Community based forest management systems in developing countries and eligibility for clean development mechanism

Concerns have been raised among the scientific communities about the increased atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon sequestration rates can be maintained or increased by afforestation, reforestation, avoided deforestation, forest preservation and particular tending and cultural operations on existing forests. Of these, afforestation and reforestation are the only eligible project activities under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Of the three market-based mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol (KP), CDM is the only one designed for developing countries where, coincidently, community based forest management systems (CBFMS) are becoming the main form of forest management. Under these systems, enhanced natural regeneration, forest preservation and wise utilization through different sets of cultural and tending operations are widely practiced in Africa, Asia and Latin America. These systems are often more compatible with the essence of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) than are alternative management systems. Using Nepal as a case study, this paper highlights the importance of community forests in developing countries and then explains why many of them may not be eligible for CDM project activities. After that, some reasons why enhanced natural regeneration and forest preservation activities should be considered under the CDM project activities will be discussed. If community forests contribute to achieving the main objectives of CDM program as well as providing biodiversity benefits, and if they are the only socially acceptable and economically viable option, then they should be eligible under the CDM project activities. In particular, the CDM forest definition (>10% crown cover) should not be a barrier to their eligibility

Analysis of spacing for spotted gum plantations for maximising merchantable logs' volume in South East Queensland, Australia

Spotted gum (Corymbia citriodora subspecies Variegata) has the potential to be the major hardwood species for large-scale plantations in South East Queensland, Australia, but production research is limited due to the lack of age of research plots. Optimal spacing is a major subject of concern. Based on time series data from a spotted gum experiment site, growth performance is analysed for five spacing levels: ─11.3 m x 11.3 m (78 stems per hectare), 7.4 m x 7.4 m (182 sph), 5.4 m x 5.4 m (343 sph), 3.6 m x 3.6 m (771 sph) and 2.9 m x 2.9 m (1189 sph). The major objective was assumed to be to maximise total merchantable log volume. A growth model was produced, and the mean diameter at breast height (dbh) and total merchantable log volume for each spacing levels at a range of harvesting ages was estimated. From the analysis, the spacing level of 5.4 m x 5.4 m was found to be optimal for maximising merchantable log volume to 10 cm small-end diameter. Further analysis of mean dbh, height and volume of the largest 200 and 250 trees from this spacing level indicates that merchantable log volume could be maximised by retaining the 250 largest trees per hectare. The total financial revenue from the best spacing level in 25 and 30 years are predicted to be $13,637 and$17,779 per hectare, respectively. If full rotation data could be obtained, more reliable models could be produced, and a more accurate financial estimate could be made

Implications of selective harvesting of natural forests for forest product recovery and forest carbon emissions: cases from Tarai Nepal and Queensland Australia

Selective logging is one of the main natural forest harvesting approaches worldwide and contributes nearly 15% of global timber needs. However, there are increasing concerns that ongoing selective logging practices have led to decreased forest product supply, increased forest degradation, and contributed to forest based carbon emissions. Taking cases of natural forest harvesting practices from the Tarai region of Nepal and Queensland Australia, this study assesses forest product recovery and associated carbon emissions along the timber production chain. Field measurements and product flow analysis of 127 commercially harvested trees up to the exit gate of sawmills and interaction with sawmill owners and forest managers reveal that: (1) Queensland selective logging has less volume recovery (52.8%) compared to Nepal (94.5%) leaving significant utilizable volume in the forest, (2) Stump volume represents 5.5% of total timber volume in Nepal and 3.9% in Queensland with an average stump height of 43.3 cm and 40.1 cm in Nepal and Queensland respectively, (3) Average sawn timber output from the harvested logs is 36.3% in Queensland against 61% in Nepal, (4) Nepal and Queensland leave 0.186 Mg C m-3 and 0.718 Mg C m-3 on the forest floor respectively, (5) Each harvested tree damages an average of five plant species in Nepal and four in Queensland predominantly seedlings in both sites, and (6) Overall logging related total emissions in Queensland are more than double (1.099 Mg C m-3) those in Nepal (0.488 Mg C m-3). We compared these results with past studies and speculated on possible reasons for and potential implications of these results for sustainable forest management and reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation

