Commonwealth Forestry News |
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No. 5 |
June 1999 |
ISSN 1463-3868 |
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Contents AGM 1999 |
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The international newsletter of the Commonwealth Forestry Association
"To promote the well-being of the world's forest and those who depend on them."
CFA. Administrative Office: Oxford Forestry Institute,
South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK. Telephone:[+44]1865 271037
Facsimile: [+44]1865 275074. E. mail:
cfa_oxford@hotmail.com
Editor CFNews:
Philip Wardle, 3 Charles Hill, Elstead, GU8
6LE,Surrey,U.K.
Telephone,Facsimile:-[+44]01252702204.
E-mail:
101656.1772@compuserve.com
AGM
An oak for the millennium: His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch, President, and Her Grace the Duchess; Jag Maini, Chairman; Julian Evans, Vice-Chairman; and Regional Vice-Chairmen Johnson Mhungo, Africa; Bob Newman, Asia and the Pacific; Shyam Sunder, South Asia; Jim Ball, Europe and Peter Wood, a Vice President.
The 77th Annual General Meeting of the Commonwealth Forestry Association was held at Boughton House, Northamptonshire, England, on Friday 28th May 1999 and chaired by the President, His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch. The Chairman of the Association, Jag Maini, reported as highlights of the years activities: the re-launching of the Association journal as the "International Forestry Review"; the initiation of the Association newsletter "Commonwealth Forestry News"; and the effort to strengthen participation by members in all countries, which was a special concern of the meeting of regional Vice-Chairmen that preceded the AGM. He stressed the international role of the Association. The Commonwealth Heads of Government had forests on their agenda and the CFA could contribute to the informal dialogue between countries so essential to building bridges to international agreement relating to the future of forests. The CFA reports on International Initiatives since Rio were a valuabl!!e contribution to this process. The awards of the Association were important banners marking outstanding contributions to international forestry. The sixth Queen's Award for Forestry will be made to mark the onset of the new millennium early in 2000. The first CFA Regional Awards for excellence were made to John Oldham of Australia and to Don Wijewardana of New Zealand. The mission of the Association is to cultivate the international perspective and exchange of information, building on and complementing the effort of national associations. To achieve this we must extend membership to all people with interest in forests and particularly to younger members.
Honours and elections
The Association agreed to the election of Shyam Sunder, India, and of John Brazier and Peter Wood, UK, as Honorary Fellows of CFA, in recognition of the long and distinguished service they have given to the Association in many capacities.
The last two decades of the Association have been under the Presidency of His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch. He decided this year to retire from this office. Mr Peter Wood, Vice President, expressed the Associations appreciation of His Grace's great contribution over these many years (see IFR 1(2)). We were the personal guests of the Duke and Duchess for our annual meeting at Boughton House and Peter expressed the Association's thanks and warmest greetings and best wishes to them both.
The Association elected His Excellency Mr J.E Aggrey Orleans, the High Commissioner for Ghana, as President.
AGM visits Former Royal Hunting Forests of Rockingham
Forestry Commission woods
At the FC West Hay Wood we saw some of the problems of the rather short history of 1950-60 afforestation on old farmland with heavy clay soils where mixtures of oak and ash with Norway spruce had been tried. Policy vacillated between long rotation hardwood, the conifer functioning as nurse and catch crop and conifer seen as the only commercial prospect. Lately it has become apparent that the spruce is failing and creating a pest hazard with risk of invasion by Ips typographus, so the policy has reverted to long term hardwood and capturing such revenue as can be salvaged from the conifer. At Wakerley wood, Fineshade we saw that this type of woodland has great potential for amenity and recreation, important uses in an area with a local population of some 1.5 million, and heard about problems of open access. We were guided through these woodlands by Peter Brett and Jim Alexander of FC. Forest Enterprise.
Boughton Estate
The relatively short tenure of the FC was in contrast with the ancient woodlands of the Boughton Estate, which was bought by Sir Edward Montagu, ancestor of the present owner, in 1528. Magnificence and beauty are words for these woods which are still dominated by the system of avenues of trees first laid out before 1700, but each acre of land also makes a serious contribution to the food and timber production of the estate. The "Living Landscape Trust" has been created by the Duke of Buccleuch to provide the opportunity for groups of all ages to visit the estate and learn about the countryside and the necessary work that goes on there. We were shown some of this by Alan Wordie and Richard Dakin of the estate. The remark of his Grace the Duke that what we should seek is not multi purpose but rather multiple benefit forestry, is an appropriate last word from this memorable AGM.
