Title: Developing sustainable forest management in the Russian boreal forests: experience from three development initiatives

Authors: Elbakidze, Marine; Angelstam, Per

Thema: 5. Development opportunities
Subtheme: 5.1 Sustainability and economic viability

Abstract of the paper: Since the mid 1990s several initiatives to implement policies about sustainable forest management were initiated in the Russian Federation. Focusing on the application of the Model Forest (MF) concept in NW Russia we evaluate ecological, economic and socio-cultural outcomes and the governance arrangements in local boreal forest landscapes. Ecological considerations were a high priority where the landscapes have high conservation value forests in a near-natural state, and the balance between forest conservation and economic development is important. At the same time, the ecological issues were only the part of the forest certification requirements in the forest landscapes with long economic history. To assure the quality of the elaborated approaches concerning the ecological dimension of SFM, an independent evaluation of undertaken actions in the MFs should be done. The transition from planned to market economy was accompanied by many discussions on how to create and adopt market relations in the forest sector. The MFs became pioneers in NW Russia in development of economic assessment approaches for sustainable forest management. However, the economic issues are difficult to promote and implement; very few forest companies have capacity to deal with economic calculations and results of forest resource assessment; the present system of forest management has little of economic base and foresters have difficulties to accept and understand importance of economic evaluations. Concerning socio-cultural dimensions the main MF activities were to protect needs and interests of local people in use of forest resources in forest dependent communities, and to bridge the communication gap between forest enterprises and local communities. A number of mechanisms and procedures to achieve it have been developed and tested in the MFs. However, since 2006 the radical reformation of the forest sector in Russia could increase social insecurity and instability in the forested regions with undesirable consequences such as illegal logging, depopulation and social exclusion. Finally, concerning forest governance the efforts of MFs aimed to involve local people into decision-making processes concerning the management of forest resources. This is a big challenge to achieve in post-socialism countries where the civic society is still at an early stage of democracy development. The experiences of MF are a valuable resource in the production of the applied knowledge needed to achieve sustainable forest landscapes in the countries in transition from planned to market economy.

Email: marine.elbakidze@smsk.slu.se, per.angelstam@smsk.slu.se

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Title: Developing Theoretical Basis for a Model for Optimizing Site Selection for Growing Biomass for Energy in the Himalayas

Authors: Wu, Shuirong; Kant, Promode

Thema: 2. Producing for development
Subtheme: 2.5 Forests and energy

Abstract of the paper: Lack of access to modern forms of energy at affordable costs is one of the driving reasons for poverty in the Himalayas. Poverty alleviation over large parts of the isolated habitations in the Himalayas has been slow as many of these areas are still beyond the reach of electricity. Taking grid based energy to these far flung places is not always possible on account of prohibitive costs of carriage and high transmission losses. The biomass based stand alone energy production and supply system, where the communities are both the producer and the consumer of energy, is suited to these remote parts of the Himalayas. Large quantities of sustainable production of woody biomass would be required for meeting the growing demand of energy in these localities which can not be supplied using wastelands alone as has often been proposed in national wood energy policies and considerable extents of new lands, not hitherto used for wood production, would have to be utilised for this purpose. The production of woody biomass for this energy system has a number of associated externalities, both positive and negative. Generally, positive externalities are soil and moisture conservation on hill slopes, landslide control and energy security. Food security, water availability, biodiversity conservation and conservation of wildlife can, however, be negatively impacted by intensive cultivation of large quantities of woody biomass for energy production. For a meaningful economic development of these hill regions it is imperative that the positive externalities far outweigh the negative ones. The balance of these externalities can be made more favourable by an appropriate selection of the biomass-for-energy production sites. This paper seeks to establish clearly identifiable relationships between these externalities and objective assessments of physical, edaphic, climatic, demographic and floral features of production sites and presents theoretical basis for the development of a model that uses balancing of these positive and negative externalities for optimizing site selection for biomass production for energy in the Himalayan region of India and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Email: wu.shuirong@gmail.com, promode.kant@gmail.com

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Title: Development and forest conservation through a Legal Instrument to Compensation of Legal Forest Reserves in Brazil: a case study.

