ETFRN NEWS 24

Publications




Negotiating a Sustainable Future for Land : Structural and Institutional Guidelines for Land Resources Management in the 21st Century

FAO & UNEP (1997)

In this working document the key issues that are believed to interfere with integrated resource management are confronted. A strategy for change is also suggested.

The strategy proposed is not unique, nor in a sense is it new, since most of the components have been around for some time. What has been tried is to combine them into one integrated and logical framework. Land-use, the factors which control it, and the ecological consequences, are extremely complex. The apparent simplicity of the following proposals results from years of collective development experience and months of discussion. The logic of an improved approach must be easily grasped by busy people. It is planned to follow up the present publication with a detailed implementation manual. In order to link the community, information and policy settings to achieve integrated land management five major tasks have been identified: (1) removing constraints, providing incentives and developing improved technology; (2) creating institutional arrangements for involving stakeholders in management; (3) establishment of efficient and effective land resources management through a network of groups; (4) creating information systems which are accessible to all; (5) providing technical support for decision making. These actions provide a framework for this document. The terms land management and resource management have been used interchangeably. Environmental management terminology tends to apply the word ‘resource' to all manageable variables in the landscape, community or biome, from soil and water to genetic biodiversity, labour and legislation. A manager of integrated natural resources systems cannot afford to be ignorant of, or isolated from, any of these factors. That is one of the key messages within this document.

Interested people or agencies are invited to try out the ideas presented in this work, provide feedback on their application, and join to develop more fully a working set of guidelines for future use by everyone who can see the need for change. This document is available on the Internet at: http://www.fao.org/waicent/FaoInfo/Agricult/AGL/AGLS/a.htm, under downloadable documents click: ‘Negotiating a sustainable future for land, structural and institutional guidelines for land resources management in the 21st century'.

The book 'Our Land Our Future' deals with the same idea; the need for a more integrated approach related to land resources management. It is aimed at raising public awareness at all levels of the society and is therefore mainly pictured accompanied by related key-sentences. The target group for the second book 'Negotiating...' is the group of decision-makers at national level dealing with land-use planning/land resources management.

For further information, contact Andrea Kutter, Email: Andrea.Kutter@fao.org

Orders: FAO, Land and Water Development Division, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy. Fax: +39 6 5705 6275.
Price: free of charge



NEW PUBLICATIONS FROM IIED

Policy that works for forests and people series, nos. 1-7

Forest issues are increasingly complex. They often involve large amounts of money, long timeframes, huge areas of land, and diverse livelihoods. Whilst the specific issues vary from place to place, a pattern of forest problems is common to many countries: continuing loss of natural forests; logging companies and land speculators seeking weak national authorities; over-concentrated control and inequitable access to forests; an ill-informed public and consumer; and poorly-resourced, inflexible forestry institutions. Policy is the root cause of many of these forest problems.

A new series of reports from IIED aims at a better understanding of the forces at play in contests over policy, the winners and losers, and the factors that affect policy outcomes. The reports marshall lessons on policy in practice from experience in a wide range of countries. They describe the processes that make good policies and the policy instruments that work in different contexts. By dealing with policy in the ‘real world' the reports go beyond the frequently heard complaint that there is a lack of ‘political will' to change, by showing how policy can change for the better.




THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF FOREST MANAGEMENT IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Colin Filer (ed)

This is a monograph produced in collaboration with the PNG National Research Institute, as part of the Papua New Guinea study. The book includes case studies of the local politics of large-scale logging projects, discusses the forest industry at national and regional levels, and looks at the practical problems in achieving a more sustainable regime of forest management. Much of the material is drawn from discussions with scholars, policy-makers and practitioners with first-hand knowledge of forest issues in Papua New Guinea.

Orders: IIED Publications, 3 Endsleigh Street, London WC1H 0DD, UK. Tel. +44 (0)171 388 2117, Fax. +44 (0)171 388 2826, Email: bookshop@iied.org. Price: Policy that Works for Forests and People Series Nos. 1-7: £12.50 each plus postage and packing; Papua New Guinea Monograph: £22.95 plus postage and packing.