An analysis of Australia's carbon pollution reduction scheme

The authors review the decision-making since the Labour Government came into office (November 2007). The Australian Government’s ‘Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme’ White Paper (15 December 2008) proposes that an Australian Emissions Trading Scheme (AETS) be implemented in mid-2010. Acknowledging that the scheme is comprehensive, the paper finds that in many cases, Australia will take a softer approach to climate change through the AETS than the European Union ETS(EUETS). The paper assesses key issues in the White Paper such as emissions reduction targets, GHG coverage, sectoral coverage, inclusion of unlimited quantities of offsets from Kyoto international markets and exclusion of deforestation activities

Savanna burning methodology for fire management and emissions reduction: a critical review of influencing factors

Savanna fire is a major source of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In Australia, savanna fire contributes about 3% of annual GHG emissions reportable to the Kyoto Protocol. In order to reduce GHG emissions from savanna burning, the Australian government has developed and approved a Kyoto compliant savanna controlled burning methodology—the first legal instrument of this kind at a global level—under its Emission Reduction Fund. However, this approved methodology is currently only applicable to nine vegetation fuel types across northern parts of Australia in areas which receive on average over 600 mm rainfall annually, covering only 15.4% of the total land area in Australia.Savanna ecosystems extend across a large proportion of mainland Australia. This paper provides a critical review often key factors that need to be considered in developing a savanna burning methodology applicable to the other parts of Australia. It will also inform discussion in other countries intent on developing similar emissions reduction strategies

An investigation into identifying factors and building models for prediction of water usage in regional Australia

This paper is based on a research project with the aim of developing a suitable model for future water consumption in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. The project’s main aims were to, systematically, investigate the contributory factors in water usage and then build a mathematical model for prediction and performing sensitivity analysis. Water is without any doubt the most important resource used in farming, industrial and domestic applications. Hence, this project is timely and very appropriate in terms of meeting the needs of the community in and around Toowoomba. The paper demonstrates how the most suitable multiple regression models were built in a progressive manner. For instance, a systematic investigation into the accuracy of models has revealed that by incorporating three dummy variables and using those in conjunction with either the city population or the number of dwellings in the city would produce the most accurate results. These dummy variables represented the presence or absence of tariff, restrictions rebate and dry weather

University graduates' quantitative skills and industries' needs

This paper is based on a research project which aimed to conduct a comparative study of the manufacturing organizations selected randomly from both the regional and metropolitan areas of Queensland. The data was collected in 2005 as part of a Faculty of Business funded research project at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) in Australia. The sample sizes were equal (29 industries in each case). The main purpose was to determine whether or not there was a significant difference between the industries in Toowoomba (a regional town in inland Queensland) and Ipswich (a metropolitan city close to Brisbane) in terms of their needs for quantitative skills. The main findings have indicated that only about fifty percent of the industries regard the graduates’ quantitative skills as suitable for their tasks; and there was no significant difference between the regional and metropolitan industries in terms of their requirements for quantitative skills. Further work will address effective and practical methods of dealing with the identified gap and recommend possible solutions if needed

A comparison of learning preferences and perceptions of students for statistics concepts and techniques

This paper is an extension of a comparative study on learning style and method preference of students from culturally different parts of the world. The first sample (TMB) was selected from the undergraduate students in the University of Southern Queensland in the Darling Downs region of Queensland in Australia and the second sample (KTM) was selected from the same level of students in Apex College, Kathmandu, Nepal. Although both groups of students possess similar characteristics in terms of topic and level, they have been exposed to different cultural and country backgrounds. The findings however, appear to be very similar in terms of both groups of students' in all research questions including learning styles and methods preferences. It is interesting to note that both groups have indicated their high preference for more visually oriented teaching materials in Statistics. The study has also demonstrated that the country and cultural differences do not play a significant role in students' preferences for learning methods. Both groups of students have indicated their preference for learning the concepts first and then finding out about the applications