Tree plantations play a controversial role in many nations’ efforts to balance goals for economic development, ecological conservation, and social justice. This paper seeks to contribute to this debate by analyzing the socioeconomic impact of such plantations. We focus our study on Chile, a country that has experienced extraordinary growth of industrial tree plantations. Our analysis draws on a unique dataset with longitudinal observations collected in 180 municipal territories during 2001-2011. Employing panel data regression techniques, we find that growth in plantation area is associated with higher than average rates of poverty during this period.
Tag: forest policy
An evaluation of the feasibility and benefits of forest partnerships to develop tree plantations: case studies in the Philippines
Impact on incentives on the development of forest plantation resources in Indonesia, with emphasis on industrial timber plantations in outer islands
Mechanism to identify, define and prioritize interdisciplinary forest research themes at national, regional and global levels
This paper describes how to sets of factors-the economic characteristics of the benefits of research, and the policy network of diverse actors and their interests-determine not only the priorities for (interdisciplinary) forest research themes but also the choice of mechanisms for the decision-making process itself. The paper extends the literature in organisation theory and political science, to propose a theoretical framework to guide the identification, definition, and prioritisation of interdisciplinary forest research themes at the global level. Such a framework seems necessary if proposals before the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests for supporting and coordinating international forestry research, are to succeed. The paper leads to the conclusion that international deliberations on forests would benefit substantially from a new kind of formal arrangement for providing scientific input. For example, a scientific advisory body could help to bridge the gap between the information needs of negotiators and policy makers and the scientific and research community
The effects of Indonesia’s decentralisation on forests and estate crops: case study of Riau province, the original districts of Kampar and Indragiri Hulu
This study focuses on the impacts of decentralisation on forests and estate crops in the original districts of Kampar and Indragiri Hulu, located in Riau Province, Sumatra, Indonesia. The research was conducted during 2000, preceding the beginnings of decentralisation in January 2001, with a brief follow-up to March of that year. It was important to chart attitudes to decentralisation at provincial level, as well as examine the deconcentration of the regional office of the Jakarta-based Ministry of Forestry and Estate Crops. The demands for fibre of the two immense pulp and paper companies (RAPP and Indah Kiat) was analysed on a province-wide basis. Both of the original districts were recently subdivided: Kampar became three, adding Rokan Hulu and Pelalawan, while Indragiri Hulu was halved to add Kuantan Singingi. The existence of these new entities, struggling to create separate infrastructure and administrations, has complicated the decentralisation process. Much of Indragiri Hulu is occupied by Bukit Tigapuluh National Park and its buffer zone, with many stakeholders and conflicts over illegal logging, while Kuantan Singingi has large areas under pulp plantations. Kampar and Rokan Hulu are dominated by oil palm, the plantations’ occupancy of the land being contested by local populations. Pelalawan still has natural timber, the swamp forests of the sparsely populated lower Kampar basin, but is also the headquarters of RAPP in the rapidly expanding centre of Pangkalan Kerinci. The study found that during 2000, the most serious impact on the forests was a result of political reformation and the economic crisis, with the Soeharto government’s rules being ignored and timber being cut for its quick return under conditions of high demand. Depressed rubber prices gave further impetus to forest clearing. After decentralisation, despite greatly increased available income in the districts, serious environmental and social problems remained to be tackled. While local pride was a positive outcome, signs of both xenophobia and a rush to develop at all costs were worrying aspects.
Forest management and terraced agriculture: case study of Hani of Ailao mountains, Yunnan
This case study of the Hani in the Ailao mountains of Yunnan, China, highlights the importance of forests in providing local ecological services that are essential for the system of terraced agriculture. The paper investigates local people’s knowledge of these ecological services, including water regulation and nutrient recycling, as well as the gender differences in the local knowledge of these services. The paper notes that the Hani have maintained the forest condition quite irrespective of its tenurial status. Contemporary forest policies and reforestation in the area are also discussed.