Association News
Commonwealth Day - March 8th
The Observance ceremony was held in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen in Westminster Abbey. Chief Anayouku, Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat read the message from the Queen with the theme - the importance of music. This year also marked the 50th year of India's membership of the Commonwealth
An affirmation, relating to this year's theme was that through the joy of music individuals and nations may progress towards greater harmony. As the celebration proceeded the characteristic music of each of many cultures was performed by young people;- a steel band, gospel and church choirs, a percussion group, a didgeroo player, a group named 'Praying for rain' and a troop of Indian Kathak dancers. Readings represented Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Christians, Judaism, Islam and the Hindu, Sikh, B'Hai and Buddhist faiths.
from PETER WOOD Vice President
In Memoriam
We regret to announce the deaths of Brian Holtam and Ian Napier, UK
Forestry beyond 2000 AD - CFA India Workshop
CFA India Branch in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment and Forests is organising a workshop to review aspects of forest policy. This will be held in New Delhi 19 - 21 October 1999.
It is planned that the discussion will carried on in three working groups with the following themes:
- Forest management policies - policy evaluation, management response, gaps in policy implementation, changing dimensions;
- Legal, institutional and organisational set up - forest and wild life, institutional and organisational framework, valuation;
- Principles of future forest management responding to local, national and global challenges - policy and legal framework, institutional and organisational infrastructure (Central and State organisations, research, extension, people's participation, human resource development, joint forest management), international co-operation and conventions.
Queen's Award travel - Jerry Vanclay
When I was awarded my Queen's award during the Commonwealth Forestry Conference at Victoria Falls in 1997, I used the opportunity to discuss possibilities with many delegates (CFR 76:231-232). I used my award to visit Guyana and Zimbabwe during 1998.
CFC discussions with Chemist Gumbie and other Zimbabwean foresters led to a workshop in Harare during 14-16 July on yield prediction systems for forest management. The workshop addressed the need for growth models, how they can assist management, how to brief consultants on model requirements, and how to judge the quality of a model constructed by a third party. It covered a range of modelling concepts, but did not attempt to make participants proficient modellers in their own right. Participants included Chemist Gumbie, Dominick Kwesha, Maxwell Mukwekwerere, Joseph Muchickwa, and Kollet Gumbo from the Forest Research Centre, and James Gambiza from the University of Zimbabwe.
Some weeks later, after participating in an INTECOL conference in Florence, and a CTFS workshop at the Smithsonian Institution, I detoured to Guyana to visit Iwokrama during 2-7 August. The day after I arrived, Director David Cassells accompanied me to the field station - an excellent facility located above the escarpment, six hours by road and boat from the capital. Because it's so new, there was not much work in progress, but there are exciting opportunities for much research. On return to Georgetown, I visited to the Guyana Forest Commission and met with Clayton Hall and Chris Turnbull. Finally, during 6-7 August, I led a workshop on "Data-based decision-making in contemporary forest management" attended by 20 individuals from several forestry interest groups (Iwokrama, Forestry Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, private sector members of the Forest Products Association, local environmental NGOs).
My Queen's award made possible these visits to Zimbabwe and Guyana, both of which were enjoyable and stimulating. It offered me an opportunity to learn about some new places, helped me make new contacts, and encouraged me to share my knowledge and experience with others. I hope that my workshop participants also enjoyed, and benefited from it.
(Jerry recently left CIFOR to take up the Chair of Sustainable Forestry at the School of Resource Science and Management, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia.)
from JERRY VANCLAY
Around the World
Commonwealth Foundation - an update
Ambassador Don Mills of Jamaica has succeeded Sir Richard Luce as Chairperson of the Foundation. Ambassador Mills had nine years as Jamaican Ambassador and Permanent representative to the UN. From 1977- 80 he served as President of the UN Security Council, President of ECOSOC and Chairman of the 'Group of 77'. He has also been on the Executive Board of IMF. Within Jamaica he has been Director of Planning and Special Adviser on international environmental matters.
