Politics And Economics Of Tropical High Forest Management

For the last two decades the loss of, in particular, tropical rainforest has alarmed the public in the developed parts of the world. The debate has been characterised by a lack of understand ing of the causes and effects of the process, leading to the prevailing reaction being unquali fied condemnation. Such attitude has even been observed among scientists, claiming suprem acy to biodiversity conservation. Many scientific analyses are available, but the basis for so ber debates and appropriate actions is still highly insufficient. Two recent international initia tives! will hopefully lead to improved knowledge of deforestation and forest degradation as they recognise the need for studies to critically investigate those issues. This book will pro vide useful input to the initiatives. In my opinion, the scientific analyses have not sufficiently promoted the understanding that the fate of tropical forests is first and foremost a concern of the governments of the countries in which the forests are situated. Tropical forests may be important to the global environment and their rich biodiversity may be a human heritage. But their main importance is their poten tial contribution to improving livelihood in the countries in question.

Tropical forests are an undervalued asset in meeting the greatest global challenges of our time—averting climate change and promoting development. Despite their importance, tropical forests and their ecosystems are being destroyed at a high and even increasing rate in most forest-rich countries. The good news is that the science, economics, and politics are aligned to support a major international effort over the next five years to reverse tropical deforestation. Why Forests? Why Now? synthesizes the latest evidence on the importance of tropical forests in a way that is accessible to anyone interested in climate change and development and to readers already familiar with the problem of deforestation. It makes the case to decisionmakers in rich countries that rewarding developing countries for protecting their forests is urgent, affordable, and achievable.

Marie-Claude Smouts looks at the issue of rain forest depletion and global environmental policies. Beginning with how the issue entered the world stage in the 1980s despite alarms over the issue in the 1950s, Tropical Forests, International Jungle explores the complexities of what are tropical forests, what role they play not only in environmentalism but in trade, health care, and almost every facet of natural and social life for those living there and beyond. Although for most in the developed world tropical forests have gained a status of part of our world heritage, these forests are not really part of the global commons or a global public good. Developing nations maintain control over the forests within their borders and often use the forests as they see fit. The international system for mediating the issue is a fractured group of non-governmental organizations and transnational networks, often with competing views of how to manage tropical forests. Despite this seemingly grim picture, Smouts is optimistic. A changing world view toward forest depletion is influencing countries both North and South. Although forests will be used commercially, it is a dynamic process that should maintain them far into the future.

First Published in 2009. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

"Recent developments in the political, social, environmental and economic dimensions of forest management in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are described. Subjects discussed include: (1) the landowner-government relationship in West New Britain; (2) a social history of the Hawaiian Local Forest Area, East Sepik Province; (3) the landowners' dilemma in the Buhem-Mongi Timber Rights Purchase (TRP) Area; (4) analysis of the failure of a logging project; (5) the commercial intervention of a Malaysian logging company in New Ireland Province; (6) logging in the Madang North Coast TRP; (7) the historical development of the Gogol Woodchip Project; (8) the prospects for logging on Muyow, Milne Bay Province; (9) export statistics of PNG; (10) the regulation of PNG's timber industry; (11) small-scale community-based forestry and biodiversity conservation; (12) the politics of large-scale timber consumption in Japan; (13) the economics of sustainable development in PNG; (14) biophysical parameters for the sustainable utilization of PNG's forests; (15) conservation and appropriate resource management strategies in PNG; (16) incentives for rain forest conservation in PNG; and (17) a comparison of nature conservation in Irian Jaya (Indonesia) and PNG."--pub. desc.

This collection reviews the wealth of research on tropical forest management. Parts 1 and 2 explore key challenges facing tropical forests as well as the ecosystem services they deliver. Parts 3 and 4 review the management structures and techniques required for sustainable forest management (SFM). Part 6 includes case studies of SFM of different tropical forest types.

This paper identifies the essential features of the forestry economics literature emphasizing what is different about forestry and what are forestry's important features for project and program analysis. The important conclusion, is that economic tools are both available and appropriate for the analysis of a wide range of forest policy problems. The report is divided into two parts. The characteristics that received special attention in the first part are the embodiment of both productive capital and final output in any standing forest inventory, and the long time periods that often distinguish forest production. A third distinguishing characteristics is the joint production nature of many forest resource services. The second part of the paper visits seven special topics that are important to forestry and economic development: (1) timber production; (2) smallholder forest management; (3) forestry research, education, and extension; (4) tenure; (5) policy spillovers from other sectors of the economy that can substantially alter forests and forestland management; (6) non-timber multiple use values; and (7) deforestation, timber famine or its counter, sustainable forest management.

Although global rates of deforestation have started to decrease, they remain alarmingly high in many tropical countries. In light of this challenge, the growing importance of sustainable forest management (SFM) has been highlighted as a means for improving sustainability across the sector. Achieving sustainable management of tropical forests summarises and reviews the rich body of research on tropical forests and how this research can be utilised to make sustainable management of tropical forests a standard implementable strategy for the future. The book features expert discussions on the economic, political and environmental contexts needed for SFM to operate successfully, including coverage of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With its distinguished editors and international array of expert authors, Achieving sustainable management of tropical forests will be a standard reference for researchers in tropical forest science, international and national organisations responsible for protection and responsible stewardship of tropical forests, as well as the commercial sector harvesting and using tropical forest products.