The genetic variation in teak is large; exploration and testing of this variation have provided for significant gains in tree improvement. The observed quantitative differences between provenances of different origin reported from provenance field trials at several sites over the last 60 years are in line with more recent findings of genetic variation within and among teak regions at the molecular level. Provenance variation in economically and ecologically important traits is huge and far from fully explored. Natural teak forests have, however, declined and deteriorated. It is therefore important to develop gene conservation programmes that cover all parts of the gene pool as well as to further explore, mobilise and characterize the genetic variation in planted and natural populations for breeding and use in planting efforts. Selection and testing of applied planting material continues to be highly relevant as an integral part of any major planting programmes. A “genetic business plan” is important whether in co-operative organisations, private investment schemes, or in support of small-holder growers. To be successful, the sharing of impartial knowledge and access to reproductive material is crucial.
Tag: primary forests
Carbon neutral? No change in mineral soil carbon stock under oil palm plantations derived from forest or non-forest in Indonesia
Sustainability criteria for palm oil production guide new planting toward non-forest land cover on mineral soil, avoiding carbon debts caused by forest and peat conversion. Effects on soil carbon stock (soil Cstock) of land use change trajectories from forest and non-forest to oil palm on mineral soils include initial decline and subsequent recovery, however modeling efforts and life-cycle accounting are constrained by lack of comprehensive data sets; only few case studies underpin current debate. We analyzed soil Cstock (Mg ha1), soil bulk density (BD, g cm3) and soil organic carbon concentration (Corg, %) from 155 plots in 20 oil palm plantations across the major production areas of Indonesia, identifying trends during a production cycle on 6 plantations with sufficient spread in plot age. Plots were sampled in four management zones: weeded circle (WC), interrow (IR), frond stacks (FS), and harvest paths (HP); three depth intervals 0–5, 5–15 and 15–30 cm were sampled in each zone. Compared to the initial condition, increases in Corg (16.2%) and reduction in BD (8.9%) in the FS zone, was compensated by decrease in Corg (21.4%) and increase in BD (6.6%) in the HP zone, with intermediate results elsewhere. For a weighted average of the four management zones and after correction for equal mineral soil basis, the net temporal trend in soil Cstock in the top 30 cm of soil across all data was not significantly different from zero in both forest- and non-forest-derived oil palm plantations. Individual plantations experienced net decline, net increase or U-shaped trajectories. The 2% difference in mean soil Cstock in forest and non-forest derived oil palm plantations was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Unless soil management changes strongly from current practice, it is appropriate for C footprint calculations to assume soil Cstock neutrality on mineral soils used for oil palm cultivation.
A mixed application of Geographically Weighted Regression and unsupervised classification for analyzing latex yield variability in yunnan, China
This paper introduces a mixed method approach for analyzing the determinants of natural latex yields and the associated spatial variations and identifying the most suitable regions for producing latex. GeographicallyWeighted Regressions (GWR) and Iterative Self-Organizing Data Analysis Technique (ISODATA) are jointly applied to the georeferenced data points collected from the rubber plantations in Xishuangbanna (in Yunnan province south China) and other remotely-sensed spatial data. According to the GWR models Age of rubber tree Percent of clay in soil Elevation Solar radiation Population Distance from road Distance from stream Precipitation and Mean temperature turn out statistically significant indicating that these are the major determinants shaping latex yields at the prefecture level. However the signs and magnitudes of the parameter estimates at the aggregate level are different from those at the lower spatial level and the differences are due to diverse reasons. The ISODATA classifies the landscape into three categories: high medium and low potential yields. The map reveals that Mengla County has the majority of land with high potential yield while Jinghong City and Menghai County show lower potential yield. In short the mixed method can offer a means of providing greater insights in the prediction of agricultural production. © 2017 by the authors.
Soil nitrous oxide and methane fluxes from a land-use change transition of primary forest to oil palm in an Indonesian peatland
Despite the documented increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Southeast Asian peat swamp forest degradation and conversion to oil palm over recent decades, reliable estimates of emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) are lacking. We measured soil fluxes of N2O and CH4 and their environmental controls along a peatland transition from primary forest (PF) to degraded drained forest (DF) to oil palm plantation (OP) over 18 months in Jambi, Sumatra, Indonesia. Sampling was conducted monthly at all sites and more intensively following two fertilization events in the OP. Mean annual emissions of N2O (kg N ha−1 yr−1) were 1.7 ± 0.2 for the PF, 2.3 ± 0.2 for the DF and for the OP 8.1 ± 0.8 without drainage canals (DC) and 7.7 ± 0.7 including DC. High N2O emissions in the OP were driven by peat decomposition, not by N fertilizer addition. Mean CH4 annual fluxes (kg C ha−1 yr−1) were 8.2 ± 1.9 for the PF, 1.9 ± 0.4 for the DF, and 1.6 ± 0.3 for the OP with DC and 1.1 ± 0.2 without. Considering their 20-year global warming potentials (GWP), the combined non-CO2 GHG emission (Mg CO2-equivalent ha−1 yr−1) was 3.3 ± 0.6 for the PF and 1.6 ± 0.2 for the DF. The emission in the OP (3.8 ± 0.3 with or without DC) was similar to the PF because reductions in CH4 emissions offset N2O increases. However, considering 100-year GWP, the combined non-CO2 GHG emission was larger in the OP (3.4 ± 0.3 with DC and 3.5 ± 0.3 without) compared to both the PF and the DF (1.5 ± 0.2 and 1.2 ± 0.1, respectively). The increase in peat N2O emissions associated with the land-use change transition from primary forest to oil palm plantation at our sites provides further evidence of the urgent need to protect tropical peat swamp forests from drainage and conversion.