The foundation programme has focused particularly on the contribution of non governmental organisations with the publication of NGO Guidelines for Good Policy and Practice and the convening of a series of regional workshops on government/ NGO relations. Participation is another important theme; the Foundation encouraging the development of personal and professional skills of people involved in NGOs and professional associations. It continues to support the work of a wide range of associations of professionals, organisations and interest groups, including CFA.
In 1997 the Foundation started work on a major new project, Civil Society in the New Millennium, which focuses on the relationship between the citizen and the state and action to strengthen the role of the citizen.
www.oneworld.org/com-fnd/ from Commonwealth Foundation
16th CFC
The 16th Commonwealth Forestry Conference is to be hosted by Western Australia from 18th -25th April 2001 at the Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle. The Biennial Conference of the Institute of Foresters of Australia will take place at the same venue from 17th -18th April, immediately preceding the opening of CFC.
XXI IUFRO World Congress
The 21st World Congress of the International Union of Forestry Research Organisations will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 7th -12th August 2000. The congress brings together scientists from all parts of the world to discuss technical and scientific issues related to forestry research and development. It is interdisciplinary and integrative in scientific content. Twenty Congresses have been held in 14 countries since IUFRO's formation in 1892 at Eberswalde, Germany. The Congress Organising Committee is headed by Dr Abdul Rahim Nik of FRIM KL. Malaysia. Http://frim.gov.my
Yaounde Declaration
On March 17, 1999 a summit on forest conservation was held in Yaounde, at the invitation of President Biya of Cameroon. Participants included WWF International President Emeritus HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and the Presidents of Chad, Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea, the vice-president of Gabon and the Minister of Forests of Congo Brazzaville. Keynote speakers included the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, The Vice President (Environment and Sustainable Development) of the World Bank, and the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme.
At the summit the Heads of State signed the Yaounde declaration in which they undertook inter alia to accelerate the process of setting up transborder protected areas, to harmonise forest policies, to stamp out poaching and illegal logging, and ensure that economic operators and local communities are involved in sustainable management and conservation of forest ecosystems.
There is clearly a need to turn this political commitment into action, but the fact that the summit was held is a positive sign of the interest of decision-makers in the region for forest conservation and management. The Congo Basin presents a challenge. Political instability, high levels of government debt, a decline in commodity prices and a long history of poor resource management have led some to despair of conservation progress. However, the low population densities and large remaining areas of intact forests provide a good basis for forest conservation and management.
WWF was pleased to be able to assist the Government of Cameroon in organising the summit and we look forward to helping with the implementation of the commitments made in Yaounde .
More information: www.panda.org/forestsummit
from CHRIS ELLIOTT, Director of WWF's Forests for Life campaign.
FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO)
Mr Yvan Hardy (Canada), outgoing Chairman, opened the session held in Rome 1st - 5th March. The Committee elected Mr. Jan Heino (Finland) to the Chair, Mr. H.M. Bandaratillake (Sri Lanka) as First Vice-Chairman. The session was attended by delegates from 116 countries and representatives and observers from 20 UN, intergovernmental and international non-governmental organisations.
The Committee considered the "State of the World's Forests 1999" (See Reviews IFR 1(1) 1999). It commended FAO support to the implementation of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) agenda on forests and the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF) and the efforts made by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Forests (ITFF) resulting in improved co-operation among international organisations. It endorsed the continuation of FAO's work on global assessments, anticipating the Forest Resources Assessment 2000 (FRA 2000) and urged FAO to continue working on forest-related definitions and terminology. It recognised the critical roles of national forest programmes and related capacity-building and institutional strengthening and identification and implementation of criteria and indicators as important to the sustainable management of all forests.
A major consideration at this session was FAO's Strategic Framework (2000-2015), and the Medium Term Forestry Programmes (2000-2005). The sustainable management of the world's forests remains one of the major challenges facing FAO member nations. The priority activities for FAO are considered to be in global forestry statistics and information, the development of technologies for the conservation and sustainable management of trees and forests, institution strengthening, and support to international processes. The Committee saw FAO as a centre of excellence in forestry, which was one of its areas of comparative advantage, and recommended an increase in the resources to forestry. It also requested that more attention be given to afforestation and reforestation in countries with low forest cover or subject to desertification, to sustainable wildlife management, and to forestry in Small Island Developing States.
