| European
Tropical Forest Research Network |
By Bert van der Linden
FAO Forestry Paper (2001)
This publication constitutes the principal report of the Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2000. The FRA compiled and analysed a wide range of information about the extent, composition, protection and utilisation of forests for each country. Special attention was given to estimating the rate of change of forest resources and to documenting the factors implicated in these changes. Two approaches were used to the global assessment. The most important one was to collect data on field level and to aggregate information working upward to country level and eventually global level. This approach was supplemented by an another one, which looks down from above by means of satellite remote sensing. The information and knowledge provided by countries form the backbone of the FRA 2000.
The main findings on forest area and area change are presented in Part I, Chapter 1. Part one also presents the results of studies on wood volume and biomass, plantations and other key parameters studied in FRA 2000. Part II presents findings organised by geographic region and subregion. Part III describes the methodologies and processes underpinning the assessment. The development of a comprehensive forestry information system (FORIS) which was created to assemble and disseminate the FRA 2000 results is also described.
The publication is published in English, French and Spanish and is also available on the FAO Website at http://www.fao.org/forestry/fo/fra/main/index.jsp; the web site also provides more detailed data by country in the country profiles.
For further
information contact
FAO, Vialle delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy.
Tel.: +39 065 7051. Fax: +39 065 7053 152.
M. Söderland & A. Pottinger (2001)
The Commonwealth Forestry Association (CFA) has published the third book in the series of publications entitled The World's Forests. This publication focuses on the forest policy developments under the umbrella of the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF) process (1997-2000) and other high-level initiatives in support of sustainable forest management. The book consolidates important international forest policy developments during the period 1997-2000.
The book consists of four parts. In part I focus is on the outcomes of the intergovernmental dialogue on forest in this period. Part II highlights the government- and organisation-led initiatives in support of the IFF process. An overview of the evolution of criteria and indicators for sustainable management over the last decade is presented in part III. Some initiatives on criteria and indicators are highlighted. Finally, in part IV an assessment is made of the progress achieved since Rio ('92).
ISBN 0-9515059-3-9,
310 p.
Published by The Commonwealth Forestry Association, c/o The Oxford Forestry
Institute,
South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK.
Tel: (+44) (0)1865 275000. Fax: (+44) (0)1865 275074.
E-mail: ofi@plants.ox.ac.uk.
Website: http://www.plants.ox.ac.uk/ofi/home.htm
A multi-scale analysis of spatio-temporal data by L.M. Tavares de Carvalho (2001)
Much attention is paid to forest destruction and ways to counteract it. A great deal of the effort is directed to the areas that remain extensively covered by forests. Forest fragments are largely overlooked although they are of significant importance to the local environment. This book explores the actual methodologies and techniques such as remote sensing and geographical information technologies which enable the acquirement of the necessary data for the development and validation of ecological models, management activities and decision making for forests, including fragments all over the world.
The book uses information from a research project dealing with semi-deciduous Atlantic Forest in Brazil, initiated in 1998 by a Brazilian research institute EMBRAPA and the two Brazilian universities (UFLA and UNB). It describes the strategy, based on remote sensing information, that was used to classify and monitor areas in a region with fragmented Atlantic Forest. The procedure that was followed to determine the location of deforestation over a large area is described. This method is not difficult and can therefore be used by local authorities as a warning system for deforestation.
PhD thesis.
Wageningen University. 136 p.
For further information: jan.clevers@staff.girs.wag-ur.nl
Ordering Information:
Secretariat, Centre for Gio-Information,
Alterra, P.O. Box 339, 6700AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Tel: +31 317 474640 Fax: +31 317 474567
On line ordering: http://www.agralin.nl/luwpubs/
F.J. Ahern, J.G. Goldammer & C.O. Justice (2001)
Increasing conflagrations of forests and other lands throughout the world during the 1980s and 1990s have made fires in forests and other vegetation emerge as an important global concern. Both the number and severity of wildfires and the application of fire for land-use change seem to have increased dramatically compared to previous decades of the twentieth century. The adverse consequences of extensive wildfires cross national boundaries and have global impacts. Satellite remote sensing technology has the potential to play an important role in both monitoring fires and their consequences, as well as in operational fire management.
This book contains thirteen contributions authored by scientists who represent the most active international research and development institutions. These papers were initially presented at a workshop organised within the framework of the international pilot project Global Observation of Forest Cover (GOFC), initiated by the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) in 1997. GOFC was designed to bring together data providers and information users to make information products from satellite and in-situ observations of forests more readily available world-wide. The volume is a contribution by the GOFC Forest Fire Monitoring and Mapping Implementation Team to the Interagency Task Force Working Group Wildland Fire of the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR).
ISBN 90
5103 140 8, 303 p.
Distributors for the USA and Canada: Library Research Associates, Inc., 474
Dunderberg Road, Monroe, NY 10950. Fax: (845) 3953.