Authors: Rodrigues, Fernanda; Hoeflich, Vitor Afonso

Thema: 6. Organizing forest development
Subtheme: 6.2 Instruments for forest planning and development

Abstract of the paper: The main Brazilian legal instrument regarding forest themes is the Forest Code that has been promulgated in 1965 (Federal Law n° 4.771/65), with the subsequent amendments by Federal Law n° 7.803/89 and Provisional Measure n° 2.166-67/2001. Since 2001, the Forest Code allows the compensation of the Legal Forest Reserves (LFR) off-site and created the LFR Quota, that is a title representing preserved native vegetation. Landowners that have exceeded their own conservation area obligations can voluntary offer LFR Quotas for a specific period or permanently. Nevertheless, this form of compensation has no regulation at national level, and some States have been using legal instruments to discipline the use of such possibility. The objectives of the research are: a) to conduct an exploratory study of state initiatives regarding forest servitude; b) to identify priority areas for the establishment of areas under the easement in the state of Santa Catarina; and, c) to analyze economically the possibility of servitude establishment. The methodological framework is related to the description of the study area; of the theoretical basis related to areas of forest policy and legislation and analysis of investment and the identification and description of information related to analysis that will be undertaken. The reflections and analysis will be effective based on the exploratory method and the method of case study. The comparative method will be used to identify the main differences and similarities in the treatment of state forest theme servitude in selected states. As preliminary results were identified that: a) among the states studied (Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais and Paraná) all have as an agent of the state agency control of the environment. The differences between the regulatory initiatives are presented primarily on the validity of the institute of temporary servitude; b) to prevent that compensation occurred outside the group of municipalities in the region, forest servitude would occur in the same group of counties, also in an attempt to balance regional development; c) apart from the experiences presented, some States also have legislation regarding forest servitude, limited to the regulation established in the Forest Code; d) a main difference was observed with respect to the temporary forest servitude, which creates a certain instability and lack of security for all States to adopt this instrument as legal alternative to the landowners, and; e) regarding the use of this instrument, one initiative was identified in the State of Paraná.

Email: fernandaflorestal@yahoo.com.br, vitor.ufpr@gmail.com

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Title: Development of a Forest Management GIS for Costa Rica, a case study for the Central Volcanic Cordillera Conservation Area: findings, recommendations and potential uses in ecological research and conservation planning

Authors: Arroyo-Mora, J. Pablo

Thema: 1. Forests and biodiversity
Subtheme: 1.1 State of the forests and assessment techniques

Abstract of the paper: We collected information (location, management unit size, and tree inventories among other variables) from a total of 131 natural forest management plans in the Central Volcanic Cordillera Conservation area in Costa Rica for the period 1995-2005. With this information we are building a forest management GIS (FGIS) that will provide a baseline for future forest management practices and regional decision making. This is a first step in the development of similar information for the entire country. Based on our experience, we provide a series of recommendations to facilitate different processes related to the construction of this FGIS such as data collection, data integration, and data management. We also present the main trends we found in relation to selective logging practices in the study area over the 10-year period using the FGIS. Finally we assess the potential use of our FGIS for ecological studies and conservation planning by presenting results for a general analysis of commercial, non-commercial and rare tree species abundances, geographic patterns in relation to environmental variables and landscape properties. Natural forest tree inventories are part of the basic information generated by foresters throughout the tropics. Our approach could be used and widely adapted in other tropical countries where this information is gathered. Moreover, the use of this data in ecological studies could help close the gap between forestry and conservation goals. Additional uses of this FGIS include assessment of large tree biomass, forest structure, and baseline data for future monitoring of forest change in response to climate change.

Email: pablo.arroyo@uconn.edu

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Title: Development of a Forestry GIS for Costa Rica, a case study for the Central Volcanic Cordillera Conservation Area: findings, recommendations and potential uses in ecological research and conservation planning

Authors: Arroyo, J. Pablo; Chazdon, Robin; Kalacska, Margaret; Obando, German; Aguilar, Luis; Salas, Luis Fernando

Thema: 1. Forests and biodiversity
Subtheme: 1.1 State of the forests and assessment techniques

