The pioneering studies on non-destructive testing (NDT) and evaluation (NDE) of wood have been introduced in early 20th century in Europe as it is in North America. Several improvements were recorded since then in NDT&NDE technologies with parallel to the development in wood industry. A wide range of NDT technologies are currently being used successfully for evaluating wood and wood based materials in many areas from the inspection of artifacts to on-line production control in plants all over the world. Today, research and technology transfer efforts are underway throughout the world to further the development and use of nondestructive methods to address the many challenges that arise with using forest resources. This study aims to review the NDT/NDE research efforts and their practical applications being conducted in Europe that is significant contributors to the international research and development activities.

In this study afforestation effects on physical, chemical and biological soil properties were investigated in 10 and 23 years old black pine plantations used as grassland previously versus bear area. The results were also evaluated in terms of different landscape positions and soil dephts. Afforestration increased electrical conductivity and soil microbial respiration in 23 year old plantation; and decreased organic matter and β-glucosidase activity in both of 23 and 10 years old plantations. There was no significant difference in phosphatase activity. Soil reaction, total carbonates, organic matter, β-glucosidase and CO2 evaluation were affected from different landscape positions. It is founded that carbonate, pH, and microbial respiration were higher in the south-facing slopes than those of north-facing slopes were; organic matter and β-glucosidase activity were higher in the north-facing slopes. A decrease in organic matter and an increase in phosphatase activity were determined with soil depth.

Tree composition, density and diversity were assessed within a monkey sanctuary that has been tempered with by human beings. The study took place in Buabeng-Fiema monkey Sanctuary in Ghana to document the vegetation structure of the non-human primate habitat. The habitat types were stratified into three as natural forest, mixed forest and cultivated area and 20 plots of dimensions 20m X 25m were established in each of the habitat types. All trees ‰¥ 10 cm diameter at breast height were identified and measured. In the mean number of trees per hectare was 17.5 (S.D=5.5, N=20), 12.7 (S.D=3.6, N=20) and 7.4 (S.D=7.4, N=20) in the natural forest , mixed forest and cultivated area respectively. The diversity, relative density and relative dominance differed in all the three habitat types. Moreover, the number of trees reduced with increasing height and basal area in all the three habitat types. The variations in the three habitat type provides good resources that may be required by the primates for survival but can promote and deepen human wildlife conflict.

The technology of final wood processing has undergone during the last two decades positive changes, achieving a rapid development through the application of advanced technologies as the numeric-controlled machines (CNC). The focus of this paper lies in the comparison of technical and economic parameters in drilling operations, with a three-dimensional CNC mill-drill machine and with a traditional, horizontal-vertical tenoner drilling machine. The materials used in the study are particleboard panels for the production of a window-case. The study compares (i) the cutting time of the constructive parts of the window-case measured by the software of the CNC machine, and through a chronometer at the tenoner drilling machine and (ii) the cost of labor force engaged. The comparison of technical and economic parameters measured/calculated reveals clear advantages of the three-dimensional CNC machine over the traditional one. These advantages consist in operations time savings, higher quality of processing, lower internal transportation times, lower costs of processed parts and automatic optimization of material.