PRIVATE SECTOR FORESTRY: A REVIEW OF INSTRUMENTS FOR ENSURING SUSTAINABILITY - IIED Forestry and Land Use Series No 11

Stephen Bass, Robert R Hearne, October 1977

This paper reviews varied experiences of privatisation processes, and recent lessons of regulatory and market instruments that affect the private sector from both supply-side and demand-side angles. It is clear that a much more subtle palette of solutions is required - rarely are extremes of universal privatisation or nationalisation effective. Many new market instruments are particularly promising. Five key issues are singled out as significant in defining instruments that result in sustainable private sector forestry: (1) the nature of the forest good or service in question; (2) the maturity of forestry institutions; (3) the level of participation of other stakeholders in the decisions on private sector roles and associated instruments; (4) the motivations, organisation and dynamics of private sector enterprises; (5) the costs of any instrument - which should not exceed the benefits obtained.

The failure of otherwise promising instruments may be explained by the lack of one or more of the above. This paper provides a brief overview of the main issues in improving the sustainability of private sector forest management, and reflects a range of opinions on these issues. It finishes by summarising a 3 year IIED programme, which will explore and promote the most effective instruments for sustainable private sector forestry.

Orders:The Bookshop, IIED, 3 Endsleigh Street, London WC1H ODD, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 171 388 2117, Fax: +44 171 388 2826, Email: bookshop@iied.org http://www.iied.org/



FORESTRY FOR SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT: A REVIEW OF FORD FOUNDATION-SUPPORTED COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAMS IN ASIA

Ford Foundation (1998)

Part One of this publication gives details of approaches the Ford Foundation has supported in the field of community forestry in Asia.

Part Two - The Elements of Community Forestry, concentrates on access and rights to forest products and land for local people; community-based organizations for forest management; multiple-use management of the forest resource; institutional change and new collaborative relationships; roles of non-governmental organizations and research institutions; the development and application of new social science methodologies in community forestry.

Orders: (Quoting order no. 565) Office of Communications, Ford Foundation,320 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017, USA. Tel: +1 212573 5169, Email: communications@fordfound.org. The Office of Communications publishes and distributes a variety of free publications and also disseminates a number of Foundation-supported videos and films. The Catalog of Publications, Films, and Videos, which lists these publications and videos, along with video prices and ordering information, is available free of charge.

A quarterly publication, The Ford Foundation REPORT, contains articles and reports related to the Foundation's work in the United States and abroad, as well as brief announcements of recent grants, publications, and staff appointments. Available free of charge.



BACK TO NATIONAL REALITIES

Sida booklet, September 1997

This booklet is a contribution to the on-going debate concerning the utilisation of forestry resources. The authors, Reidar Person and Pierre Früling give the reader an overview of forestry development in Sweden and the developing world. Development cooperation in the forestry sector is the starting point. The booklet discusses lessons learned during more than 30 years of international forestry work. A second point of departure is the Swedish forestry history - explaining mechanism's behind Sweden's development of a world class forestry sector. This booklet aims to stimulate our thinking concerning global and local forestry issues, thereby contributing to our common goal - sustainable development.

Orders: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, S-105 25 Stockholm, Sweden. Tel: +46 8 698 50 00, Fax: +46 8 20 88 64



MANUALS OF DIPTEROCARPS FOR FORESTERS

M F Newman, P F Burgess, T C Whitmore

Until now, the naming of species in rich tropical floras has always presented difficult problems. These manuals point the way ahead. At the heart of each manual lies a multi-access computer-based key that enables species to be identified in the forest, mainly from characters of the living tree (its bole, bark, crown and leaves). The computer keys are basked up by crisp written descriptions that also cover timber, ecology and silviculture. Funded by British aid and written in collaboration with regional scientists, these manuals provide an improved means for the non-expert to name individual species of Dipterocarpaceae, the dominant big trees and most important timbers of western Malesia. Sustainable forest management and concerns to conserve biodiversity make species identification more important than ever before and with modern technology this now becomes straightforward.

Three new manuals have been published completing the series:

The following previously published manuals are still available (announced in ETFRN News 23):

Orders: Print and Publications Section, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR, Scotland, UK. Tel: +44 131 552 7171, Fax: +44 131 552 0382, Email: A href="mailto:pps@rbge.org.uk">pps@rbge.org.uk, or Center for International Forestry Research, PO Box 6596 JKPWB, Jakarta 10065, Indonesia. Tel: +62 251 343652, Fax: +62 251 326433, Email: cifor@cgnet.com. Special prices: All 3 1996 Manuals: £40; All 3 1998 Manuals: £40; All 5 Indonesian Manuals: £65; All 7 Manuals: £75.