Rome Declaration on Forestry 1999
COFO was followed by the Second Ministerial Meeting on Foresty at FAO Rome, 8-9 March, attended by Ministers and Senior Officials from 127 countries, who considered "Sustainability Issues in Forestry, the National and International Challenges". The following are some main points from their declaration:
They first emphasised the critical importance of forests to the welfare, livelihood and food security of all people and future generations and to the life support system of the entire planet; expressed deep concern with the important challenges associated with forest loss and degradation in many regions and stressed the need to maintain the integrity of forests as ecosystems; while welcoming the progress made to date and the significant achievements at national, regional and international levels, including the development and implementation of criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management and of national forest programmes, they:
- called on all interested parties to give greater priority to sustainable forest management;
- pledged their political will to improve forest management in their respective countries and to promote effective international co-operation to achieve sustainable forest management worldwide.
and further pledged,
- to work together towards a constructive and forward looking outcome on future arrangements for the global forest policy dialogue at the eighth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development;
- to better co-ordinate and strengthen efforts to prevent, manage, monitor and suppress forest fires especially in anticipation of the next El Niño/La Niña events and to address the underlying causes of forest fires;
- to implement integrated approaches, including combating desertification and drought, which recognise forests and their ecosystems in achieving sustainable agriculture and food security.
These pledges are made "noting that forests can be adversely affected by policies outside the forest sector, including agriculture and trade policies, and recognising the need for integrated land use, mutually supportive trade and environment policies, inter-disciplinary and cross-sectoral approaches, participatory decision making taking into account gender balance and the public and private sectors to achieve sustainable forest management and sustainable development."
The Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF)
IFF falls under the aegis of the UN Commission for Sustainable Development. Its second session was held in Geneva, 24 August to 4 September 1998. Those two weeks also saw a large number of side events: several meetings of the informal, high level Interagency Task Force on Forests (ITFF), contact group meetings on Government Led Initiatives (GLIs) in support of the IFF, press briefings, etc.
Two types of documents resulted from deliberations at IFF II: (a) Bracketed negotiated texts for programme elements which were subject to substantive discussion; and (b) Co-Chairs summary of discussion for programme elements subject to background discussion only. The session also reconfirmed the significance of IPF proposals for action and expressed strong commitment towards their implementation; recognized the significant contribution of the Interagency Task Force on Forests; paid special attention to the needs of developing countries with low forest cover; and reviewed matters concerning trade and environment, as well as forest-related work of international organizations and under existing instruments.
Many critical issues, however, remained unresolved, including:
- The modalities of financial cooperation, transfer of technology, mutually supportive role of trade and environment in the context of sustainable forest management and addressing the underlying causes of deforestation.
- Mechanisms to mobilize the best available information and strengthen research to develop innovative and effective approaches to manage forests as ecological systems (ecosystems).
- The adequacy of present systems of institutions and mechanisms to meet a wide range of complex challenges related to forests.
- Analysis of the experience with implementation, compliance and achievements of forest-related work under existing instruments and by international organizations.
Due to divergent views among countries, a general agreement regarding the need for a global legally-binding instrument on forests remained elusive. A Government Led Initiative was announced by Costa Rica and Canada involving expert meetings and regional consultations on international arrangements and mechanisms to promote management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests.
At IFF III in Geneva, 3-14 May 1999, the following programme elements will be subject to substantive discussion: I.b. Monitor progress in implementation; II.a. The need for financial resources; II.d Issues needing further clarification (Underlying causes of deforestation, Traditional forest related knowledge, Forest conservation, Research priorities, Valuation of forest goods and services, Economic instruments, tax policies and land tenure, Supply and demand of wood and non-wood forest products and services and Rehabilitation of forest cover); Category III. Identify elements, build a global consensus and engage in further action.
All programme elements will remain open until IFF IV to be held in February 2000 at a venue to be determined.
from TAGE MICHAELSEN IFF
Certification in the South Pacific
With the issue of one of the first certificates to the Bainings project in Papua New Guinea, the South Pacific Region was one of the early pioneers in forest certification. As the system has become more developed in other regions the South Pacific has fallen behind. There are several reasons for this:-
Logging is dominated by companies from outside the region on short term concessions;
- Buyers in Japan, South Korea and China show little interest in the way logs are harvested;
- European and North American markets, which might encourage certification, are less developed;
- Corruption puts companies operating to a high ethical standard at a disadvantage;
- Practical demonstration of sustainable forest management is only now becoming available;
- Certification costs are high with great diseconomies for small scale timber producers.