For all other countries: SPB Academic Publishing bv, P.O.Box 97747, 2509 GC
The Hague, The Netherlands. Fax: (+31 70) 3300254.
Email: kugler.spb@wxs.nl.
Website: http://www.kuglerpublications.com/spb.
A. Franc, O. Laroussinie, T. Karjalainen (eds.) 2001
This publication contains the papers that were presented at a conference organised by GIP Ecofor and the European Forest Institute (EFI) on behalf of IUFRO Task Force on Sustainable Forest Management, and under the auspices of FAO, CIFOR and CATIE, at Nancy, 22-25 March 2000.
The 18 papers in this publication attempt to contribute to the development of a consensus on Criteria and Indicators that deals with the paradox of sustainable forest management that appears to exist. On the one hand it seems very appealing, challenging and new for some groups, on the other hand it seems very classical and already implemented in management plans for other groups. Elements of the paradox are presented in the papers, such as the distinction between sustained yield and sustainable forest management, the extraordinary diversification of the functions, goods and benefits produced by the forests and the increasing diversity of stakeholders involved in forest planning and management. Moreover, recently new values have emerged as equally important to the values already recognised worldwide.
For more
information contact:
European Forest Institute (EFI),
Torikatu 34, FIN-80100 Joensuu, Finland.
Tel.: +358 13 252 020.Fax: +358 13 124 393.
Email: publications@efi.fi.
Website: http://www.efi.fi/
In a special
issue of its newsletter Panorama the Swiss National Science Foundation presents
the results of a project that deals with the issue of adequate evaluation
of inter- and transdisciplinary research; problem oriented research requiring
the cooperation of science and the private sector. This issue has gained significance
in recent years. The project involved the compilation of a Catalogue of Criteria
for the Evaluation of Inter and Transdisciplinary Projects. This special issue
is also available as pdf-file on http://www.ikaoe.unibe.ch/forschung.
For hard copies contact
IKAÖ, Project "Evaluation Criteria", Falkenplatz 16, 3012 Bern,
Switzerland.
Fax: +41 31 631 8733.
Email: defila@ikaoe.unibe.ch.
J. Ruitenbeek and C. Cartier (2001)
This paper provides an economic perspective on concepts related to adaptive co-management (ACM). The hypothesis is explored as to whether ACM can be regarded as an emergent strategy under specific conditions. The theory of "self-interest" as the determining factor that leads to stability and efficiency in economic systems against that of a complex bio-economic system in which "altruistic common interest" can act as a forcing factor (our "Invisible Wand").
For more
information contact:
CIFOR, P.O.Box 6596 JKPWB, Jakarta 10065, Indonesia.
Tel.: +62 (251) 622622. Fax: +62 (251) 622100.
Email: cifor@cgiar.org.
Website: http://www.cifor.cgiar.org.
The Overseas Development Institute has produced a CD-ROM that contains 17 years of its publications on forestry-related issues.
All papers are indexed by publication, keyword, author and region. Full text versions of the majority of publications are available in English, French and Spanish as Acrobat pdf files. The adobe acrobat reader is also included on the CD-ROM.
For more
information please contact:
Overseas Development Institute,
111, Westminister Bridge Road, London SE1 7JD, United Kingdom.
Email: forestry@odi.org.uk
http://www.odi.org.uk
The FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific supports agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and rural development across the region. Through the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission (APFC,) member countries set policy priorities for the main forestry activities in the region. APFC has commissioned a number of studies to assist in the identification of the priorities in forestry in the region. The results have been published in reports, several of which are discussed below.
REGIONAL
TRAINING STRATEGY
Supporting the implementation of the code of practice for forest harvesting
in Asia-Pacific. APFC
has developed the Code of Practice for Forest Harvesting in the Asia-Pacific,
which encourages environmentally sound forest harvesting throughout the region.
However, in many countries in the region personnel are insufficiently trained
to practice the code properly, because of lack of training facilities. As
a follow-up to this identified need the APFC agreed to formulate a regional
training strategy. This document is the result of that effort. It presents
a generic training strategy that can be adapted to specific needs and situations.
The document provides a general framework of the strategy and guidelines for
its implementation.
TRASH
OR TREASURE? LOGGING AND MILL RESIDUES IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
High wood residue volumes from forestry and wood processing activities have
never been considered a problem, until recently. Nowadays, with declining
forest and consequently wood resources, it has become an issue. Therefore,
the APFC commissioned a study on the magnitude of the problem and on alternative
uses for logging and mill residues. The overall objectives of the study were
to estimate and describe the availability and use of residues in the processing
chain (including harvesting, transport, storage and processing) of major forest
product industries, from the standing tree to the final and semi-final product,
and present options for reducing residues in the forest and in wood-processing
industries. The results of the study are presented in this publication.