TROPICAL FORESTRY PAPERS NO. 36 Cordia alliodora: Genetics and Tree Improvement

D H Boshier & A T Lamb (Eds) (1997)

Cordia alliodora is a valued neotropical timber tree, whose wood is important for local use by farmers and in national timber markets. The species is particularly suited to agroforestry systems. Over the last decade the increasing interest in planting economically valuable shade trees with perennial crops such as coffee and cacao had lead to an increase in the demand for seed of C. alliodora of high physical and genetic quality.

This Tropical Forestry Paper is intended both for tree breeders and for non-specialist foresters who work with C. alliodora both in tree improvement and more generally in areas relating to its seed production and vegetative propagation. A summary is provided at the end of most chapters, where implications from the research are presented as practical recommendations. The chapters explore basic issues, related to the genetic structure and dynamics of populations, and discuss areas of practical applicability:

Description of the species and its natural distribution; reproductive biology; mating system, population structure and gene flow; genetic variation - provenance and progeny trials; seed collection and storage; vegetative propagation; genetic improvement; Glossary of terminology.

It is hoped that this paper will form a useful complement to the widely available publications about the silviculture, use and management of C. alliodora within agroforestry systems.

Orders: David Boshier, Oxford Forestry Institute, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 1865 275000, Fax: +44 1865 275074, Email: David.Boshier@plant-sciences.oxford.ac.uk. TFP 36 is available in English and Spanish FREE to institutions in developing countries, as part of the DFID Forestry Research Programme's policy of making research results as widely available as possible. For institutions and individuals in developed countries, the price is £12.50 plus p&p.



PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFERENCE ON GROWTH STUDIES IN TROPICAL MOIST FORESTS OF AFRICA

The proceedings of the above conference, held in Kumasi, Ghana from 12-14 November 1996, are now available.

Orders: Ernest Foli, FORIG, UST Box 63, Kumasi, Ghana. Fax: +233 51 601 21, Email: forig@africaonline.com.gh. Price: US$ 30, including postage. Source: Tropical Silviculture Newsletter, Nov-Dec 1997



TROPENBOS DOCUMENTS 14 : METHODS FOR NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS RESEARCH. THE TROPENBOS EXPERIENCE

Ros-Tonen, M.A.F., Andel, T. van, Assies, W. Dijk, J.F.W. van, Duivenvoorden, J.F., Hammen, M.C. van der, Jong, W. de, Reinders, M., Rodríguez Fernández, C.A., Valkenburg, J.L.C.H. van (1998)

This document analyses which methods are currently being used in Tropenbos research dealing with non-timber forest products (NTFPs). First, several key conditions for successful and sustainable commercial NTFP extraction are identified. These include: the availability of natural resources; sustainable harvest levels; the compatibility of extractive activities with peoples' other economic activities; access to markets; and participatory planning. The methodologies which are being applied to provide insight into one or more of these key conditions are described, giving attention to their respective advantages and disadvantages.



TROPENBOS DOCUMENTS 15 : ACHIEVEMENTS OF DUTCH RESEARCH IN TROPICAL RAIN FORESTS

H W Simons (1998)

Following the request of the Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation, Mr. J.P. Pronk, the Tropenbos Foundation has prepared a compilation of the present achievements of tropical rain forest research funded by the Dutch Government and executed by Dutch research groups. This report presents a brief review of these achievements and illustrates to what extent Dutch research has contributed to improved conservation and wise use of tropical rain forests. The compilation shows that Dutch tropical rain forest research has become increasingly demand-driven and problem-oriented. The long-term presence of research programmes and the involvement of stakeholders appear to be crucial for successful impacts on forest policy and management.

Orders: Tropenbos Documents can be obtained from the Tropenbos Head Office in Wageningen, P.O. Box 232, 6700 AE Wageningen, The Netherlands. Fax: +31 317 423024, Email: tropenbos@iac.agro.nl. Price: Dfl 10 for documents, and Dfl 15 for documents with a computer programme or diskette, plus postal charges.



HISTORY OF THE UPICHÍA

Matapí, C and Matapí, U (1997)

This book compiles the history of the Upichía (nowadays known as Matapí), an ethnic group living in the area of the upper Mirití and Apaporis river, in northwestern Amazonia. The text corresponds to the translation and transcription of ordered episodes of the history told by a knowledgeable old man, Carlos Matapí (Huai), to his son Uldarico (Turupi), who received the traditional training to manage a roundhouse (maloca).

