Managing a resource with global and local value
Deforestation is not new: 2000 years ago most of Europe was covered by forests. Today, forests cover less than half of the continent. While forest area is increasing in many temperate regions, the rate of deforestation is alarmingly high in the tropics, where forests are disappearing faster than anywhere else in the world.
Forests are a valuable asset: not only do they provide renewable resources such as timber, food and medicines, but they also play a key role in the fight against global warming and biodiversity loss. This thematic issue reports on recent advances in our understanding of the impacts of deforestation and forest degradation, and explores ways to mitigate these damaging effects. The issue highlights the need for new policy and management tools, bringing together practitioners interested in climate protection, biodiversity conservation, and rural livelihoods to protect forests.
The impact of tropical deforestation on the climate will be felt the world over: two articles in this issue address the impact of deforestation on climate change (see 'Deforestation must stop to curb CO2 emissions' and 'Deforestation's double-blow: carbon emissions and biodiversity loss'). The changing climate will also affect forests, and measures are needed now to facilitate adaptation (see 'Will tropical forests survive a changing climate?').
Forests are home to a rich array of wildlife, and deforestation and forest degradation can lead to destruction of valuable habitat: recommendations for sustainable logging which takes account of biodiversity concerns are reported in 'Managing logging for biodiversity'.
Involving local communities in managing forests is explored in 'Improving livelihoods for poorer forest dwellers in Nepal', while Payment for Environmental Services (PES) schemes are addressed in 'Are payment for environmental services schemes effective?'.
Many of the issues covered by these articles are controversial. For example, some governments do not accept that conversion of natural forests to tree crop plantations is 'deforestation'. Whatever the label, more information, analysis, and debate on this topic will surely lead to increased understanding of current challenges and future ways forward for sustainable forest management.
Frances Seymour Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) Indonesia
IN THIS ISSUE
Deforestation must stop to curb CO2 emissions Clearing tropical forests and peat swamps has a significant environmental impact, in particular on climate change. Sumatra in Indonesia is one region that serves as an example of how forest clearance can contribute to carbon dioxide emissions and loss of biodiversity, according to a new report. (more...)
Deforestation's double blow: carbon emissions and biodiversity loss Deforestation increases CO2 emissions, as forests are subjected to 'slash and burn' clearing to make way for agricultural land. In China, for example, vast areas of rainforest are being cleared to make way for rubber plantations. Using satellite images, researchers have assessed that the average loss of natural forest between 1976 and 2003 is 13,722 hectares per year. In total, this caused a loss of biomass carbon stocks of 80 Teragrams (Tg) of carbon by 2003. This land-use change is also destroying natural habitats, with important consequences for forest biodiversity.(more...)
Will tropical forests survive a changing climate? Most people are familiar with tree-planting as a way to offset carbon emissions. However, while the focus has been on reforestation and preventing deforestation, there has been little emphasis on how the world's tropical forests, managed for production purposes, will actually be able to adapt to the changing climate. According to a new study, there is an urgent need to put measures in place to ensure that the world's tropical forests will survive. (more...)
Managing logging for biodiversityForest management should safeguard biodiversity as well as focusing on harvesting timber, a new report from South East Asia argues. Despite many initiatives such as codes of practice, criteria and indicators and certification schemes, guidelines and standards remain vague and lack quantitative targets. (more...)
Improving livelihoods for poorer forest dwellers in Nepal Community forestry in Nepal claims to be a successful model of participatory, community-based forest management, and there is considerable evidence that it is improving forest protection and regeneration. However, community forestry makes only a limited contribution to improving rural livelihoods. New research suggests that social factors may be limiting the access of poorer households to forestry products. (more...)
Are payment for environmental services schemes effective? Designing an effective payment for environmental services (PES) scheme is a complex task, requiring an understanding of the interactions between communities and logging companies. Recent research suggests that the cost of effective PES schemes could be higher than current logging fees. (more...)