A recent workshop in the Solomon Islands, facilitated by the Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific International (FSPI), brought together representative stakeholders (from community projects, Governments, ecoforestry NGOs and commercial timber producers) to discuss these issues and the applicability of ITTO, ISO and FSC approaches to certification. Participants came from Fiji, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu within the region and from Australia, NZ and UK. Field visits were made to two certified timber producers, one based on small scale technology (Solomon Western Islands Fair Trade associated with the United Church) and the second a larger scale plantation operation (FFPL which is a joint venture between the Solomon Islands government and CDC).
The workshop identified seven constraints on the adoption of certification:- low awareness, lack of national standards, high costs of adoption, lack of perception of market advantage for certified products, lack of technical knowledge, poor commitment on the part of resource owners to good forest management and land disputes. The workshop concluded that certification complemented other initiatives towards sustainable forest management and made proposals to facilitate its adoption.
Note - The Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific was set up over 30 years ago placing emphasis on setting up local trusts with their own development priorities and programmes, but linked together under the banner of FSPI as a network of partners.
from ANDREW TOFTS, FSPI Vanuatu
Forest Scenes
Forest Scenes 1. Save Mexican trees
The shepherds of the remote settlement of Jido Pino Gordo till the earth with oak ploughs and grind their corn between smooth stones, yet by one standard their village is wealthy, as it is surrounded by magnificent forests.
So when recently outsiders bulldozed a logging road and began applying chain saws to their 200 year old trees the villagers took action. Men, women and children walked 36 hours across the canyon, took buses for the Chihuahua state capital to hold a sit-in at the governor's palace. Their leader, Francisco Ramos told the authorities "We don't want our forests cut, we didn't plant the trees, God did, to collect water and give homes to the animals. The trees are not our property. We're just taking care of them." Government officials were forced to halt the illegal logging.
"Deforestation is pushing us towards environmental collapse. In the past forty years, the country has destroyed half its forests. Last year fires sent smoke clouds into Florida and Texas, but more trees are lost every year to timber clearing, or cultivation of crops than to fires." said Adolfo Aguilar Zinser, a senator who has proposed legislation to create a national forestry commission.
from GUARDIAN quoting Sam Dillon, New York Times 29.4.99
Forest Scenes 2. Headwaters' Redwoods, California USA
The addition, on March 1, 1999, of the 7,500 acre Headwaters Forest to the public domain in the California Redwood Region was the result of an intense 10-year debate that pitted environmentalist organizations against the Pacific Lumber Company (PALCO) and its parent company, Maxxam. Those environmentalist organizations have passionately promoted public acquisition of redwood-type forests since the 1960's. The Redwood National Park was created in 1968 and expanded in 1978 at a total purchase price of about $1 billion. The Headwaters addition will cost state and federal taxpayers about $500 million.
Some 25 to 50 percent of the finest groves of pure alluvial-flat redwoods (much of them donated, or sold to the state at a nominal price, by the timber industry) already existed in California state parks when the National Park was created. 250 thousand acres of the redwood type are in parks and reserves, including some 80 thousand acres of old-growth. Because of its ability to sprout from the stump when given enough light, redwood is a remarkably robust species. There were probably about 1.8 million acres of redwood-type forests in California at the middle of the last century. There are now about 1.6 million acres because of clearing for uses such as cities, roads and agriculture.
Environmentalist organizations protested the $500 million Headwaters purchase price because, they argued, Maxxam acquired PALCO for only some $800 million and could have been prevented from logging old-growth by application of the Endangered Species Act with respect to the northern spotted owl, the marbled murrelet and salmon species. In response, PALCO argued that the purchase price was below market value because of the great demand for old-growth redwood lumber, and that its property rights were protected under the U.S. Constitution. PALCO, in fact, to safeguard against future regulatory denial of the right to harvest timber on its 211 thousand acre holdings, was unwilling to sell Headwaters until the federal government accepted its Habitat Conservation Plan and the state government accepted its Sustained Yield Plan to meet, respectively, the requirements of the Endangered Species Act and the California Forest Practice Act.
Demands for public acquisition of redwood stands were temporarily abated after the creation of the Redwood National Park in 1968 and after its expansion in 1978, and may be lessened because of the Headwaters acquisition. Redwoods are California's most productive timber species but they are also the species with the greatest appeal from an amenity viewpoint. Thus, as long as some trees older than 200 years, or even 100 years, remain in private ownership, the cry that the last "old-growth" redwood stands are being logged will very likely be heard again.
from BILL MCKILLOP, Professor Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley, USA.
