The Sustainable Role of the Tree in Environmental Protection Technologies

This monograph describes ways of using trees and their byproducts in environmental protection technologies and methodologies throughout their lifecycles. The tree, the planet's main source of biomass, is an indispensable tool for sustainable technologies, and the authors present a holistic picture of how and why in this volume.

The authors describe the indispensable role of the living tree in phytoremediation and biomonitoring and detail the relationship of the tree with its surrounding ecosystem. The direct and indirect relationships of a tree at its vegetation period with various components of the ecosystem (i.e. atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and soil) contribute to the role of a tree as the medium for integrating aerogenic and edaphic pollutants. Trees phytostabilize pollutants in their organisms and remove them from the soil. The ability of some species of trees to reflect the quality of the environment makes a basis for the environmental bioindication, while quantitative representation of the chemical composition of the surrounding environment allows for the use of trees in biomonitoring. Morphological features of trees (e.g. annual tree rings) allow us to observe environmental conditions in the past and retrospectively evaluate them.

This monograph also details how wood products (e.g. biochar, chips, bark, etc.) of a tree after it has died are used in environmental technologies. Due to the specific morphological form and physicaland chemical composition of wood products, they may be used as active materials in the technologies aimed at reducing pollution in an effective and sustainable manner.

The first book to discuss sustainability applications of trees throughout their lifecycles Offers practical methods for evaluation of environmental contamination levels and a tree's contaminant uptake Interdisciplinary approach that utilizes approaches from various disciplines including ecology, environmental engineering, biogeochemistry, and biology Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Auteur
Edita Baltrnait , Doctor of Sciences in the Scientific Field of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management, Associated Professor, acting as a professor in Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. She serves as Executive Editor of the Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management, an international scientific journal. Pranas Baltrnas , Professor-emeritus, Dr. Habil, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, the originator of the Department of Environmental Protection and the Institute of Environmental Protection as well as the pioneer of environmental engineering in Lithuania.
Arvydas Lietuvninkas , Doctor of physical sciences (volcanology and petrology), professor; a honorary research worker in the Russian system of higher professional education, awarded by several medals and prizes for research and pedagogical achievements.

Contenu
Introduction.- Contamination Features of the Ecosystem Components in a Tree Surrounding Environment.- Biogeochemical Aspect of Metal Uptake by Trees.- Biogeochemical and Functional Traits of a Tree in Metal Contaminated Territory.- Role of a Tree in Ecotechnologies.- Use of Wood Products for Water and Soil Quality Improvement.- The Use of Wood Products for Improving Air Quality.- Conclusions.