This book is a first careful attempt of the Upichía Indians to transcribe oral history into written text, so that at least part of the accumulated indigenous knowledge remains written for future generations and anthropological science.

Orders: Latin American customers can obtain the book from the Tropenbos Office in Colombia, Apartado Aéreo 036062, Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia. Tel: +571 3400983, Fax: +571 2880128, Email: ftropenb@colomsat.net.co. Orders from other regions can be placed at the office of the Hugo de Vries Laboratory, University of Amsterdam, Kruislaan 318, 1098 SM Amsterdam. Tel: +31 20 5257844, Email santos@bio.uva.nl



BOTANICAL DIVERSITY IN THE TROPICAL RAIN FOREST OF GUYANA : TROPENBOS GUYANA SERIES 4

R C Ek (1997)

This PhD thesis aims to assess the change in composition and development of the botanical community in Greenheart forest as a result of logging and logging-related damage. It furthermore aims to contribute to a sustainable management plan for Guyana's Greenheart forest and to evaluate various hypotheses on the maintenance of biodiversity.

TROPENBOS GUYANA SERIES 5 : RADAR REMOTE SENSING TO SUPPORT TROPICAL FOREST MANAGEMENT

J J van der Sanden (1997)

This PhD thesis describes an investigation into the potential of radar remote sensing for application to tropical forest management. The information content of various radar images is compared and assessed with regard to the information requirements of parties involved in tropical forest management at the global, national and local spatial levels. The study distinguishes between the use of radar remote sensing for application in forest resource assessment and forest resource monitoring.Field data for this study were collected at the Tropenbos sites in Colombia and Guyana. The study was carried out at Wageningen Agricultural University with financial support of the Netherlands Remote Sensing Board (BCRS).

Orders: Books in the Tropenbos-Guyana Series can be obtained from the office of the Tropenbos-Guyana Programme, Lot 12E Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, Guyana. Tel/Fax: +592 2 62846, Email: tropbos@guyana.net.gy



RADAR FOR RAIN FOREST. A MONITORING SYSTEM FOR LAND COVER CHANGE IN THE COLOMBIAN AMAZON

W Bijker (1997)

With an increasing demand for wise and sustainable forest management there is a growing need for up-to-date information on the location and extent of forests, the surrounding land cover and the changes occurring therein. This information is needed for planning as well as for controlling the implementation of laws and regulations. Radar remote sensing can provide a viable solution for mapping and monitoring such areas. Wietske Bijker (International Institute for Aerospace Survey (ITC), Enschede, The Netherlands) has developed a system for land cover monitoring in tropical rain forest areas. This system is based on radar images from the ERS-1 and ERS-2 satellites. The system was developed at the pilot site of San José del Guaviare, in the Amazon rain forest of Colombia. People from other parts of the country have migrated to this area in search of land and livelihood, clearing parts of the forest, cultivating crops and ultimately planting pastures. Due to its generic structure, the system can be applied to a variety of other areas as well.

This study was funded by the Tropenbos Foundation, the Netherlands Remote Sensing Board (BCRS) and ITC.

Orders: International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences ITC, PO Box 6, 7500 AA Enschede, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 53 487 4444, Fax: 31 53 487 4400



INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOREST GENETICS

Ladislav Paule, (ed)

This international scientific journal is aimed at the publication of recent advances in the fast developing field of forestry research.

Forest Genetics publishes original papers aimed at the recent advances in forest genetics in a broad sense including molecular and biochemical genetics, cytogenetics, population genetics, evolution genetics and ecological genetics and conservation of genetic resources. Though tree species have been the main subject of investigation in the fields of forest genetics and breeding studies, the genetic studies of forest organisms (other plants, animals, including microorganisms) and the breeding of forest plants are not excluded.

Further information: Ladislav Paule, Facultry of Forestry, Technical University, SK-96053 Zvolen, Slovakia. Subscription information: ARBORA Publishers spol. s.r.o., PO Box 22, SK-960 06 Zvolen 6, Slovakia.