Abstract of the paper: Natural forest tree inventories are part of the basic information generated by foresters throughout the tropics. Country level natural forest assessments with tree inventory information is limited and most countries lack this comprehensive information. Therefore, limiting the decision making process related to the sustainable use of forest resources and the adequate allocation of environmental services payment. We collected information (location, management unit size, and tree inventories among other variables) from a total of 122 natural forest management plans in the Central Volcanic Cordillera Conservation area in Costa Rica for the period 1995-2005. With this information we are building a Forestry GIS (FGIS) that will provide a baseline for future forest management practices and regional decision making. This is a first step in the development of similar information for the entire country. Based on our experience, we provide a series of methodological recommendations to facilitate the construction of this FGIS such as data collection, data integration, and data management. We also present the main historical trends we found in relation to selective logging practices in the study area over the 11-year period using the FGIS. Based on these trends we found that a peak in forest management in the study area was potentially related with government incentives. We also analyzed the forest fragmentation patterns in the region and its relationship with forest management. Our results indicate a high degree of forest fragmentation and forest management occurring in the last large remnants of continuous forest. Finally we show the potential use of our FGIS for ecological studies and conservation planning by presenting results for a general analysis of abundance for commercial, non-commercial and rare tree species as well as regional distribution, geographic patterns in relation to environmental variables, and landscape properties. We believe our approach could be used and widely adapted in other tropical countries where forest management information is developed. This information could be integrated with other inventories characteristic of ecological studies that are common throughout tropical regions to build a more solid FGIS database. Moreover, the use of these data in ecological studies could help close the gap between forestry and conservation goals. Additional uses of this FGIS include baseline assessment of large tree biomass (60 cm = DBH), forest structure, and baseline data for future monitoring of forest change in response to climate change.

Email: pablo.arroyo@uconn.edu, robin.chazdon@uconn.edu, margaret.kalacska@mcgill.ca, gobando@fundecor.org, laguilar@fundecor.org, fanato@costarricense.cr

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Title: Development of an extension program in native forest management in south-central Chile

Authors: Moore, Susan; Donoso H., Pablo

Thema: 6. Organizing forest development
Subtheme: 6.4 Research, extension and education

Abstract of the paper: In south-central Chile there are ˜ 10 million hectares of native forest remaining. The ownership of these forests is largely private, only ˜ 2 million hectares are in public protected status. Chile’s native forests are in need of management to avoid extinction or indiscriminate harvesting of slow-growing species and the resultant erosion and loss of land productivity. Exisiting extension programming reaches large forest owning firms and individuals but the small forest owner has been underserved. The Faculty of Forestry of the Universidad Austral de Chile desired to reach these landowners with information on how to best manage their native forests for sustainability and productivity. Large and medium sized landowners typically work with a forester and have management plans, but small landowners with 150 hectares or less (80% of forestland owners) generally cannot afford the cost of a management plan. These owners end up harvesting solely for fuelwood production and often sell wood to illegal markets, not through the formal markets, as a means to realize ready income. A new native forest law was recently passed in Chile creating income opportunities for landowners managing and conserving native forests. Small landowners are also in need of information regarding this law and how they might take advantage of the subsidies offered by the government. This makes the timing of a new small, native forest landowner extension program particularly apt. Opportunities and challenges were analyzed with respect to reaching these landowners, and a plan developed for engagement. UACH recognized the need for an effective, low cost means to promote better management – and thus conservation of native forests. Because UACH has limited resources available for this project, cost control and program sustainability were important considerations. Aspects of the outreach plan include 1) cooperation with NGOs, agencies and farmer organizations to create outreach partnerships and leverage resources; 2) creation of simple, understandable publications regarding forest planning and management of native forests and 3) the use of university owned properties as demonstrations for sound silviculture practices.

Email: semoore4@yahoo.com, pdonoso@uach.cl

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Title: Development of Czech Forestry since the Last Congress in Québec 2003

Authors: Vasicek, Jaromir

Thema: 6. Organizing forest development
Subtheme: 6.2 Instruments for forest planning and development