FORESTS
OUT OF BOUNDS
Logging is viewed by many people as a key factor in deforestation and consequent
loss of biological diversity, deterioration of watersheds, expansion of deserts
and the demise of forest-dependent people. In response a number of countries
in Asia and the Pacific have imposed partial or total bans on harvesting timber
from natural forests. The study of the Impacts and effectiveness of logging
bans in natural forests arose from the need to assess the success and failures
of such strategies and approaches in the Asia-Pacific region. Its results
have been compiled in this document.
National consultants carried out studies in their respective countries, covering a variety of experiences with timber harvesting bans. The results of each of the studies and a regional overview are presented in the document. An executive summary of the document is also available.
For more
information please contact
Patrick B. Durst,
Senior Forestry Officer, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific,
39 Phra Atit Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand.
Tel: (66-2) 697-4000. Fax: (66-2) 697-4445.
Email: Patrick.Durst@fao.org.
Website:http://www.fao.or.th/Technical_Groups/Forestry/forestry.htm
and http://www.apfcweb.org.
Within the framework of the FAO's Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2000 programme, a vast amount of information on the status and trends in forest area, natural forests, plantations, protected areas, sustainable forest management and other, related variables, was collected and analysed. This information is available on the internet at www.fao.org/forestry/ fo/fra/index.jsp.
In this publication a summary is given of trends in forest plantation development from 1980 tot 1990, based on findings in FRA 2000. A short article reviews the complementary roles for conservation of protected areas, managed natural forests, plantations and breeding programmes, as reported in the FRA 2000 Final Report. Other contributions in this publication report on action, programmes and projects pursued in all regions of the world. This is the first in a series of three complementary booklets on genetic conservation, which will be jointly published over the coming months by FAO, the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) and DANIDA Forest Seed Centre.
For more
information contact:
Forest Resources Development Service, Forest Resources Division,
FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 1-00100 Rome, Italy
Fax: (39) 06 5705 5137.
Email: Forest-Genetic-Resources@fao.org.
By Weber, A., W. Huber, A. Weissenhofer, N. Zamora & G. Zimmermann (eds.).
A remarkable plant book entitled "An introductory Field Guide to the flowering plants of the Golfo Dulce Rainforests, Costa Rica" was recently published. It is the result of a cooperation project of Austrian, Costarican and US-American botanists.This book deals with the plant biodiversity of one of the most species abundant forest regions in the neotropics and represents a basic work about the little known rainforests in the Southeast of Costa Rica.
With the book it is possible to identify all plant families and genera of the area. Over 900 selected species from different life forms (trees, herbs, lianas, epiphytes etc.) are described, many of them are illustrated. Details about distribution, pollination biology, fruit- and seed dispersal, use etc. add instructive information of phytogeographical and ecological interest. A general section covers geology, soils and climatic patterns of the region. This part also includes descriptions of the various forest types and their characteristic species. An extensive photosection with over 700 color photos of ecosystems, flowers, fruits etc., and numerous black and white illustrations in the text facilitate the identification.
In summary, this is a fine work about a neotropical rainforest. It seems of considerable interest for scientists and students as well as for naturalists interested in plant biology. The keys, the species descriptions and the very nice illustrations all add up to a high quality publication that will be used by anyone interested in working in these rain forest areas of Costa Rica. "The editors are to be congratulated on putting together such a fine piece of work".... Sir Ghillean Prance, Science Director, Eden Project, Cornwall.
The book
is published in the STAPFIA series from the OÖ Landesmuseum -Biologiezentrum
Linz and can be ordered from the:
Institute of Botany, c/o Mrs. Marion Dominikus,
Rennweg 14, 1030 Wien, Austria
Phone 01-4277-54124, fax direct dial 9541,
email: marion.dominikus@univie.ac.at.
Costs: Euro 49 plus postage costs.
M.Kappelle & A.D. Brown (Eds.) (2001)
This publication brings together the results of research on neotropical cloud forests with the aim to enhance the knowledge on these ecosystems. It is hoped that this knowledge will help to determine the requirements for monitoring the processes of degradation, for ecological restoration and for the conservation of this type of forest. A number of authors have contributed to the publication, which can be divided in two parts. Part I deals with general aspects of neotropical cloud forests, such as their unique ecological features, their diversity, flora and fauna and its history. For each of the countries in the Neotropics that have cloud forests within their boundaries more detailed information on these ecosystems is provided in Part II. The book also contains many coloured photos, pictures and maps on the subject.
ISBN 9968
702 50 1, 657 p.
For more information contact:
Editorial INBio.
P.O.Box 22-3100, Santo Domingo de Heredia,Costa Rica.
Tel. (506) 244 0690, ext. 802. Fax: (506) 244 2816.
Email: editorial@inbio.ac.cr.