Forest Scenes 3 -Travels in the White Man's Grave
This book of memoirs of West and Central Africa by Donald MacIntosh (Neil Wilson Publishing, Glasgow £12.99) is a charming set of tales of his wild days in the 'bush' by a forester in search of the cream of the generally virgin forest.
It is written in a very neat style bringing out the finer points of tracking and surviving in the last days before civilisation caught on. To quote from Richard Ingrams' foreword, he "conveyed the atmosphere of colonial Africa in a wealth of vivid description."
I feel it is slightly unfair to sail under the banner of 'white man's grave' as that would have disposed of both author and this enchanted reader. But it was very much on the edge, as indeed we were warned on rounding Goree Point in '46 after learning a little forestry in his birth place. It is remarkable to realise how closely one skirted round situations one had heard about or suspected but never quite believed. A pity Donald MacIntosh did not mention the flying squirrels when describing the Obeche forest, where they were thought to be common; and the slashes, without which the forest was a blank to me, and stayed so for many years.
The book is strongly recommended if only as a keepsake and for its snapshots - for those who were lucky to experience that time that won't come back again.
from LEONARD COOPER
Research
Miombo Woodlands Research
The research project "Management of Miombo Woodlands" is a collaborative initiative between CIFOR and the European Commission implemented in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Miombo woodland is one of the most extensive dry forest types in Africa occupying an area of 270 million ha in these countries and Angola and the Republic of Congo. They are important to the livelihoods of some 39 million people, providing them with food, fibre, fuelwood and charcoal. The woodland is dominated by the legume family Caesalpiniaceae, the most important tree species being of Brachystegia alone or with Julbernardia and Isoberlinia.
In the past the extent of miombo woodlands was only determined by climate - small changes can have major impact on their dynamics. Presently there is considerable human activity. While there is considerable information on the ecology and mechanical wood properties of some important commercial species, there is scanty information on potential for community involvement in management, hardly any analysis of the effects of policies and virtually no studies of impact of logging on biodiversity. There are therefore many opportunities for research to contribute to improving sustained management and use of these woodlands.
The objective of the project is to improve the productivity of the forest sector and enhance its role in the welfare of people. The research will increase understanding of management of the woodlands and use and of the influence of policies on people - woodland interactions, to guide sustainable management. Sub-projects look at: 1) institutional arrangements such as access and control and resource values; 2) impact of sectoral, extra sectoral and macro-economic policies; and 3) environmentally sound harvesting. The project will be implemented by CIFOR, coordinator Godwin Kowero, in collaboration with a core group of thirty scientists from nine national institutions.
Further information g.kowero@cgnet.com
from ABDALLAH KAONEKA, Sokoine University, Tanzania
Mexico Forestal
ISBN 970-9056-09-3 Morelia 1998 (in Spanish)
The purpose of the editor of this book, Gumersindo Borgo, was, 'being aware of the shameful conditions prevailing in the conservation and management of our forests', to publish a short work including opinions, reflections and suggestions, 'with the hope of making a contribution to the improvement of the situation that in this way something may remain when we are gone'. The thirteen contributors assembled offer not only a wealth of professional prominence in Mexican forestry, but if 'there is only one true teacher in life: experience', these contributors, with an average of 45 years since completing their undergraduate education, have ample experience. As well as Borgo himself, who was 20 years with FAO, and Norberto Sanchez Mechorada who finished his 15 years with FAO in the job of Adjunct Secretary General of the IX World Forestry Congress held in Mexico in 1983, nearly all have had international exposure. Several of them worked with Fred Hummel in the FAO resource asses!!sment project in the early 1960s.
Very briefly they concluded that:-
- a medium and long term forestry policy, defined by a true national consensus that would effectively support conservation and management, was needed;
- an independent forest service should be created with direct access to the President of the Republic
- in general the Mexican forest sector is in worse condition than in 1972; however there has been some progress - participation by communities in the use of forests, emerging interest in environmental protection and the initiation in 1997 of a Programme for the Development of Commercial Forest Plantations;
- forest fires and clear cutting are the main factors causing reduction of the forest area. These result from the lack of a an adequate forest policy, legislation and management, lack of alternative economic opportunities for rural population and lack of infrastructure to combat fire;
- the need for integrated management forests in water supply was another issue.
