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Forest Ecosystem Services and Landscape Design: 2nd Edition

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A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Economics, Policy, and Social Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 January 2025 | Viewed by 18852

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Dr. Radu-Daniel Pintilii

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Department of Human and Economic Geography, University of Bucharest, 1, Nicolae Bălcescu, 010041 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: forests; land use and land cover; tourism; GIS
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural and anthropogenic ecosystems can bring certain benefits to human communities, which humans can use to increase well-being. Forest ecosystem services currently play an important role; they are of both direct and indirect interest to specialists from different fields, and are receiving the attention of political decision markers. Knowledge of these forest services has become increasingly important in landscape management, as they may provide solutions for some of the problems of modern society. The structure of ecosystem services is represented by four main pillars:

Provisioning services as primary resources (timber and non-timber forest products, fuel, wildlife habitat);
Regulating services through the self-regulation capacity of forest systems (climate, water, disease regulation);
Supporting services, of rather high importance but often ignored (water cycle in Nature, water regulation, carbon sequestration, adaptation to climate change, soil formation);
Cultural services (offered as support benefits with a role in spiritual enrichment, knowledge development, tourism and leisure, reflection and aesthetics).

Landscape is also regarded as an important resource; its efficient valorization could contribute to the increase of environment quality and human communities’ well-being. A systemic sustainable approach to landscape design is critical for the future of both the present and future generations.

The Special Issue, “Forest Ecosystem Services and Landscape Design”, encourages the submission of integrated multi- or interdisciplinary contributions related to forestry, including experimental studies, monitoring approaches and models, to promote the knowledge of conservation, as well as the management of forest ecosystems and landscape design. All theoretical, methodological, practical (qualitative and quantitative), GIS and remote sensing research is welcomed.

Dr. Radu-Daniel Pintilii
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

forest disturbance
forest management
ecosystem services
human and communities’ well-being
urban and rural landscapes
landscape design and modeling
landscape protection and conservation

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 2624 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Composition of Natural Forest Types—Long-Term Goals for Sustainable Forest Management

by Gheorghe-Marian Tudoran

Forests 2024, 15(7), 1196; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15071196 - 10 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 894

Abstract

The high stability of stands with structures similar to natural ecosystems justifies adopting their composition as a management goal. Increasing the proportion of spruce in mixed forests and in deciduous forests in the Romanian Carpathian region, against the backdrop of climate change, may affect their stability. The natural distribution of tree species was investigated to establish natural forest types for defining future stand compositions. A forest in the Făgăraș Mountains of the Southeastern Carpathians was selected, and the mapping results were applied to a management unit of 4303.2 ha. Site conditions (e.g., altitude, exposure, etc.) are ecologically determined factors influencing the natural distribution of tree species and significantly influence species proportions. These factors, incorporated into models, estimate species proportions in future stand compositions with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 20%–24%. By adopting forest-type compositions as a management goal, the composition at the management unit level approaches that of natural ecosystems existing in 1950: Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) will decrease from 80.5% to 32.4%, while European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) will increase from 12.5% to 41.7%, Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) from 0.6% to 15.8%, and other species from 6.4% to 10.1%. Restoring ecosystems affected by their transformation into spruce monocultures leads to increased biodiversity and mitigates the effects of climate change, ensuring the long-term functionality of forest ecosystems, which are essential conditions for sustainable forest management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecosystem Services and Landscape Design: 2nd Edition)

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19 pages, 13868 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Ecological Restoration Effectiveness of Poverty Alleviation Relocation through Carbon Storage Analysis: Insights from Karst Regions

by Qing Feng, Zhongfa Zhou, Quan Chen, Changli Zhu and Lu Zhang

Forests 2024, 15(6), 1006; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15061006 - 7 Jun 2024