AGROFORESTRY FOR SOIL MANAGEMENT

Anthony Young (1998)

Agroforestry can make a major contribution to sustainable land use with its potential, in well-managed systems, to control runoff and erosion, maintain soil organic matter and physical properties, and promote nutrient cycling. CAB International have updated Agroforestry for Soil Conservation, published in 1989, by providing a new synthesis that draws on over 700 recently published sources including results of field trials of agronomy systems and research into plant-soil processes. The book, published with the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, also contains information on soil erosion, conservation, and management. It will be of interest to anyone concerned with agroforestry: students, research scientists, soil scientist, agronomists and foresters.

Orders: Publishing Division, CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, OX1 8DE, United Kingdom. Fax: +44 1491 833508, Email: cabi@cabi.org Price: £25 plus £2.00 postage & packing.
Source: SPORE Newsletter, No 74



SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION PROGRAMME ON ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE HUMID TROPICS : WORKING PAPERS SERIES UNESCO

The Working Papers series aims to disseminate the results of the research on Biosphere Reserves on such topics as (i) the prevailing conservation and resource-use patterns and, (ii) the ways of improving the traditional practices and orientation for applied research aimed at a more intensive and sustainable use of the biodiversity to provide a better livelihood to the local population in the buffer and transition zones. On more general issues, the Working Papers are also an attempt to identify key problems that will become areas of concentration for international cooperation. Copies of these and other documents in the series can be obtained from: UNESCO/MAB Secretariat, Division of Ecological Sciences, South-South Cooperation Programme, 7 Place de Fontenoy, 75700 Paris, France. Tel: +33 1 45 68 41 46, Fax: +33 1 45 68 58 04, Email: m.clusener-godt@unesco.org.

SOUTH-SOUTH PERSPECTIVES NEWSLETTER
The aforementioned organisation also publish a newsletter in English, French, Spanish and Chinese. Requests: Administrative Editor - please see previous address.


DIRECTORY OF SELECTED TROPICAL FORESTRY JOURNALS AND NEWSLETTERS

Christine Haugen, Patrick B Durst, 1997

The first edition of this directory, issued in 1993 by the USDA Forest Service, the International Society of Tropical Foresters, and the Society of American Foresters, was well received around the world. Unfortunately, however, directories of this type inevitably become quickly outdated. Therefore FAO agreed with the compilers of the first edition to support the updating and revision of the directory. This second edition updates and completely replaces the first edition, and reflects current trends in information dissemination.

This directory is intended to help professionals identify and obtain publications and materials that will help them improve natural resources management in the tropics. It catalogues and describes 450 selected periodicals focussing on tropical forestry, ranging from rigorously reviewed scientific journals to informal newsletters.

FAO assigns very high priority to the dissemination and practical application of information on agriculture, fisheries and forestry and are therefore pleased to make this directory available to all individuals working in tropical forestry.

Orders: FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 39 Phra Atit Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand. Tel: +66 2 281 7844, Fax: +66 2 280 0445, Email: fao-rap@fao.org



WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL FOREST PROGRAMMES

FAO, 1997

This Technical Note was inspired by a preliminary work entitled ‘Considering gender in national forest action programmes' developed by Carla Hogan Rufelds in June 1994.

It aims to present a concrete and systematic mechanism through which gender considerations can be taken fully into account during the planning, implementation and review of national forest programmes. It highlights the importance of taking the female dimension into account in such programmes in order to strengthen the success of forest planning and development activities. The approach recommended for this integration in planning is firmly centred on participation.

The first section of this document provides a rapid overview of ‘gender specificities', of the roles , responsibilities, needs, constraints and opportunities which can be specific to men and to women, in particular in forestry. Also outlined are the reasons explaining why these gender considerations should be taken into account in programmes and projects.

The second section is a step-by-step review of the different phases of the formulation of national forest programmes, as described in the reference document, ‘National Forest Programmes: Basic Principles and Operational Guidelines' (FAO, 1996). This section should be read in the light of integrating gender in processes and programmes. Also briefly outlined are the participatory tools which can be used in each phase of the various processes to build up an appropriate database on what men and women do and why.

As with other technical notes published by FAO (eg on watershed management, nutrition or ecotourism-tourism), this document is intended to help planners and decision-makers improve planning in the forest and forestry sectors, by integrating considerations based on gender. It is also meant to enable anyone interested to better understand the multi-disciplinary aspects of forest planning.

