Sustainable Timber Harvesting: Simulation Studies in the Tropical Rainforests of North Queensland

Although logging ceased in the tropical rainforests of north Queensland following their World Heritage Listing in 1988, they provide a good basis for simulation studies on sustainability of timber harvesting as reliable logging records, inventory and growth data are available. A growth model for these forests has been developed and published. The growth model is dynamic, responding to changes in stand density, composition and management history. A harvesting simulator predicts the trees removed by selection logging, and predicts changes in the residual stand. Simulation studies employ cutting cycle analysis and yield scheduling to demonstrate the sustainability of harvesting. These studies indicate that selection harvesting could sustain a viable timber harvest of about 60 000 m3 year-1. These results are indicative rather than definitive, as the model has not yet been formally validated with independent data

Spatial Endogenous Fire Risk and Efficient Fuel Management and Timber Harvest

This paper integrates a spatial fire behavior model and a stochastic dynamic optimization model to determine the optimal spatial pattern of fuel management and timber harvest. Each years fire season causes the loss of forest values and lives in the western US. This paper uses a multi-plot analysis and incorporates uncertainty about fire ignition locations and weather conditions to inform policy by examining the role of spatial endogenous risk - where management actions on one stand affect fire risk in that and adjacent stands. The results support two current strategies, but question two other strategies, for managing forests with fire risk.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Crisis in Indonesia: Forests, fires and finances

The jewel in the East Asian "economic miracle" of the 1980s and 1990s came crashing to earth during late 1997 with a collapse of the currency and disintegration of the banking system. By mid-1998 Suharto was forced out of office by a tidal wave of street protests, and raging fires were ablaze throughout the land. In this paper we draw attention to the fundamentals of the finance crisis and the environmental crisis as they relate to the state of tropical rainforests in Indonesia. It is concluded that, somewhat ironically, the dramatic collapse of the Indonesian economy and the devastating forest fires of the late 1990s may lead to the preservation of one of the earth's most significant heritage sites, the tropical rainforests and biodiversity of Indonesia

Codes of Forest Practice and Related Research Needs

This paper has aimed to set Codes of Forest Practice in the framework of the evolving debate on sustainable forest management. We suggest that most Codes of Forest Practice have been developed primarily from a biological and physical perspective. It would be useful to consider future needs for research for Codes of Forest Practice in the broader context of ecosystem management in which there is a more holistic approach and a greater concern for the aspirations and welfare of stakeholders. It will be essential to recognise people with their needs and values as part of the forest ecosystem we are researching

The Impacts of Rural Industry on the Native Forests of Papua New Guinea

As a leading member of the Coalition for Rainforest Nations, Papua New Guinea (PNG) has a vested interest in proving to the international community that it could reduce the volume of greenhouse gas emissions from the process of deforestation and forest degradation if suitable financial incentives were to be provided for such action. An assessment of the baseline or 'business-as-usual' scenario for emissions from this process is therefore crucial to current debate about the relationship between national forest policy and measures taken to mitigate the impacts of climate change. This paper shows that the PNG government's own attempts to construct a baseline scenario for the contribution made to this process by logging and agribusiness companies have ignored a number of significant supply-side constraints on their economic activities, both in the past and in the future. This can be understood as the result of a perverse incentive for the governments of 'rainforest nations' to exaggerate the past, present and future rates of deforestation or forest degradation in order to claim a reward for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from a fictitious or exaggerated baseline to a level which approximates the real trajectory

The ecomics of ecosystems and biodiversity: scoping the scale

The G8 decided in March 2007 to initiate a “Review on the economics of biodiversity loss”, in the so called Potsdam Initiative: 'In a global study we will initiate the process of analysing the global economic benefit of biological diversity, the costs of the loss of biodiversity and the failure to take protective measures versus the costs of effective conservation. The study is being supported by the European Commission (together with the European Environmental Agency and in cooperation with the German Government. “The objective of the current study is to provide a coherent overview of existing scientific knowledge upon which to base the economics of the Review, and to propose a coherent global programme of scientific work, both for Phase 2 (consolidation) and to enable more robust future iterations of the Review beyond 2010.

Lessons from the Queensland Rainforests: Steps Towards Sustainability

Commercial timber harvesting commenced in the tropical rainforests of north Queensland in 1873 and ceased in 1988 following their inclusion on the World Heritage List. The evolution of forest policy, management and research is reviewed, and strengths and weaknesses are highlighted. Between 1950 85, eight estimates of the sustainable yield varied ten-fold. Discrepancies were due to different assumptions regarding management, and to errors in estimating net productive areas and growth rates. During 1950-85, the allowable cut (130,000-207,000 m3/ann) exceeded sustained yield estimates (60,000-180,000 m3/ann), but the actual harvest (90,000-205,000 m3/ann) remained less than the allowable cut. The allowable cut was reduced to a sustainable level in 1986, and commercial logging ceased in 1988. It is not certain that the harvest during 1980s was sustainable, but several indicators suggest that it probably was sustainable. Lessons for other tropical timber producers are highlighted

Sustainable Harvesting of Tropical Rainforests: Reply to Keto, Scott and Olsen

This paper refutes the Keto et al. proposition that the Queensland selection logging system is neither ecologically nor economically sustainable. The key requirements of this system are: (1) that logging guidelines are sympathetic to the silvicultural characteristics of the forest, ensuring adequate regeneration of commercial species and discouraging invasion by weeds; (2) tree-marking by trained staff specifies trees to be retained, trees to be removed and the direction of felling to ensure minimal damage to the residual stand; (3) logging equipment is appropriate and driven by trained operators to ensure minimal damage and soil disturbance, compaction and erosion; (4) prescriptions ensure that adequate stream buffers and steep slopes are excluded from logging; (5) sufficient areas for scientific reference, feature protection and recreation are identified and excluded from logging; and (6) that deficiencies in an evolving system are recognized and remedied, leading to an improved system. Many studies of the effects of logging in these forests have been published and collectively provide a unique demonstration of one possible approach to sustainable timber harvesting

Cooperative Forestry Research Unit Annual Report 2020

This past year has been a challenging time for the CFRU as we learned to cope and work during a global pandemic. More isolation became the norm and video conferences replaced the in-person meetings we are accustomed to. Despite these challenges, the CFRU remained active thanks to the dedication of our Interim Program Leader, Aaron Weiskittel, and his support staff, Leslee Canty-Noyes and Meg Fergusson. Their efforts to adapt to changing circumstances ensured that research advanced, meetings successfully carried on, spruce budworm L2 sampling was conducted, MASN sites were established, and the daily administrative functions of the CFRU continued

Cooperative Forestry Research Unit Annual Report 2018

Cooperative forestry research unit annual repor