Deforestation is not new: 2000 years ago most of Europe was covered by forests. Today, forests cover less than half of the continent. While forest area is increasing in many temperate regions, the rate of deforestation is alarmingly high in the tropics, where forests are disappearing faster than anywhere else in the world.
Forests are a valuable asset: not only do they provide renewable resources such as timber, food and medicines, but they also play a key role in the fight against global warming and biodiversity loss. This thematic issue reports on recent advances in our understanding of the impacts of deforestation and forest degradation, and explores ways to mitigate these damaging effects. The issue highlights the need for new policy and management tools, bringing together practitioners interested in climate protection, biodiversity conservation, and rural livelihoods to protect forests.
The impact of tropical deforestation on the climate will be felt the world over: two articles in this issue address the impact of deforestation on climate change (see 'Deforestation must stop to curb CO2 emissions' and 'Deforestation's double-blow: carbon emissions and biodiversity loss'). The changing climate will also affect forests, and measures are needed now to facilitate adaptation (see 'Will tropical forests survive a changing climate?').
Forests are home to a rich array of wildlife, and deforestation and forest degradation can lead to destruction of valuable habitat: recommendations for sustainable logging which takes account of biodiversity concerns are reported in 'Managing logging for biodiversity'.
Involving local communities in managing forests is explored in 'Improving livelihoods for poorer forest dwellers in Nepal', while Payment for Environmental Services (PES) schemes are addressed in 'Are payment for environmental services schemes effective?'.
Many of the issues covered by these articles are controversial. For example, some governments do not accept that conversion of natural forests to tree crop plantations is 'deforestation'. Whatever the label, more information, analysis, and debate on this topic will surely lead to increased understanding of current challenges and future ways forward for sustainable forest management.
Frances Seymour Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) Indonesia
IN THIS ISSUE
Deforestation must stop to curb CO2 emissions Clearing tropical forests and peat swamps has a significant environmental impact, in particular on climate change. Sumatra in Indonesia is one region that serves as an example of how forest clearance can contribute to carbon dioxide emissions and loss of biodiversity, according to a new report. (more...)
Deforestation's double blow: carbon emissions and biodiversity loss Deforestation increases CO2 emissions, as forests are subjected to 'slash and burn' clearing to make way for agricultural land. In China, for example, vast areas of rainforest are being cleared to make way for rubber plantations. Using satellite images, researchers have assessed that the average loss of natural forest between 1976 and 2003 is 13,722 hectares per year. In total, this caused a loss of biomass carbon stocks of 80 Teragrams (Tg) of carbon by 2003. This land-use change is also destroying natural habitats, with important consequences for forest biodiversity.(more...)
Will tropical forests survive a changing climate? Most people are familiar with tree-planting as a way to offset carbon emissions. However, while the focus has been on reforestation and preventing deforestation, there has been little emphasis on how the world's tropical forests, managed for production purposes, will actually be able to adapt to the changing climate. According to a new study, there is an urgent need to put measures in place to ensure that the world's tropical forests will survive. (more...)
Managing logging for biodiversityForest management should safeguard biodiversity as well as focusing on harvesting timber, a new report from South East Asia argues. Despite many initiatives such as codes of practice, criteria and indicators and certification schemes, guidelines and standards remain vague and lack quantitative targets. (more...)
Improving livelihoods for poorer forest dwellers in Nepal Community forestry in Nepal claims to be a successful model of participatory, community-based forest management, and there is considerable evidence that it is improving forest protection and regeneration. However, community forestry makes only a limited contribution to improving rural livelihoods. New research suggests that social factors may be limiting the access of poorer households to forestry products. (more...)
Are payment for environmental services schemes effective? Designing an effective payment for environmental services (PES) scheme is a complex task, requiring an understanding of the interactions between communities and logging companies. Recent research suggests that the cost of effective PES schemes could be higher than current logging fees. (more...)
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