Water scarcity, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, is a critical issue affecting forest management. This study investigates the effects of drought stress on the water requirement and morphological characteristics of two important tree species Turkish pine and Chinaberry. Using a factorial design, the study examines the impact of three age stages (one-year-old, three-year-old, and five-year-old plants) and three levels of drought stress on these species. Microlysimeters of varying sizes were employed to simulate different drought conditions. Soil moisture was monitored to show the effect of the various irrigation schedules. The study also calculated reference crop evapotranspiration (ET₀) using the PMF-56 method and developed plant coefficients (Kc) for the species. Results showed that evapotranspiration increased with soil moisture, peaking during summer and decreasing in winter. Turkish pine exhibited higher plant ET than Chinaberry, particularly among one-year-old seedlings. Drought stress significantly reduced evapotranspiration and water uses for both species, highlighting the importance of efficient water management in afforestation projects. The findings underscore the necessity of selecting drought-resistant species and optimizing irrigation practices to enhance the sustainability of green spaces in arid regions. These insights are crucial for improving urban forestry management and mitigating the impacts of water scarcity in Iran and similar climates globally.

The purpose of this research is to estimate the differences in sales levels between businesses owned by individuals who self-identify as Indigenous (IE) and those who do not (NIE), as well as between males (ME) and females (WE), and how this intersection may affect their sales levels. To accomplish this, an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) is used to compare the means between the groups analyzed, and Tukey’s Honestly Significant Differences (HSD) is used to determine the magnitude and direction of these differences. The results of the study show that indigenous-owned businesses have sales that are 26% lower than the general average, while women-owned businesses have sales that are 70.6% lower in the same comparison. In addition, businesses run by indigenous women have sales that are 93.5% lower on average. These findings suggest that the challenges faced by entrepreneurs reflect the structural inequalities observed in other areas of society and highlight the need for public and private policies focused on reducing these gaps.

Finding the right technique to optimize a complex problem is not an easy task. There are hundreds of methods, especially in the field of metaheuristics suitable for solving NP-hard problems. Most metaheuristic research is characterized by developing a new algorithm for a task, modifying or improving an existing technique. The overall rate of reuse of metaheuristics is small. Many problems in the field of logistics are complex and NP-hard, so metaheuristics can adequately solve them. The purpose of this paper is to promote more frequent reuse of algorithms in the field of logistics. For this, a framework is presented, where tasks are analyzed and categorized in a new way in terms of variables or based on the type of task. A lot of emphasis is placed on whether the nature of a task is discrete or continuous. Metaheuristics are also analyzed from a new approach: the focus of the study is that, based on literature, an algorithm has already effectively solved mostly discrete or continuous problems. An algorithm is not modified and adapted to a problem, but methods that provide a possible good solution for a task type are collected. A kind of reverse optimization is presented, which can help the reuse and industrial application of metaheuristics. The paper also contributes to providing proof of the difficulties in the applicability of metaheuristics. The revealed research difficulties can help improve the quality of the field and, by initiating many additional research questions, it can improve the real application of metaheuristic algorithms to specific problems. The paper helps with decision support in logistics in the selection of applied optimization methods. We tested the effectiveness of the selection method on a specific task, and it was proven that the functional structure can help the decision when choosing the appropriate algorithm.

The human factor of production is a significant player in increased organizational productivity. Due to the contemporary competitive work environment, the millennial in front-line jobs is faced with demanding work activities, resulting in challenges to their psychological well-being. Therefore, exploring the connectedness between work-life balance, employee engagement and psychological well-being of the millennial becomes imperative. Research was conducted, using an ex-post facto research design, among 320 purposively selected front-line millennial employees, with a mean age of 32 years. The instrument administered in a Google Form survey contained a 44-item self-report questionnaire, comprising work-life balance, employee engagement with components as vigor, dedication and absorption, and employee well-being. Data analyzed revealed that work-life balance significantly predicted employee well-being, accounting for 25% variance. The dimensions of employee engagement (vigor, dedication and absorption) collectively accounted for 7% variance in employee well-being. The study establishes the fact that to enhance the psychological well-being of Millennials in front-line jobs, organizational management should design the work structures to allow for work-life balance, which will as well increase their work engagement. They can encourage employees to find meaning and purpose in their work (dedication), provide opportunities for skill development and autonomy (vigor), and create an environment that allows employees to fully immerse themselves in their tasks (absorption). These could be implemented through organizational development strategies and work design. However, future research should target additional variables, replicate the study in different contexts and among another population of employees, employ longitudinal data collection methods, and increase sample sizes. Furthermore, measures should be taken to minimize the impact of social desirability and enhance the generalizability of the research.

To achieve the Paris Agreement's temperature goal, greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced as soon as, and by as much, as possible. By mid-century, CO₂ emissions would need to be cut to zero, and total greenhouse gases would need to be net zero just after mid-century. Achieving carbon neutrality is impossible without carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere through afforestation/reforestation. It is necessary to ensure carbon storage for a period of 100 years or more. The study focuses on the theoretical feasibility of an integrated climate project involving carbon storage, emissions reduction and sequestration through the systemic implementation of plantation forestry of fast-growing eucalyptus species in Brazil, the production of long-life wood building materials and their deposition. The project defines two performance indicators: a) emission reduction units; and b) financial costs. We identified the baseline scenarios for each stage of the potential climate project and developed different trajectory options for the project scenario. Possible negative environmental and reputational effects as well as leakages outside of the project design were considered. Over 7 years of the plantation life cycle, the total CO₂ sequestration is expected to reach 403 tCO₂∙ha⁻¹. As a part of the project, we proposed to recycle or deposit for a long term the most part of the unused wood residues that account for 30% of total phytomass. The full project cycle can ensure that up to 95% of the carbon emissions from the grown wood will be sustainably avoided.

The study intends to identify the existing implementation bottlenecks that hamper the effectiveness of the Ethiopian forest policy and laws in regional states by focusing on the Oromia Regional State. It attempts to address the question, "What are the challenges for the effective implementation of the federal forest policy and law in Ethiopia in general and Oromia Regional State in particular?". The study followed a qualitative research approach, and the relevant data was collected through in-depth interviews from 11 leaders and experts of the policy, who were purposively selected. Furthermore, relevant documents such as the constitutions, forest policies and laws, and government documents were carefully reviewed. Based on this, the study found that there is the dichotomy between the provision of the constitution regarding the forest policy and lawmaking and the constitutional amendment on one hand and the push for genuine decentralization in the Ethiopian federal state on the other. To elaborate, the constitution is rigid for amendment, and it has given the power of forest policy and lawmaking to the federal government. On the other hand, the quest for genuine decentralization requires these powers to be devolved to the regional states. As the constitution is rigid, this may continue to be the major future challenge of the forest policy and lawmaking of the state. This demonstrates a conflict of interests between the two layers of governments, i.e., the federal and regional (Oromia Regional State) governments. Respecting and practicing the constitution may be the immediate solution to this pressing problem.