The Tropical managed Forests Observatory: a research network addressing the future of tropical logged forests

While attention to logging in the tropics has been increasing, studies on the long-term effects of silviculture on forest dynamics and ecology remain scare and spatially limited. Indeed, most of our knowledge on tropical forests arise from studies carried out in undisturbed tropical forests. This bias is problematic given that logged and disturbed tropical forests are covering now a larger area than the so-called primary forests. The Tropical managed Forests Observatory (TmFO), a new network of permanent sample plots in logged forests, aims to fill this gap by providing unprecedented opportunities to examine long-term data on the resilience of logged tropical forests at regional and global scales TmFO currently includes 24 experimental sites distributed across three tropical regions, with a total of 536 pem1anent plots and about 1200 ha of forest inventories. In this paper we will present the main results generated by the network on the impact of logging on Carbon and timber recovery, as well as biodiversity changes in the Amazon basin and South East Asia

Tropical forest degradation in the context of climate change: increasing role and research challenges. [K-2215-01]

While developed countries in temperate regions faced their forest transition about 100 years ago or more, “tropical forest rich” nations still largely depend on forest resources or land clearing for their development. Hence, tropical forests are retreating at an alarming rate from advancing cash crops, such as oil palm, soybean, or cattle ranching. Beside tropical deforestation, tropical forest degradation resulting mostly from human-induced causes (e.g. predatory or illegal logging, non-timber forest product extraction, fuel wood extraction) significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and loss of biodiversity. If deforestation is an obvious ecosystem change, forest degradation is more difficult to discern and quantify. Degraded forests have become a major component of today's tropical landscapes, representing up to 50 % of all tropical forests. For example, almost half of standing primary tropical forests, up to 400 million ha, are designated by national forest services for timber production. The portion of tropical forests managed for timber extraction, hereafter referred to as “managed forests”, will therefore play key roles in the trade-off between provision of goods and maintenance of carbon stocks, biodiversity, and other services. However, so far, most of our understanding of tropical forest arise from studies carried out in old-growth undisturbed forests, or secondary forests (i.e. regrowth forests) while the ecology of degraded forests at the regional and continental scale remains poorly studied and their role to mitigate climate change still very poorly known. However, understanding the functions played by degraded forests in providing goods and environmental services in the context of climate change is crucial. We will first discuss the complex concept of forest degradation in the tropics and then define degraded forests. We will show their importance in providing timber while maintaining high levels of biodiversity and carbon stocks. We will further demonstrate that implementation of sustainable forest management can promote long term provision of ecosystem services. Finally, the potential of tropical degraded forests in mitigating climate change will be discussed along with future research challenges on this issue. (Texte intégral

Deadwood in logged-over Dipterocarp forests of Borneo

Deadwood is an important stock of carbon in logged-over Dipterocarp forests but still remains poorly studied. Here we present the study of deadwood in logged-over Dipterocarp forests using two common approaches: plot-based approach and line-intersect-based approach. We conducted our research in three sites which are forest logged in 2003, 2007, and 2010 within Hutansanggam Labanan Lestari (HLL) forest, a certified forest concessionaire in Indonesia. We established 1,500 m of transect line (broken down in 50 m section) for each site. As a reference, we established 47 10 m x 10 m subplot for three sites. All fallen deadwood with diameter > 10 cm were recorded. Our results shows that the mass of fallen deadwood resulted by line-intersect-based method was much higher in compare to plotbased method. The mass of fallen deadwood in plot-based study (44.563 ± 9.155 Mg/ha) was significantly different with the mass of fallen deadwood in line-intersect-based study (69.587 ± 8.079 Mg/ha). Furthermore, for the variability of deadwood, both methods show consistence results which is the variability in 2003 was lower than that in 2007 and 2010. Based on our data, in order to get coefficient of variation of 10%, we recommend the use of minimum 40 plots of 20 m x 20 m to estimate deadwood in logged-over Dipterocarp forests. (Texte intégral

Typology of logging companies in the Brazilian Amazon

After 20 years of labeling with a strong increase of certified surfaces all around the world, real advantages and inconveniences of a company certified with regard to a normal company are not well known. To make a correct assessment of the ecological, social and economic impacts of tropical forest certification, it is first essential to compare companies with similar profiles. This study focused in the Brazilian Amazonia, aimed to identify the different profiles of harvesting companies by the construction of a typology. We used the data collected by Imazon during a extensive assessment of the Brazilian amazon forest sector which main results were publishaed in 2010. From the analysis of this data base, we compared the main characteristics of the uncertified forest companies with the 13 certified companies

