Although reduced-impact logging (RIL) techniques are well known and generally endorsed by tropical foresters, rates of adoption of RIL by loggers have been less than encouraging. The principal impediment to proper planning of logging operations, training and supervision of forest workers, and the other components of RIL is apparently the belief on the part of loggers that these improvements are costly to implement. Although there are reasons to doubt that many forest managers and forest operators are fully aware of the costs of each component of their timber harvesting operations, it cannot be disputed that there are additional costs of implementing some aspects of RIL for some forest stakeholders over some time periods. It should therefore be useful to all parties concerned to disaggregate RIL into its components and to analyse the costs and benefits of each from different perspectives. For example, if timber harvesting companies only obtain a portion of the benefits of RIL, then from their perspective it may not be appropriate to pay all of the supplementary costs associated with implementing RIL practices. To explore this issue in detail, this paper analyses four components of improved timber harvesting practices (stock and topographic mapping, directional felling, road planning and construction, and skid trail and road closure) on the basis of who pays the costs of implementation and who derives the benefits over both short and long terms. It is hoped that the information generated will assist in efforts at identifying which improved timber harvesting practices may require incentives and which can reasonably be considered the intrinsic responsibility of the timber harvesting company or contractor.
Tag: logging
Wildlife boost in African forests certified for sustainable logging
Tropical forests stand out as being the most biodiverse terrestrial ecosystems. They provide essential ecosystem services, such as supplying wild meat for consumption by millions of forest dwellers, and they sequester carbon — some estimates suggest that tropical forests store 25% of global carbon and host 96% of the world’s tree species. Despite their ecological importance, tropical forests face severe threats as a result of human activities, including deforestation by small farmers, the conversion of forest to industrial agriculture and unregulated commercial logging. Writing in Nature, Zwerts et al., provide insights into the consequences of managing timber from tropical forests in a sustainable manner through a certification process.
Do tree plantations support forest conservation?
Key messages
- Tree plantations potentially support natural forest conservation. The main hypothesis for this effect is that tree plantations substitute natural forests for production, especially when plantations achieve high productivity.
- An exhaustive review of the published literature shows a diversity of analytical approaches with theoretical modeling, econometrics or descriptive statistics as main categories.
- This diversity reflects the complexity of translating a simple assumption into models because of the many factors at play. The analysis is all the more necessary as the positive substitution effect is straightforward, but potential negative (as well as other positive) impacts resulting from feedback/indirect effects, e.g. displacement of deforestation or replication of successful policies elsewhere, require more sophisticated methods to be understood.
- There is a convergence of findings of reduced degradation of natural forests with the expansion of tree plantations, but also potential increased deforestation due to lower market value of natural forests in the absence of logging (or displacement effects).
- A main limitation of studies pointing to the risk of forest conversion resulting from plantation expansion is the lack of consideration of policies and regulations that could prevent such deforestation, e.g. protected areas established where risks are high.
- These results are likely to apply partially to the case of fuelwood collection by local people – with less degradation but no identified outcome in terms of deforestation – yet much depends on household characteristics and the respective locations of plantations and forests.
- The limited number of studies challenges any general recommendation, yet a promising way forward may be the promotion of highly productive plantations in strategic places where agricultural rents are low, while taking action at the demand level to avoid a rebound effect whenever the price elasticity of demand for wood products is high.
- Continued production in natural forests, in a sustainable manner, might also help prevent deforestation, with wood products sold on niche markets and at a higher price owing to premiums (e.g. certification).
Prediction of the impact of logging activities on forest cover: a case study in East province of Cameroon
Geographic information system techniques were used in combination with remote sensing data to define the net commercial value of standing timber at two sites (Batouri and Bertoua) in the East province of Cameroon. Observed forest cover modifications for the two sites were assessed in relation to the commercial accessibility of the forest areas. Results showed that, in one site, half of the very high rent areas have already been logged indicating that the unlogged high rent area is scarce and the low rent or marginal forest area remains largely unlogged. However, this was not the case throughout the study area as shown by the observations at the other site. The two main species exploited were sapelli (Entandrophragma cylindricum) and Ayous Triplochiton scleroxylon.
Does communal forest intervention management enhance forest benefits of smallholder farmers? Evidence from Hugumbirda forest, Tigray, Ethiopia
Forest rehabilitation activities within centrally controlled state-owned forests in Ethiopia could not deliver communities with increased income. A study aiming to assess the benefits of forests for smallholder farmers whose land falls close to the state forest was conducted in Hugumbirda and Endedo kebele, two villages located adjacent to the Hugumbirda forest. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 251 randomly selected households living near or adjacent to the state forest. A logit model was used to analyze factors affecting household’s willingness to scale up forests at the communal level. Most of the respondents living near or adjacent to the national forest were found to be dependent on the forest for fuelwood and therefore energy, timber products, and farming equipment. Furthermore, households were found to perceive that communal intervention management is a significant factor in attempts to further scale up forests. Scale-up of forests at the community was one option to enhance the vegetation cover and therefore increase primary production by promoting infiltration and decrease evaporation and runoff water. Finally farmers have suggested the state forest should be devolved to the community to improve the current level of forest contributions to the livelihood of smallholder farmers.