Though not all the responsibility was placed on the forestry profession it was considered urgent that foresters should revitalise their professional association and communications and that forestry schools should equip their students with a modern and balanced education aligned with the needs of the country. All should be imbued with a solid work ethic and sense of the importance of acting responsibly. (See also "Save Mexican trees" above)
from GUMERSINDO BORGO, Mexico
Wood - source of renewable energy
In March, the UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), released their review of "New and Renewable Energy" (DTI, 1999). In his foreword, John Battle (Minister for Energy and Industry) reminds us that by their nature fossil fuels will inevitably run out. The Government is working towards a target of renewable energy providing 10% of UK electricity supplies by 2010. ....renewables will play a crucial role in meeting the UK environmental target of reducing greenhouse gases by 12.5% of 1990 levels by 2010, a target which is higher than the legally binding Kyoto commitment to reduce the these emissions by 8%.
The Forestry Commission have been researching in this area since 1983, firstly examining a range of species, spacings and cutting cycles, and more recently concentrating on poplar and willow, planted as 25 cm cuttings at 10 to 20,000 per hectare, and coppiced on a 3 to 5-year cycle.
The current research "Yield Models for Energy Coppice of Poplar and Willow", is jointly funded by DTI, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), Forestry Commission (FC) and Department of Agriculture Northern Ireland (DANI), and has the aim to provide advice on the best genetic material in relation to site and climate for planners, energy producers and tree-breeders. Yield models will allow new biomass industries to be planned with more confidence.
The network of 48 field experiments is distributed throughout the UK.Early results show yields as high as 17 oven dry tonnes/ha/annum produced in the second year. This reveals the high potential of improved genetic material to increase yields and so improve the economics of the system.
At a Forestry Commission symposium in March, Henry Brown, Head of MAFF's New Crops and Sugar Division, considered that a significant increase in the area of energy crops will be essential to achieve the Kyoto Commitment and about 125,000 ha of new energy crops should be planted.
The 40 participants, drawn from a wide variety organisations involved with the energy industry, land-use, planning and the environment in the UK, considered wood as a fuel more generally, including the use of harvesting residues and small roundwood. A view emerged that local energy markets might also offer a much-needed outlet for increasing volumes of low-value conifer wood which is expensive to transport.
from PAUL TABBUSH, Forest Research UK
Documenting data on tropical forests
Foresters working to improve the sustainability of tropical forests and the conservation of biodiversity have found the quantity of readily available forest inventory data to be limiting, particularly historic data.
The School of Agriculture and Forest Sciences at Bangor, The Statistical Services Centre at Reading and the Oxford Forestry Institute are collaborating on a DFID funded project to record and publicize the existence of UK tropical forest data sets in a computer accessible database.
The UK has a long association with tropical forest inventory, growth and yield data and data collected for ecological and other research, in many countries. These have often been lost in the original countries while the UK holdings are disparate and largely undocumented.
This is a call for information on UK-holdings of these data. If you have been involved in such data collection or analysis, and are aware of their current location, we would be very interested in hearing from you. Our project does not seek to take possession of such data, just to record their basic properties, such as sampling location, variables assessed, etc., and to publicise this information for potential users.
email: howard.wright@plants.ox.ac.uk
from HOWARD WRIGHT, Oxford Forestry Institute
Education
Australian Forestry School Reunion 2000
Past students of AFS, together with their partners, friends and colleagues are planning to assemble in Canberra on the weekend of 28-30 April 2000 for an historic reunion.
AFS was founded by the Commonwealth Government in 1926 at Adelaide University, moving to its new building in Canberra the following year. It closed its doors at the end of 1964, with the founding of the Department of Forestry, Australian National University. During its 39 year life, 581 people were enrolled in its courses originating from a wide range of locations including all the Australian States, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Burma, Thailand, India, Ethiopia, Sarawak, Malaya, North Borneo, USA, Sudan, Indonesia and Nigeria
Ray Margules is chairman of the organising committee from whom further information about this historic event can be obtained at PO Box 57, Jamison Centre, ACT 2614 Australia.
from BOB NEWMAN
Appeal for Books and Journals
As a result of recent contacts, I have established links with the Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar a Federal level institution responsible for BSc and MSc courses in forestry; University of Guyana offers the only forestry degree programme in the English speaking Caribbean; and University of Malawi where a new MSc Forestry course has been prepared for delivery at the Banda College of Agriculture. The availability of literature to forestry students is of fundamental importance for their future competence. Library facilities are rather poor and they need books and journals on forestry, farm forestry and also on associated topics such as general management, GIS, range and watershed management.