Perception et importance des forêts dans une communauté rurale d´Amazonie brésilienne

L'analyse das perceptions locales de l'environnement permet de mieux comprendre l'importance accordée par les différents groupes sociaux aux milieux naturels et, par conséquent, de mieux appréhender ta diversité des. systèmes Locaux d'utilisation et de gestion des ressources. Cela s'avère essentiel pour adapter les projets de gestion durable des ressources naturelles aux contextes locaux des populations rurales et forestières (FRECHIONE et aI., 1989; GADGIL et al., 2003; BERKES et aI., 2000; TICKTIN, JOHNS, 2002). (Résumé d'auteur

Deadwood in logged-over Dipterocarp forests of Borneo

Deadwood is an important stock of carbon in logged-over Dipterocarp forests but still remains poorly studied. Here we present the study of deadwood in logged-over Dipterocarp forests using two common approaches: plot-based approach and line-intersect-based approach. We conducted our research in three sites which are forest logged in 2003, 2007, and 2010 within Hutansanggam Labanan Lestari (HLL) forest, a certified forest concessionaire in Indonesia. We established 1,500 m of transect line (broken down in 50 m section) for each site. As a reference, we established 47 10 m x 10 m subplot for three sites. All fallen deadwood with diameter > 10 cm were recorded. Our results shows that the mass of fallen deadwood resulted by line-intersect-based method was much higher in compare to plotbased method. The mass of fallen deadwood in plot-based study (44.563 ± 9.155 Mg/ha) was significantly different with the mass of fallen deadwood in line-intersect-based study (69.587 ± 8.079 Mg/ha). Furthermore, for the variability of deadwood, both methods show consistence results which is the variability in 2003 was lower than that in 2007 and 2010. Based on our data, in order to get coefficient of variation of 10%, we recommend the use of minimum 40 plots of 20 m x 20 m to estimate deadwood in logged-over Dipterocarp forests. (Texte intégral

Community based forest management plans in the Brazilian Amazon: current barriers threatening long term economic viability

Community-based forest management (CBFM) projects are often seen as an alternative to protect forest and at the same time to provide incomes for small landholders. Since the mid- 1990s, the number of CBFM projects has increased in the Brazilian Amazon although most of them face several difficulties despite significant public support. Four CBFM plans were analyzed between 2005 and 2010 to assess the evolution of the socioeconomic arrangements and the main barriers threatening their long term viability. The CBFM plans are located in the State of Acre (West Amazon) and in the State of Para (Eastern Amazon). The community forest producers studied live in settlements. The tenure rights model over land and forests varies from one type of settlement to another. New federal regulation issued in 2010 has added more bureaucratic steps to communities applying for rights to explore their portions of forests. The first important barrier to successfully implementation of CBFM is the complex legal framework: it currently takes at least 2 to 3 years to get a plan approved. Moreover management plan elaboration and implementation process is costly. None of the CBFM plan could have been successfully implemented without external national and international financial supports, as well as technical assistance. Community forest certification has decreased and stagnated in the period analyzed. Finally, in the current Amazonian market context, timber harvest only represents a limited complementary income for small farmers, even if forest covers 80 % of their landholding. Market access is very uncertain and small holders communities do not systematically succeed in selling their timber at remunerative prices. Minimum remunerative public prices should be guaranteed for timber from such CBFM plans to make them a truly economic alternative for the Amazon smallholders. (Résumé d'auteur

Community-based forest management plans in the Brazilian Amazon: Current barriers and necessary reforms

Community-based forest management (CBFM) projects are often seen as an alternative to protect forest and at the same time to provide incomes for small landholders. Since the mid-1990s, the number of CBFM projects has increased in the Brazilian Amazon although most of them face several difficulties despite significant public support. Four CBFM plans were analyzed between 2005 and 2009 to assess the main barriers threatening their long term viability. Two plans are located in the State of Acre (Porto Dias Association and APRUMA) and two in the State of Para (Virola Jatoba Association and CANOR Cooperative). The first important barrier to successfully implementation of CBFM is the complex legal framework: it currently takes at least 2 to 3 years to get a plan approved. Public regulations and institutions have to become more efficient. Moreover management plan elaboration process is costly. None of the CBFM plan could have been successfully implemented without external national and international financial supports, as well as technical assistance. Finally, in the current Amazonian market context, timber harvest only represents a limited complementary income for small farmers, even if forest covers 80 % of their landholding. Market access is very uncertain and small holders communities do not systematically succeed in selling their timber at remunerative prices. Minimum remunerative public prices should be guaranteed for timber from such CBFM plans to make them a truly economic alternative for the Amazon smallholders. (Résumé d'auteur