Viewed by 811

Abstract

The Poverty Alleviation Relocation (PAR) policy is widely regarded as an effective approach for breaking the cycle of ecological vulnerability and poverty. However, quantitative research on the ecological restoration effectiveness of PAR lacks sufficient experimental data support. This study focuses on the karst region and employs analysis methods such as volume-derived biomass and correlation analysis to evaluate the impact of PAR on carbon storage in forest ecosystems using on-site experimental data. The objective is to enhance and broaden the research framework for assessing PAR’s ecological restoration effectiveness. The findings reveal that, compared to the pre-PAR implementation period in 2015, the study area experienced an 8.16% increase in forest land area and a 6.57% increase in carbon storage after six years of PAR implementation in 2021. Following PAR implementation, carbon storage in the stone desertification area surged by 14.31%, indicating a significant correlation between PAR households and carbon storage variables. In the karst area, carbon storage increased by 4.34%, exhibiting a significant correlation between the two variables. Conversely, in the non-karst area, carbon storage rose by 5.01%, but no significant correlation was observed between the variables. Furthermore, post-PAR implementation, there is a discernible trend of stronger carbon storage enhancement with increasing distance from the relocated PAR households. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecosystem Services and Landscape Design: 2nd Edition)

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14 pages, 12149 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dendrogeomorphological Reconstruction of Rockfall Activity in a Forest Stand, in the Cozia Massif (Southern Carpathians, Romania)

by Adriana-Bianca Ovreiu, Constantin-Răzvan Oprea, Andreea Andra-Topârceanu and Radu-Daniel Pintilii

Forests 2024, 15(1), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010122 - 8 Jan 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1100

Abstract

Determining the spatio-temporal patterns of rockfalls, such as the zonation of hazards and the assessment of associated risks, can be challenging due to poor historical archives. Dendrogeomorphological methods cover this lack of data and provide reliable reconstructions of rockfall activities over several centuries. These methods are based on the signals recorded in the tree rings that are affected by the mechanical impact of falling rock fragments. In this study, we analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution of rockfalls in a 0.19 ha forest area in the Southern Carpathians. We collected 170 samples (100 increment cores and 70 stem discs) from all 40 Picea abies (L.) Karst trees identified in the study area (1 tree/47 m²). This allowed us to date 945 events between 1817 and 2021, which we then compared with available weather records. Our results show the main trajectory of falling rock fragments from the source area, as well as significant temporal variations in process activity. These variations correlate only slightly with fluctuations in meteorological parameters. Despite the expected intensification of natural hazards due to climate warming, our study area shows a general trend towards a slight decrease in rockfall activity at present. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecosystem Services and Landscape Design: 2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 1538 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Leisure Involvement, Leisure Benefits, and Subjective Well-Being of Bicycle Riders in an Urban Forest Park: The Moderation of Age

by Wenguang Geng, Qian Wan, Hongyu Wang, Yushunan Dai, Lisheng Weng, Meng Zhao, Ying Lei and Yumin Duan

Forests 2023, 14(8), 1676; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14081676 - 18 Aug 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1806

Abstract

The prominence of participating in outdoor leisure activities has gained significance in individuals’ lives as a result of the rapid growth of the economy and the rise in available leisure time. The present study employed structural equation modeling to examine the relationships among leisure involvement, the three distinct dimensions of leisure benefits (physiological benefits, psychological benefits, and social benefits), and subjective well-being of bicycle riders. Moreover, the moderating effect of age was also investigated. A field survey was undertaken within an urban forest park, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, China, in order to gather data, resulting in the collection of 512 questionnaires that were deemed usable. The results suggest that leisure involvement has a significant and positive impact on bicycle riders’ physiological, psychological, and social benefits, as well as their overall subjective well-being. The subjective well-being of individuals is positively influenced by the physiological, psychological, and social benefits. Additionally, the results of the analysis on the moderating effects suggest that age significantly moderates the relationships between leisure involvement and leisure benefits. The present study also addresses the theoretical and practical implications, limitations, and potential avenues for future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecosystem Services and Landscape Design: 2nd Edition)

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21 pages, 3448 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comprehensive Evaluation of the Design of a New National Park Using the Quintuple Helix Model

by Roman Sloup, Marcel Riedl and Miloslav Machoň

Forests 2023, 14(7), 1494; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071494 - 21 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1631