Orders: FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy. Fax: +39 6 5705 5137. Languages available: English, French, Spanish.



ALGUNAS EXPERIENCIAS DEL ‘PROYECTO FORESTAL PIE DE MONTE JALAPA, NICARAGUA' Con un enfoque al Desarrollo Forestal Participativo

Paul A. Visser, 1997

In the past few years participatory planning processes have been developed and used in forest projects in several Andean and Central American countries. With time, this has led to a concept of participatory forest development, ‘desarrollo forestal participativo' (DFP).

The ‘Proyecto Forestal Pie de Monte Jalapa' in Nicaragua is one of these forest projects. It was gradually transformed from a large scale reforestation project with little participation from the local people to a project led by a participatory process of planning, monitoring and evaluation in which local producers 'cooperatives played a major role. The project was executed under the auspices of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MARENA) in Nicaragua and the non-governmental Dutch Service for Cooperation and Development (SNV). The author worked in the project for 9 years, employed by SNV. In this document he has described the experiences with participatory forest development in the Pie de Monte Jalapa forest project, analysing several important themes and lessons learnt. Information and experiences gained in other participatory forest projects in Ecuador, Costa Rica and Guatemala, which the author visited between October 1994 and March 1995, has also been incorporated. The document is available in Spanish only.

Orders: SNV, Bezuidenhoutseweg 161, 2594 AG Den Haag, The Netherlands, Fax +31 70 3478369, or: IKC Natuurbeheer, attn. Herman Savenije, PO Box 30, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands, Fax +31 317 427561



CHALLENGING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES - A GUIDE TO SELECTED COURSES IN AGRICULTURE FOR DEVELOPMENT

Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development, Agricultural Division, 1998

The ever-growing quantity and diversity of agricultural training opportunities makes it increasingly difficult to choose cost-effective training events which adequately meet identified training needs. This publications is designed as a practical tool to provide guidance and assistance to development officials at headquarters of coordination office level as well as to project managers in the process of selecting training opportunities for project and counterpart staff. It does not attempt to include the large amount of training opportunities that may be available in the very diverse field of agricultural development. It contains a deliberate selection of courses designed to meet priority needs and organised by competent institutions. The guide is divided into three main parts. Part A describes a selection of regularly organised international or regional training courses of short to long term duration. Part B refers to other guides and directories offering agricultural and rural development training opportunities. In Part C the addresses of all institutions mentioned in Part A and B are listed.

Orders:InfoAgrar, Länggasse 85, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland. Tel: +41 31 910 21 90, Fax: +41 31 910 21 54, Email: info@infoagrar.ch , Http://www.infoagrar.ch. Price: single copies are available free of charge.



TROPICAL SECONDARY FORESTS IN AFRICA AND ASIA: AN EXPLORATORY COMPILATION OF THE LITERATURE

The study was commissioned by the Netherlands' Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries with funding from the Programme International Nature Management (PIN). It was carried out by Bert van der Linden and Peter Sips of the BOS Foundation and supervised by the National Reference Centre for Nature Management of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries.

The area of tropical secondary forests is extensive and growing rapidly. If properly managed and developed, they provide numerous ecological and economic services and are important for rural development, biological conservation, the restoration of site productivity and to relieve pressure on undisturbed forests. Despite their importance and potential, secondary forests are largely invisible in forest statistics, policy and planning, and in forest research. Nevertheless, interest is emerging in various tropical countries, international organisations (e.g. CIFOR, CATIE, IUFRO) and donor countries like the Netherlands. Research and development efforts have been initiated in Latin America. The state of tropical secondary forests in Africa and Asia, however, is less clear.

This study was carried out to gather and assess documented information available in Wageningen, The Netherlands, on the status and importance of secondary forests in Africa and Asia, and to indicate possible steps to be taken to further stimulate their sustainable use and management.

The study highlights the importance of secondary forests and the lack of attention given to this forest type in Africa and Asia. The report urges for additional inventories of documented information, regional workshops to share experiences and pilot projects in which social, ecological and economic aspects of management are treated in a balanced way. Finally, it is recommended that the definition of secondary forests should be further clarified and that a distinction should be made between logged-over and secondary forest.

Orders: Herman Savenije National Reference Centre for Nature Management, International Cooperation Section, POB 30 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 317 474884, Fax: +31 317 474930, E-mail:H.J.F.Savenije@ikcn.agro.nl