Website: http://www.inbio.ac.cr/editorial.
The Flora Malesiana Bulletin is an annual periodical providing information and contact between institutes and individual botanists collaborating in the Flora Malesiana Project and related fields. Flora Malesiana is a systematic account of the flora of Malesia, the plant-geographical unit spanning six countries in Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea.
The Bulletin
is distributed free of charge to Flora Malesiana contributors. Cost to non-contributors
is EUR 18.00 per copy (excl. Postage and handling)
zoelen@nhn.leidenuniv.nl. Ask for possibilities for exchange: lut@leidenuniv.nl.
For Flora Malesiana Bulletin bibliographies see the website: http://132.229.92.132/fmbull/
Correspondence address:
Nationaal Herbarium Nederland,
Universiteit Leiden.P.O.Box 9514,2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Tel.: +31 (0)71 5273500. Fax: +31 (0)71 5273511.
Email: veldkamp@nn.leidenuniv.nl.
The Biodiversity and Development Project (BDP) is a collaborative initiative of the European Commission, The UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the IUCN. However, it has involved much wider collaboration within Europe of staff from EU Member States' development agencies and from the European Commission. Beyond Europe, national consultants in developing countries worked with project staff to produce 11 case studies.
Guiding
Principles
This report captures the experiences and opinions of people working on biodiversity
issues in EC partner countries. The production of this report involved consultation
with 98 workshop participants, from 35 countries. It presents the 7 main principles
and illustrates them with experiences from field projects and the lessons
learned.
Strategic
Approach
This document is the result of consultation between EC policy advisors and
task managers dealing with biodiversity and the environment, and those working
on natural resource and non-natural resource issues. The Strategic Approach
addresses the important issue of integrating biodiversity into development
cooperation policy and practice. The document highlights the need to realise
biodiversity's full potential to support development, while addressing the
direct and underlying causes of this loss. The Strategic Approach covers all
terrestrial biodiversity, coastal areas and some marine issues relevant for
development cooperation. It focuses primarily on the conservation and sustainable
use of biological resources in developing countries, from both natural and
farm habitats.
Biodiversity
Briefs
The aim of the Biodiversity Briefs is to raise awareness about biodiversity
issues within EC development cooperation. They are divided into three types:
For further
information contact:
IUCN Publications Services Unit,
219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0DL,
UK. Tel. +44 1223 277894.
Fax: +44 1223 277175.
Email: info@book.iucn.org.
All documents can
be found on the website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/sector/environment.
Bennet, G. & P.Wit (2001)
This report comprises a worldwide review of 38 ecological network initiatives that have recently being developed or implemented. It includes an inventory of a wide range of proposals, plans and ongoing programmes to establish ecological networks at scales varying from the regional to intercontinental, and summary findings on the main features of the initiatives. The report is intended as a contribution to IUCN's review of experience in developing and applying ecological networks, which was initiated through a resolution at the World Conservation Congress in 1996. In total a number of over 150 ecological networks were identified worldwide, of which 38 were studied in more detail.
132 p. First
published by AIDEnvironment, Amsterdam.
For more information contact AIDEnvironment: tel. 020-6868111, fax. 020 6866251.
Email. info@aidenvironment.org.
Website: http://www.aidenvironment.org
G. Magin, C. Marijnissen, S. Moniaga and C. Meek (2001)
This report presents a pattern of widespread violation of civil and political rights in relation to forest conflicts. It provides examples from North and South, from tropical, temperate and boreal forests. Five detailed case studies in four different continents document the chain of casualties leading to human rights abuses. Three country analyses, of Indonesia, Mexico and Canada, show how human rights abuses are "institutionalised" by forest laws, power structures and lack of participation. A list of shorter examples illustrates the range of human rights abuses and the spread across different continents. All cases have been checked with the people directly involved and contacts for more information are provided.
For more
information contact: FERN,
1c Fosseway Business Park, Stratford Road, Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 9NQ, UK
Tel.: +44 1608 652895. Fax: +44 1608 652878.
Email: sara@gn.apc.org.
A view on the people of the tropical forests by S. Bahuchet, P. de Maret, F. Grenand and P. Grenand (2001)
This richly illustrated book analyses the changing lives of forest dwelling people in the tropical forests of Belize, Guyana, Central Africa and Melanesia in the Pacific Region. In cooperation with local institutions the Centre d'Anthropologie culturelle in Belgium has conducted research on the characteristics of people who live in the forest and depend on this ecosystem for their living. The results of the study are presented by answering a number of questions regarding the relationship between these people and the forests they live and depend on. The main question addressed concerns the coherence between conservation of forests and supporting the people that live in it.
APFT –
ULB
Centre d'anthropologie culturelle,
Avenue Jeanne 44 – 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
Tel.: +32 2-650.34.25.
Email:anthcult@ulb.ac.be