Distribution, major threats, and management methods of maple tree species in temperate forests: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
7 affiliations
- 1College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China. [email protected].
- 2Department of Forestry and Climate Science, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia. [email protected].
- 3College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China.
- 4Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.
- 5College of Ecology, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China.
- 6Department of Forestry, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia.
- 7Ethiopian Forest Development, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Abstract
Despite its contribution to multiple ecosystem goods and services, maple tree species distribution, survival, and growth are declining due to multiple interconnected threats. Therefore, inclusive understanding of distributions, threats, and silvicultural management is essential for their sustainability. Currently, there is a lack of a comprehensive review for these species that would facilitate effective management and utilization. Thus, this review aims to synthesize the distribution, major threats, and management methods of maple trees species in temperate regions. The study employed PRISMA methods, incorporating a total of 115 original studies for systematic review and meta-analyses. The mean effect size of the included studies for major threats was positive moderate range (SMD = 0.46) and for sustainable forest management (SMD = 0.44) with an acceptable level of heterogeneity (I² = 7 to 28%) and statistical significance (p < 0.001). Frequent climatic events, along with man-made extreme disturbances, intensive browsing, and disease infestations, pose significant threats to the distribution, growth, and survival of maple trees and forests. Although some studies have explored some sustainable forest management practices mainly harvesting and regeneration and restoration to address these threats, most focus on fewer than ten common maple tree species and overlook many native, endemic, and threatened species, particularly in East Asia. Thus, further research into their current ecological dynamics, biological characteristics, silvicultural management, pest and disease management, and short- and long-term ecological responses and resilience under changing climate conditions should be required.
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BibTeX
@article{kassaye2026distribution,
title = {{Distribution, major threats, and management methods of maple tree species in temperate forests: a systematic review and meta-analysis.}},
author = {Melkamu Kassaye and Dantani Abdulmalik and Zheng Dongliang and Xiao Yu and Wang Jinyang and Dejen Adugna and Ambachew Getnet and Emmanuel Clouds and Gu Huiyan},
journal = {BMC ecology and evolution},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12862-026-02567-z},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972265},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Distribution, major threats, and management methods of maple tree species in temperate forests: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
AU - Melkamu Kassaye
AU - Dantani Abdulmalik
AU - Zheng Dongliang
AU - Xiao Yu
AU - Wang Jinyang
AU - Dejen Adugna
AU - Ambachew Getnet
AU - Emmanuel Clouds
AU - Gu Huiyan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/04
JO - BMC ecology and evolution
DO - 10.1186/s12862-026-02567-z
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972265
AB - Despite its contribution to multiple ecosystem goods and services, maple tree species distribution, survival, and growth are declining due to multiple interconnected threats. Therefore, inclusive understanding of distributions, threats, and silvicultural management is essential for their sustainability. Currently, there is a lack of a comprehensive review for these species that would facilitate effective management and utilization. Thus, this review aims to synthesize the distribution, major threats, and management methods of maple trees species in temperate regions. The study employed PRISMA methods, incorporating a total of 115 original studies for systematic review and meta-analyses. The mean effect size of the included studies for major threats was positive moderate range (SMD = 0.46) and for sustainable forest management (SMD = 0.44) with an acceptable level of heterogeneity (I² = 7 to 28%) and statistical significance (p < 0.001). Frequent climatic events, along with man-made extreme disturbances, intensive browsing, and disease infestations, pose significant threats to the distribution, growth, and survival of maple trees and forests. Although some studies have explored some sustainable forest management practices mainly harvesting and regeneration and restoration to address these threats, most focus on fewer than ten common maple tree species and overlook many native, endemic, and threatened species, particularly in East Asia. Thus, further research into their current ecological dynamics, biological characteristics, silvicultural management, pest and disease management, and short- and long-term ecological responses and resilience under changing climate conditions should be required.
SN - 2730-7182
ER -