Abstract

Protected areas serve as stepping stones for the preservation of biodiversity, and can provide economic and social benefits to communities. National parks aim to limit human intervention to safeguard natural communities and processes. This study analyzes the impacts of transforming the Křivoklátsko Protected Landscape Area into the proposed Křivoklátsko National Park in the Czech Republic, which is a program promoted by political parties. Using the quintuple helix model, it assesses the change from a sustainable development perspective. The analysis considers economic, social, and environmental aspects, including the impact on the local inhabitants, the economy, forestry, business activities, and regional development. The existing management in the Křivoklátsko region exemplifies sustainable multifunctional forest management. Based on the evaluation, the study finds insufficient arguments for declaring the Křivoklátsko National Park. The study emphasizes the need to balance the social demand for nature protection with the awareness of existing measures and specific area conditions. Nature protection should integrate itself into all human activities within the culturally and historically created landscape, rather than solely pursuing political goals. Participatory forestry management plays a crucial role in landscape transformation. The study highlights the importance of sustainable landscape development and the interactions between the university, government, industry, and civil sector actors with the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecosystem Services and Landscape Design: 2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 12050 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Zoning of the Value Realization Models for Ecological Products in Shibing Karst Natural World Heritage Site

by Zhenzhen Zhang, Kangning Xiong, Denghong Huang, Wenxiu Zhang and Huanhuan Chang

Forests 2023, 14(7), 1449; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071449 - 14 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1626

Abstract

Natural World Heritage properties provide humanity with a rich and diverse range of ecological products, and the realization of their economic value is related to heritage protection and the improvement of community residents’ well-being. In this study, the equivalent factor method was used to calculate the ecological product value (EPV), and the fishnet tool in ArcGIS was used for spatial zoning. The main land use type of the study area is forest land, accounting for over 82% of the total area. The conversion of land use types is weak in the property and strong in the buffer zone. The EPV of the study area was about USD 172.41 million, showing a downward trend before World Heritage inscription but an upward trend after the inscription, with forests as the main contributor. The spatial distribution of the ecosystem service value of the study area has obvious hierarchical characteristics. World Heritage inscription is beneficial for maintaining the stability of land use and for the improvement of the EPV of the property. The high- and low-EPV areas, respectively, are related to the distribution of forests and agricultural land. The dominant models of EPV in the study area are ecological forestry economy, water economy, and ecological agricultural economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecosystem Services and Landscape Design: 2nd Edition)

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33 pages, 14363 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Rationale for Restoration of Abandoned Quarries in Forests of the Ślęża Massif (Poland) in the Context of Sustainable Tourism and Forest Environment Protection

by Ewa E. Kurowska, Andrzej Czerniak and Janusz Bańkowski

Forests 2023, 14(7), 1386; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071386 - 6 Jul 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2284

Abstract

The manuscript presents the current state and proposals for the management of the old granite, quartz, and serpentinite quarries located in the Ślęża Massif (SW Poland, 50°51′51.22″ N; 16°42′26.80″ E), an area entirely covered by forests and protected by various legal protection measures. The quarries are abandoned and subjected to intense natural plant succession, so they are disappearing from the landscape. Nine quarries were analyzed regarding their natural and landscape characteristics. Due to the variety of their sizes, specific locations, geological–topographical traits, and forest and site conditions, the quarries may be turned into tourist attractions enhancing the social function of forests while, at the same time, ensuring their protective functions. If properly managed, they may contribute to the multifaceted development of tourism, performing scientific-cognitive, educational, sports, or cultural functions, and, as a result, to a partial reduction in the tourist pressure on biotic and abiotic natural resources along the presently most frequently used routes. This paper attempts to present arguments indicating that a former mining working site may be a positive and attractive landscape element in harmony with the vegetation cover, beneficial for both nature and humans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecosystem Services and Landscape Design: 2nd Edition)

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21 pages, 15901 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Using Choice Experiments as a Planning Tool for Reforestation after Extreme Events: The Case of the Vaia Windstorm in Italy

by Daniel Vecchiato, Carolina B. Pellizzari and Tiziano Tempesta

Forests 2023, 14(7), 1374; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071374 - 4 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1700