REDD+, transformational change and the promise of performance-based payments: a qualitative comparative analysis
Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) has emerged as a promising climate change mitigation mechanism in developing countries. This article examines the national political context in 13 REDD+ countries in order to identify the enabling conditions for achieving progress with the implementation of countries’ REDD+ policies and measures. The analysis builds on a qualitative comparative analysis of various countries’ progress with REDD+ conducted in 12 REDD+ countries in 2012, which highlighted the importance of factors such as already initiated policy change, and the presence of coalitions calling for broader policy change. A follow-up survey in 2014 was considered timely because the REDD+ policy arena, at the international and country levels, is highly dynamic and undergoes constant evolution, which affects progress with REDD+ policy-making and implementation. Furthermore, we will now examine whether the ‘promise’ of performance-based funds has played a role in enabling the establishment of REDD+. The results show a set of enabling conditions and characteristics of the policy process under which REDD+ policies can be established. The study finds that the existence of broader policy change, and availability of performance-based funding in combination with strong national ownership of the REDD+ policy process, may help guide other countries seeking to formulate REDD+ policies that are likely to deliver efficient, effective and equitable outcomes.
Framing national REDD+ benefits, monitoring, governance and finance: A comparative analysis of seven countries
This article analyzes how and with what possible consequences REDD+ is framed in the national policy arena in Cameroon, Indonesia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Tanzania, and Vietnam. It analyzes the most prominent views and storylines around key REDD+ design features among policy actors and in policy documents. We focus on storylines related to four questions, namely: (1) What should REDD+ achieve: carbon or also non-carbon objectives? (2) Who should monitor REDD+ outcomes: only technical experts or also local communities? (3) At what level should REDD+ be governed: at national or sub-national level? and (4) How should REDD+ be financed: through market- or fund-based sources? The vast majority of policy actors and policy documents frame REDD+ as a mechanism that should also realize non-carbon benefits, yet non-carbon monitoring receives very little attention. In all but one country, policy documents contain plans to involve local communities in the design and/or execution of measuring, reporting and verifying REDD+ outcomes. With regard to the level at which REDD+ should be governed, while most policy documents contain elements of a nested approach to accounting, almost all countries envision a long-term transition to national accounting and benefit distribution. We found strikingly little discussion among policy actors and in policy documents of how to finance REDD+ and acquire results-based payments. In the conclusion we reflect on possible consequences of the prominence of REDD+ storylines in the seven countries, and argue that carbonization and centralization of forest governance are possible outcomes given the limited attention to non-carbon monitoring and the envisioned centralized approaches to REDD+.
Manejo integrado de florestas umidas neotropicais por industrias e comunidades: aplicando resultados de pesquisa, envolvendo atores e definindo politicas publicas: Simposio Internacional da IUFRO, Belem PA, Brazil, 4-7 Decembre, 2000
The book includes a selection of 37 contributions (all in the original language – 16 in Portuguese, 13 in English and 8 in Spanish – but with abstracts in English) presented to the International Symposium “Integrated Management of Neotropical Rainforests by Industries and Communities: Applying Research Results, Involving Stakeholders and Defining Policy”, held in Belem, Brazil, from December 4 – 7 , 2000. The symposium intended to contribute – by providing information and recommendations – to the efforts underway at different levels (local, national, regional) to improve the perspectives for a wider adoption of sustainable forest management in the neotropics. The papers are divided in the three themes of the Symposium: Industrial-scale forest management (16 contributions), Community forest management and extrativism (15) and Means to promote the adoption of sustainable forest management (6). Overall, the papers provide a wide variety of conceptual, methodological and technical aspects related to the planning and implementation of forest management under different conditions, as well as practical experiences, research results and recommendations to improve the quality of forest management by different actors.
Redressing forestry hegemony when a forestry regulatory framework is best replaced by an agrarian one
The authors examine some of the social and economic impacts of the forestry bias in state land classification. The maintenance of forest production and environmental services has been the justification from the state for forestland classification, but forest land delineation and gazetting has, at times, significantly restricted smallholder land use and land ownership. This paper explores some of the historical background to the creation of”Permanent Forest Estates” in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. The experience with forest area classification and subsequent encroachments suggests that, in many cases, such areas are domains better placed within a less regulated agrarian framework.