Abstract of the paper: A paper submitted gives in fact the general information on forestry of European countries in transition since the beginning of 90ties. Using an example of concrete situation in the author’s country, it summarizes a survey of basic problems to which foresters are facing since the time of transition to market economy. The most important forestry needs in the beginning of the 3rd millennium are mentioned as well as the challenge to avoid solutions, which could make other problems both in the short and the long-term future. Contribution lists in brief with the development of forestry and forestry policy since political changes in1989 and joining of the country to the European Union. There are shown problems, on the example of the Czech Republic, which resemble also other Eastern Europe countries after the transformation of their economies. Present circumstances in forestry are, analogous to these countries, notably intricate by worsening of with economic conditions. Paper also describes problems, which Central European forestry grapples with, i.e. owing to a weather extremity. Their incidence is surplus of timber, its low price, problems with marketing of products and more trouble related to forest protection. Nevertheless, Czech forestry since the beginnings of 90ties brought on international activities concerning forests and after the entrance to the Community in 2004 its activities was even deepening. Czech Republic is a signatory country of more international conventions dealing with environment and forests. It includes also participation in so-called Pan-European process. Also forest condition is monitored in the long term (ICP-Forest and/or Forest Focus) on international monitoring plots of trans national grid, country is wiring to the programme Euforgen on European forest tree gene-pool conservation. There was prepared already 2nd National Forest Programme for the period by 2013 following resolutions of the MCPFE and on The EU Forest Action Plan. National Forest Programme has been made-up under broad attendance of all interested groups in 2007and passed by the Czech government on October 2008. In 2009, when our country will preside the EU Council from January by June, the National Forest Programme should become basis for discussion on legislative adjustments concerning forestry. There is also mentioned the first National Forest Inventory, which has been executed in such a way to answer the methodology used in other countries. The inventory is considered as an important activity of last years and it should be repeated presuming in between 2011 and 2014.

Email: Vasicek.Jaromir@uhul.cz

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Title: Development of eco-composites based on the polystyrene particles and recycled wood to Hymenaea courbaril sp

Authors: Marcio Franck, Marcio Franck De Figueiredo; Barroso Tavares Dias, Carmen Gilda

Thema: 5. Development opportunities
Subtheme: 5.2 Industry and forest development

Abstract of the paper: The large amount of waste wood particles produced in the timber industry in the State of Pará, which was not worried even a specific destination or use that will minimize or eliminate the impacts to the environment caused by its simple eviction or outdoor burning of inadequate stuff. Some studies have been conducted trying to find alternatives that add value to raw materials such as noble and valued so little today. An alternative is the use of such material in the manufacture of composites for several applications. The popularization of plastic, found in various forms and for several applications, also worries for its affordable price that has to do with high turnover and almost no function after going to use, most often in landfills or in the open in streams and bueiros over the city. In this context, this paper describes the development and preliminary study of the characteristics of eco-resistance of composites made from the mechanical recycling of cups the base of polystyrene (PS) and the recovery of waste timber from the Amazonian species of particulate form of wood, from the secondary processing companies in producing solid wood floors. The preparation of the composite followed the proportion 30% particulate, 69% recycled PS and 1% of pigment. Various sizes were tested both for the PS and for the particles to better conformation. For the analysis of the physical and mechanical, were made in the form of composite boards, processed by pressing into a mold of steel to a temperature of 190 ° C. To improve the PS-interacting particles, the plates were obtained in the first conformation crushed and re-processed, resulting in well plates with better visual characteristics. The composite obtained showed satisfactory physical and mechanical characteristics, allowing its indication, among others, the manufacture of boards used as flooring on the deck of small boats.

Email: marciofranck@uepa.br, cgbtd@ufpa.br

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Title: DEVELOPMENT OF MARKET INFORMATION SERVICE AND PRICE TRENDS OF SOME IMPORTANT MEDICINAL PLANTS IN CENTRAL INDIA