Asia-Pacific roadmap for primary forest conservation
Primary forests and natural landscapes in Asia and the Pacific are under increasing pressure and threats driven by population growth, migration and conflict, globalization and economic growth, urbanization, mining and infrastructure development, agriculture and planted forest expansion, forest fires and invasive species. Many of these threats are increasingly exacerbated by climate change. To address these threats, FAO and the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), lead center of the CGIAR research programme on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA), have developed a roadmap for the conservation of primary forests in Asia and the Pacific, building upon state-of-the-art knowledge and extensive consultation of key regional stakeholders. This publication uses a remote-sensing methodology to accurately and consistently identify and delineate the remaining ‘intact forests’ and ‘contiguous intact forests’ in the Asia-Pacific region over large areas, over long periods of time, and at reasonable costs. It illustrates the huge diversity of forest formations in Asia and the Pacific and calls for a better understanding of the dynamic at stake in forest ecosystems and surrounding landscapes at finer scale. It proposes a set of recommendations, inviting policymakers and other relevant stakeholders to adopt an integrated landscape perspective and to combine different mechanisms and tools at different scales, including protected areas and other area-based conservation measures, to support effective primary forest conservation.
Indigenous Sacred Forests as a Tool for Climate Change Mitigation: Lessons from Gedeo Community, Southern Ethiopia
Sacred forests are patches of remnant natural forests, protected through social laws by the local communities near their villages and are always dedicated to cultural purposes. They are playing a significant role in combating climate change and informal enhancing biodiversity conservation. The aim of this study was to estimate carbon stocks of sacred forests by quantifying the aboveground biomass (AGB), and belowground (BGB) carbon of trees. The estimation of carbon stocks was conducted across the three sacred forests of Bolocho sacred forest (BSF), Ejjerissa sacred forest (ESF), and Amba sacred forest (ASF). A total of 30 plots: 10 BSF, 10 ESF, and 10 ASF were sampled and trees with DBH ≥5 cm and a height of ≥3 m was considered for biomass-carbon determination. We compared tree biomass, carbon stocks, stem densities, basal area, and importance value index of trees. Nondestructive methods of woody species biomass measurement was used by using allometric equations developed for application in tropical forests and/ or agroforestry system. A total of 4216 individuals representing 87 different species and 44 families were recorded. Statistical the highest stem density was recorded. Total biomass considered as AGB+BGB, which is highest for ASF followed by ESF and BSF (one way ANOVA, F = 98.66, df, 2, p < .001). The estimated amount of AGB across the three sacred forests were (505 Mg ha−1), (267 Mg ha−1) and (202 Mg ha−1) in ASF, ESF, and BSF, respectively. Total biomass stored, both aboveground and belowground (AGB+BGB) significantly higher for ASF (637 Mg ha−1) followed by ESF (338 Mg ha−1) and BSF (255 Mg ha−1). Total biomass carbon (C) was 318.5 Mg C ha−1 for ASF, 169 Mg C ha−1 for ESF, and 127.5 Mg C ha−1 for BSF. From the present study, it can be concluded that, sacred forests and indigenous way of forest protection has playing an enormous roles in carbon sequestration. Perhaps it could be accepted as best practices in climate change (CC) mitigation and reducing deforestation. Hence, it needs urge calls for an immediate attention for conservation, protections and documentation of indigenous knowledge.
Impacts of Payment for Forest Ecosystem Services in Protecting Forests in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam
Vietnam’s Payment for Forest Ecosystem Services (PFES) scheme has the goal of protecting remaining natural forests by providing financial support to people involved in forest protection. However, studying the case of Dak Lak province in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam shows that even after eight years of PFES implementation, achieving this goal remains a challenge. Although PFES does provide a stable income source and higher payments than state forest protection programs, enables the mobilization of more personnel resources for patrolling forest and relieves a great burden on the state budget in terms of investment in forest protection and development, forest cover in Dak Lak province is still decreasing, mainly due to conversion for other land uses, especially commercial agricultural and industrial crops. These drivers are rooted in national socio-economic planning aimed at boosting economic growth and in local people’s need to sustain their livelihoods. In addition, our paper shows that illegal logging is still widespread in Dak Lak. Weak law enforcement in areas of forest managed by state forest authorities and state companies also contributes to deforestation. However, these drivers are neither fully recognized nor addressed, and instead, the blame for deforestation is laid on local communities. PFES alone cannot protect forests in Dak Lak province. It needs to be backed up by political commitment to address underlying drivers of deforestation, improved social programs to help local people diversify their income sources and clarity over land use.