Abstract

The forest areas and, more generally, the mountain territory, produce a significant flow of ecosystem services from which the entire community benefits. In October 2018, northeastern Italy was hit by an extreme meteorological event, the Vaia windstorm, which affected 91 municipalities in the Veneto region and destroyed nearly 20% of its forests in some areas, mainly composed of spruce (Picea abies) and fir (Abies alba). This study aims to understand and analyze what the affected population preferences are in relation to different reforestation strategies in the forests affected by the Vaia windstorm in order to have more resilient forests in the future. In this regard, a survey including a choice experiment was carried out in May 2022 involving a sample of 830 residents in the Veneto region. From our results, it emerges that a policy characterized by a mixed reforestation solution of 50% of planted area and 50% natural with fallen trees removed is the respondents’ favorite reforestation policy, bringing an average benefit per year per family equal to EUR 226.5. Considering the reforestation policy proposed, the attribute considered most important (34%) was the presence of a natural forest with the removal of fallen plants, followed by reforestation with a planted forest (24%), while in third place we find the removal of fallen trees in forests damaged to a minor extent by the Vaia storm (20%). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecosystem Services and Landscape Design: 2nd Edition)

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19 pages, 4727 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Main Factors of Professional Experience on People’s Visual Behavior and Re-Viewing Intention in Different In-Forest Landscapes

by Yu Gao, Yalin Wang, Weikang Zhang, Huan Meng, Zhi Zhang, Tong Zhang and Xiaomei Sun

Forests 2023, 14(7), 1319; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071319 - 27 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1302

Abstract

Background: With the acceleration of urbanization, the demand for people to return to forests and their desire for nature is also increasing annually. However, whether the visual behaviors and aesthetic preferences of users vary with background attributes when viewing forest landscapes remains to be further explored. This information will help forest landscape planners and managers to create a forest landscape space suitable for different groups of people. Purpose: This study mainly discusses whether people’s professional background will affect their visual behavior, satisfaction preference and re-viewing intention of a landscape and discusses the relationship among them. Main results: (1) Under the background of an in-forest landscape, the visual behavior of users in different layouts presents great similarity. (2) Satisfaction preference for landscapes is not significantly influenced by the user’s background, but there is a significant linear relationship between satisfaction preference and re-viewing intention (Adj. R² = 0.412 − 0.697, sig. = 0.000). (3) The spatial cognition that affects users’ visual behavior and satisfaction preference in a scene will change with the landscape layout and users’ professional background. Therefore, we suggest that landscape planners and managers should consider not only the spatial layout of the landscape itself but also the user’s own attributes (whether they have professional knowledge of the landscape) when optimizing the visual behavior and satisfaction preference of in-forest landscape space. This will ensure that users have a high sense of identity and attachment to the scene in a targeted way, thus arousing a greater “desire” to re-view the scene. In addition, our results can identify a more satisfactory course for tour routes according to the user’s professional background, thus enhancing the rate of tourists who decide to “visit again”. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecosystem Services and Landscape Design: 2nd Edition)

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16 pages, 5933 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Forest Recreation and Its Possible Role throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Dastan Bamwesigye, Jitka Fialova, Petr Kupec, Evans Yeboah, Jan Łukaszkiewicz, Beata Fortuna-Antoszkiewicz and Jakub Botwina

Forests 2023, 14(6), 1254; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14061254 - 16 Jun 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1820

Abstract

Urban forests provide benefits in terms of the environment and society. Many people living in urban areas could profit from the recreational services provided by urban forests to alleviate the physical and psychological stresses caused by closure restrictions during the COVID-19 epidemic. However, limited research has been conducted on the role of forest recreation during the COVID-19 lockdown to support future policy decisions regarding such dramatic circumstances. The study aims to investigate the frequency of visitors in the reference Training Forest Enterprise Masaryk Forest Křtiny in Brno, Czech Republic, and to verify if the lockdown led to its intensified use, under the context of weather conditions. Data were collected using a Pyro Box Compact reader and TRAFx Infrared Trail Counter. Regression analysis was performed to determine whether individual weather factors significantly influenced the intensity of forest visitations before and during COVID-19. The number of visits in 2021 during the strict lockdown and post-lockdown periods was significantly higher during spring and autumn than in 2016 and 2017, respectively. The frequency pattern of forest users visibly changed in 2021, and the total number of visits was much higher, even though 2021 had worse weather than the reference years before the pandemic. The results show the recreational use and importance of the forest, especially during the pandemic. This work is a continuation of our previous research with regard to this area, which indicated the importance of forest recreational services for the well-being and health of city dwellers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecosystem Services and Landscape Design: 2nd Edition)