Geo big data and digital augmentation for accelerating agroecological intensification in drylands
The impact of selective logging and forest conversion for subsistence agriculture and pastures on terrestrial nutrient dynamics in the Amazon
The conversion of primary forests in the Amazon via selective logging, slash and burn agriculture, and pasture establishment, will continue because of the increasing demand for timber and agricultural land. Forest conversion has major impacts on the stocks and flows of essential plant nurtrients. For example, the burning of slashed vegetation results in most of the carbon and nutrients in the biomass being volatilized during burning. Nutrient stocks are further depleted by the nutrient exports in timber and crop harvests. Poor crop and pasture mamagement practices can result in rapid declines in soil fertility and reduced vegetation regrowth potential. These changes can influence the rate of secondary forest regrowth and carbon sequestration on abandoned crop and pasture lands. The dominant land use practives following forest conversion in the Amazon are identified and the data on the impact of selective logging, subsistence cropping, and extensive pastures, on nutrient stocks and budgets in terrestrial Amazonian ecosystems are reviewed.
An assessment of recent peat forest disturbances and their drivers in the Cuvette Centrale, Africa
The largest tropical peatland complex in the Cuvette Centrale is marked by persistent knowledge gaps. We assessed recent peat forest disturbances and their direct drivers from 2019 to 2021 in Cuvette Centrale, spanning the Republic of Congo (ROC) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Utilizing peatland maps and Radar for Detecting Deforestation alert data, we analyzed spatial and temporal patterns of disturbances. Further, we examined 2267 randomly sampled peat forest disturbance events through visual interpretation of monthly Planet and Sentinel 2A data to identify direct drivers. Our findings revealed that between 2019 and 2021, about 91% of disturbances occurred in DRC, with hotspots concentrated in the northwest Sud-Ubangi district. Disturbances predominantly followed a sharp seasonal pattern, recurring during the first half of each year with temporal hotspots emerging between February and May, closely associated with smallholder agriculture activities. Smallholder agriculture accounted for over 88% of disturbances in Cuvette Centrale, representing a leading role both in ROC (∼77%) and DRC (∼89%). While small-scale logging contributed 7% to the disturbances in the region, it constituted an important driver (18%) in the ROC. Other drivers included floods, roads, and settlements. Approximately 77% of disturbances occurred outside managed forest concessions in Cuvette Centrale, with 40% extending into protected areas. About 90% of disturbances were concentrated within 1 km of peat forest edges and ∼76% of the disturbances occurred within 5 km of road or river networks. The insights underscore the crucial need for effective peat forest conservation strategies in Cuvette Centrale and can inform national policies targeting peatland protection, aligning with commitments in the Brazzaville Declaration and the Paris Agreement. Further, our findings on direct driver assessment could serve as a reference dataset for machine learning models to automate the visual interpretation and upscale the assessment across the entire region.
A call for a wider perspective on sustainable forestry: Introduction to the Special Issue on The Social Impacts of Logging
Global demand for timber is projected to grow and much of this timber will continue to be sourced from natural forests. As these forests, particularly in the tropics, tend to be inhabited by the world’s most marginalized communities, the social impacts of logging require more attention within policy, practice and research. This Introduction to the Special Issue of International Forestry Review on The Social Impacts of Logging compiles evidence that the overwhelmingly negative social impacts of logging are systemic. As logging companies fail to fulfill their social obligations, and elite capture is common, the extent to which local communities benefit from logging operations is minimal, while long-term, harmful effects on livelihoods, social fabric and safety are severe. Logging operations reinforce and often exacerbate pre-existing inequities, particularly for women and Indigenous people. Weak governance, a lack of transparency and poor participation procedures partially explain this unfavourable situation. However, logging will only achieve better social outcomes if underlying power-imbalances are tackled.
Challenges to smallholder forestry policy reform on a postindustrial logging frontier: lessons from the Amazon estuary
In 2013, policy makers from the Brazilian state of Amapá launched regulatory reforms intended to streamline options to formalize smallholder forest management. This paper reviews that policy reform process and analyses observations from local stakeholders to identify lessons for the promotion of smallholder forestry. In 2014, 2017 and 2021, interviews were conducted with family timber producers and sawmill operators in floodplain communities and regional timber buyers to evaluate the impact of the policy reform on their operations. Interviews with policy makers sought to understand the rationale behind the reform and how the process played out. Although the reform efforts were well intentioned, results illustrate how bureaucratic inertia and complexity obstructed efforts to simplify policy and how policy did not address smallholder needs. While the reforms did not have the intended effect, the case offers lessons for future policy reform efforts.