How does replacing natural forests with rubber and oil palm plantations affect soil respiration and methane fluxes?
Replacement of forest by agricultural systems is a major factor accelerating the emissions of greenhouse gases; however, related field studies in the tropics are very scarce. To evaluate the impact of forest transition to plantations on soil methane (CH4) and respiration (CO2) fluxes, we conducted measurements in an undisturbed forest, a disturbed forest, young and old rubber plantations, and an oil palm plantation on mineral soil in Jambi, Sumatra, Indonesia. Methane fluxes and their controlling variables were monitored monthly over fourteen months; soil respiration was measured less frequently. All of the plantations were managed by smallholders and had never been fertilized. To assess the effect of common management practices in oil palm plantations, we added urea at a rate of 33.3 kg N/ha and thereafter monitored intensively soil CH4 fluxes. The soil acted as a sink for CH4 (kg CH4‐C·ha−1·yr−1) in the undisturbed forest (−1.4 ± 1.0) and young rubber plantation (−1.7 ± 0.7). This was not the case in the other land‐use systems which had fluxes similar to fluxes in the undisturbed forest, with 0.4 ± 0.9, −0.2 ± 0.3, and 0.2 ± 0.7 kg·ha−1·yr−1 in the disturbed forest, old rubber plantation, and oil palm plantation, respectively. In the oil palm plantation, there was no inhibitory effect of nitrogenous fertilizer on methanotrophy. Annual soil respiration (Mg CO2‐C·ha−1·yr−1) was higher in the oil palm plantation (17.1 ± 1.9) than in the undisturbed forest (13.9 ± 1.2) while other land‐use systems respired at a similar level to the undisturbed forest (13.1 ± 1.4, 15.9 ± 1.7, and 14.1 ± 1.0 in the disturbed forest, young, and old rubber plantations, respectively). Substrate (litterfall and soil) availability and quality exerted a strong control over annual fluxes of both gases along the land‐use gradient. Temporal variation in CH4 was extremely high and in respiration fluxes was moderate, but was not specifically linked to seasonal variation. Further comprehensive and long‐term research is critically needed to determine more thoroughly the direction and magnitude of changes in soil trace gas emissions as affected by forest‐to‐plantation conversion in the tropics.
Indigenous ways of environmental protection in Gedeo community, Southern Ethiopia: A socio-ecological perspective
Culture plays a significant role in protecting the environments and critical ecosystems. The purpose of this study was to explore the relevance’s of indigenous beliefs, sacred sites, cultural practices and traditional rules (seera) in promoting environmental conservation and sociocultural values. The study further addresses the cultural interconnection between plants and people (ethnobotanical myths of Gedeo). The study employed broadly a qualitative approach with an anthropological design. The study was used key informant interviews, focus groups, participant observation and descriptive ecological inventory. The results revealed that, songo indigenous institutions, traditional beliefs, taboos, and local rules (seera) have been playing an enormous role in promoting environmental protections and cultural conservation. The setting aside sacred forest for ritual purposes also well entrenched traditions as indigenous mechanism of tree biodiversity conservation. Due to the prohibition systems (taboos), traditionally protected area (e.g. amba sacred forest) has highest tree diversity and well preserved than adjacent non-sacred farming habitats. Social taboos as indigenous belief systems have limiting people from cutting down trees from sacred sites, killing birds and injuring nature carelessly. Trees in sacred forest were not axed except when it is needed for public uses like local bridge constructions and chopping its woods for ritual purposes with consent of cultural elders. Broadly speaking, these cultural practices and prohibition mechanisms informally enhance ecosystem conservation and protection via limiting local people from destroying nature carelessly. Hence, due to the banishment, the sacred forest havens critical threatened plants or trees not found elsewhere special in non-sacred farming habitats. For instance, Aningeriaadolfi-friedeicii, Podocarpus falcatus, Cordia africana, Prunus africanum, O. welwitschii, and Syzygium guineense native tree species were abundantly counted in sacred forest while critically threatened in non-sacred adjacent landscape. The current study concludes that indigenous knowledge (IK) expressed through local practices, indigenous beliefs, social banishment, customary laws (seera) and prohibition systems is very useful tools in conservation of degraded tropical ecosystems and resilient for adverse climate change. In contrast, religious monotheism, changes in social norms, erosion in ancestral beliefs and lack of proper documentation of IK were some of the main factors that contributing towards the degradation and erosion of indigenous mechanisms of environmental protections which need to be looked into and formal law enforcement should be needed to safeguard the sacred forests. © 2020 The Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license.