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14 pages, 1079 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Developing Sustainable Indicators for Forest Farm Tourism Services for Senior Citizens: Towards the Establishment of a Comprehensive and Comfortable Environment

by Yen-Cheng Chen, Ching-Sung Lee, Pei-Ling Tsui and Ming-Chen Chiang

Forests 2023, 14(6), 1155; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14061155 - 4 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1724

Abstract

The evolving travel preferences of senior citizens have necessitated the customization of tourism services by the industry to cater to their specific needs. Forest ecology landscapes have been identified as offering significant advantages for senior citizens in the context of tourism. This study aims to address the research gap in this area by developing sustainable forest farm tourism service indicators tailored to the senior citizens in Taiwan, taking into consideration the benefits of forest ecology landscapes. The Fuzzy Delphi Technique (FDT) is employed to gather expert opinions and establish indicators, while triangular fuzzy numbers and defuzzification techniques are utilized to evaluate professional opinions from various agricultural fields. The analysis reveals 5 dimensions and 28 indicators that are deemed appropriate for creating a sustainable forest farm tourism service environment for the senior citizens. Key indicators include the ability of service personnel to effectively address guest concerns, cleanliness of farm accommodations, safety of farm routes, friendliness of service staff, and the presence of barrier-free facilities in farm accommodations. This study provides valuable insights for promoting sustainable farm management and the development of forest farm tourism in Taiwan, emphasizing the significance of forest ecology landscapes in enhancing the tourism experience for senior citizens. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecosystem Services and Landscape Design: 2nd Edition)

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Review

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19 pages, 3180 KiB

Open AccessReview

Knowledge Mapping of Cultural Ecosystem Services Applied on Blue-Green Infrastructure—A Scientometric Review with CiteSpace

by Jinfeng Li, Haiyun Xu, Mujie Ren, Jiaxuan Duan, Weiwen You and Yuan Zhou

Forests 2024, 15(10), 1736; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15101736 - 30 Sep 2024

Viewed by 865

Abstract

Urban blue-green infrastructure (BGI) not only serves an ecological purpose but also contributes to the physical and psychological well-being of residents by providing cultural ecosystem services (CES), which are the nonmaterial benefits people obtain from ecosystems through spiritual enrichment, cognitive development, reflection, recreation, and aesthetic experiences. CES is a rising BGI research and management subject, with a growing number of papers in recent years. To identify and differentiate the latest research on the development of features based on cultural ecosystem services within blue-green infrastructure, we employed CiteSpace bibliometric methodologies to analyze pertinent papers for focusing on the developmental processes and key research areas. The publishing trend, research clusters, highly cited literature, research history, research frontiers and hot areas, and high-frequency and emerging keywords were studied and assessed after reviewing 14,344 relevant papers by CiteSpace software 6.3.1 from Web of Science. The standard domains concerned, according to the keyword visualization and high-value references, are implemented cultural ecosystem services assessment combined with natural-based solutions in green spaces, urban regions, residential areas, and sustainable development. In conclusion, the following recommendations are made: (1) When urban decision-makers incorporate the perspective of cultural ecosystem services into the strategic formulation of BGI, a broader spectrum of urban BGI types should be taken into account; (2) all categories of CES should be considered; (3) research on the application of cultural ecosystem services in urban blue-green infrastructure should be more effectively and flexibly integrated into urban governance; and (4) CES should be strategically employed to improve the physical health and psychological well-being of urban residents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecosystem Services and Landscape Design: 2nd Edition)

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