Authors: Bhatnagar, Pratibha

Thema: 5. Development opportunities
Subtheme: 5.4 Forest products trade

Abstract of the paper: DEVELOPMENT OF MARKET INFORMATION SERVICE AND PRICE TRENDS OF SOME IMPORTANT MEDICINAL PLANTS IN CENTRAL INDIA Pratibha Bhatnagar, Marketing Specialist State Forest Research Institute, Polipathar Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. Abstract Central India is endowed with rich heritage of traditional medicinal plants. Medicinal plants and other NTFPs constitute an important source of livelihood to the forest dependent communities besides providing valuable raw material to pharmaceutical industries. Trade in medicinal plants is mostly in the informal sector and problems like lack of proper markets, market inefficiency, variations and fluctuations in prices over regions have been prevalent. A project on marketing information service was started in 2001 for setting up a regional MIS in Central India with funding support by the National Medicinal Plants Board for collection, analysis and dissemination of market information in three central Indian states – Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh and Maharastra. The goal of the MIS was to improve people’s access to market information in time. A systematic approach was developed for periodic market data collection and monitoring market trends. Data collection centers were setup in different zones of the states. There are six activities under MIS. A quarterly marketing Newsletter Van Dhan is being published since past eight years – giving national, regional, districts and village level market information on prices, market arrivals, processing and other product information. The market information can also be accessed through MIS software providing various options which generate species wise price trends, prices prevailing of medicinal species in different markets, year wise markets rates. Market price trend reports for 60 medicinal species are available at different market levels giving details on rise, decline or stability of species over the period of MIS. Since this is first MIS on marketing of medicinal plants the response has been quite positive. It has assisted in bridging the information gap on markets, traders, processors, medicinal plant collectors from forests. The quarterly newsletter Van Dhan is being distributed to village communities to assist them in making marketing decisions for their produce. Monitoring of MIS is done regularly with feedback from readers about their market problems and through contact with other stakeholders. The paper describes the process of development of MIS and discusses the market trends of selected ten important medicinal plants in Central India . Keywords : Medicinal plants, market information service, price trends

Email: cesd_1@yahoo.com

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Title: Development of Multiplexed SCAR markers for species diagnosis and hybrid validation in Casuarina equisetifolia, C. junghuhniana and their hybrids

Authors: Dasgupta, Modhumita; Palanisamy, Chezhian; Ramasamy, Sumathi; A., Nicodemus

Thema: 2. Producing for development
Subtheme: 2.4 Maintenance and increase of productive capacity of forests

Abstract of the paper: Casuarinaceae consists of four genera, Allocasuarina, Casuarina, Ceuthostoma and Gymnostoma with 97 species including monoecious or dioecious shrubs and trees. Among the four genera, the species of Casuarina and Allocasuarina are commercially cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Casuarina equisetifolia is one of the most extensively introduced tree species outside its natural range, especially into southern China, India, Vietnam, East, West and North Africa, Central and South America, the Caribbean and many Middle Eastern countries. It is a true multipurpose species, providing a range of services and products for industrial and local end users. It is of considerable importance for agroforestry systems and reclamation of unstable coastal ecosystems. Natural hybrids of C. equisetifolia have been reported and a putative hybrid of C.junghuhniana and C. equisetifolia is commercially cultivated in Thailand. The identification of this species and their hybrids has been based on morphological characters which are environmentally plastic. Nevertheless, with the increase in demand for accurate and rapid identification of species for certification and determination of putative hybrids during selection and hybridization programmes, a marker – based identification system has become a critical need. The present study was aimed at developing DNA markers for identification of C. equisetifolia, C.junghuhniana and their hybrids. Seven ISSR primers were amplified in 120 individuals belonging to three Casuarina (C. equisetifolia, C. glauca and C. junghuhniana) and two Allocasuarina species (A. littoralis and A. huegeliana). Two species specific amplicons at 550 bp and 410 bp amplified in all individuals of C. equisetifolia and C. junghuhniana respectively. The amplified fragments were cloned, sequenced and primer pairs were designed and the SCAR markers were designated as IFGTB27CE-01 and IFGTB26CJ02. They amplified the target sequence in C. equisetifolia and C. junghuhniana at 500 bp and 250 bp respectively. IFGTB27CE-01 was validated in 47 individuals from populations collected from diverse sources including China, Egypt, Kenya, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and India, while IFGTB26CJ02 was validated in 30 individuals. The SCARs were also amplified in ten randomly selected individuals of C. glauca, A. huegeliana and A. littoralis to ascertain the absence of the specific markers. Further, the markers were multiplexed into a single reaction and amplified in hybrids of C. equisetifolia and C. junghuhniana, generated from the controlled hybridization program. The presence of two bands at approximately 500 bp and 250 bp revealed the suitability of the multiplexed primers for species/hybrid diagnosis.

Email: ghoshm@icfre.org, chezhian2724@gmail.com, sumathi@icfre.org, nico@icfre.org

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