and how the forest is managed.
- The "form factor" (a measure of tree shape) is often used to estimate tree volume and it can be affected by many factors.
- New technologies like laser scanning (TLS) and machine learning could help make predictions about tree shape more accurate, but they are not widely used yet.
- Improving how we measure tree shape and volume helps ensure that forest resources are used sustainably, support climate action, and can lead to better economic outcomes for industries that depend on forests.
Paper 2: Farmers’ perceptions of the practices, benefits and challenges of on-farm tree planting in Akure, Nigeria
Published in Agroforestry Systems, this study assesses farmers' perceptions and motivations behind on-farm tree planting in Nigeria.
The findings highlight:
- 86% of farmers practice on-farm tree planting, with timber trees being more common than fruit trees.
- Direct benefits such as timber, improved crop productivity, and ecosystem services like carbon sequestration motivate adoption.
- Major barriers include lack of technical support, credit, and land tenure issues.
Congratulations Tomiwa on these significant achievements.