If there are members who have books and journals they no longer require which could help meet the needs of students and institutions such as these, I suggest two options:-
One option is to send them to Book Aid, who will then distribute them. Book Aid incorporates the Ranfurly Library Service, which has sent books overseas for many years.
Book Aid International, Ranfurly Library Service, 39 – 41 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, London SE5 9NR. Tel: 0171 733 3577, Fax: 0171 978 8006, E-mail: rls@gn.apc.org
The second option is to contact me with a view to sending them out to one of the institutions described above. I will be very happy to arrange their despatch overseas, either to a nominated place or to whichever seems most appropriate. Dr Brian Kerr of the Commonwealth Secretariat has offered to seek funds to cover the shipping costs.
P D Hardcastle, Gateside, St Cyrus, Montrose, DD10 0DN. Tel/fax:01 561 362662.
E mail: pdhardcastle@compuserve.com
from PAT HARDCASTLE
Correspondence
"Forestry" synonymous with dirty boots?
Prof. Jeff Burley, President of IUFRO writes from UK:
In English speaking countries "forestry" is often seen by the public, environmentalists, media and purist academics as synonymous with dirty boots, deforestation, clear felling, displacement of indigenous humans and loss of species. At best it is considered plantation establishment and management, often with exotic species. Either view fails to recognise the multiple types of forest or the many social, environmental and economic benefits derived from trees and forests, or the value of strategic research to support their sustainable management.
Some members of the Executive Board of IUFRO considered that a recent decline in membership may be attributed to the fact that much forest science and forest research is conducted by individuals and institutions that do not feel part of traditional forestry. Many departments of anthropology, climatology, ecology etc...conduct excellent research related to forests or the people, plants and animals that inhabit them. Could it be that such researchers are inhibited from joining the International Union of Forestry Research Organisations by the word "forestry" in the title? I am now asking views on the necessity to change to the word "forest". Etymologically it is not necessary; politically it might be beneficial.
James Brown wrote in 1851
In any country where natural forests prevail ... new settlers are very frequently obliged to destroy them... but it is ultimately a very unprofitable way of going to work... for were forestry maintained as an art ... much profitable and useful timber might be retained upon the newly improven lands, which might prove of great advantage to generations coming after...There is no country on the face of the earth which would be more benefited by an extended system of forestry than Britain...and the general welfare of the whole country has a right to it.
(A précis of the first two pages of chapter I of James Brown's "The Forester" by your Editor.)
Forestry - perhaps the welfare of the whole International Union and the generations coming after have a right to it!
CFA Initiatives
International Forestry Review 1(2)
CONTENTS
PAPERS
K.E. Semple, R.B. Cunningham and P.D. Evans
Selected wood characteristics from provenance trials of tropical acacia
and eucalypt species in North Queensland
R. Keenan, G. Sexton and
D. Lamb
Thinning studies in plantation-grown Queensland maple (Flindersia
brayleyana F. Muell.) in north-east Queensland
W. D. Hawthorne
and D. Filer
Development of the TREMA harvest planning software for
tree selection
E.M. Shumba, I.B. Nyoke and D Mabvurira
Forestry research and its contribution to improving commercial forestry
practices in Zimbabwe
S. Wyatt, T. Bartlett and A. Mathias
Developing a forest policy in a small nation - the Vanuatu national
forest policy
RESEARCH NOTE
V.S. Kishan Kumari and V. P. Tewari
Above ground biomass tables for neem
COMMENT
L. Roche
The professional forester and the
farmer: one man's experience
J. Guillard
'Coalition'
management
M.S. Philip
Training for forest research
MISCELLANEA
Gazetting protection forest in Malaysia
Country parks in Hong Kong
European forestry strategy
Grant
setting
A tree for all aeons
Latin American agroforestry
studies
Forthcoming special issue on plantations
REVIEWS, NOTICES
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| Developing Country member | 10 | Subscriber | 100 | |
| Student member | 10 |
Membership is available to anyone throughout the world with an interest in forestry!
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