Connecting Forestry and Agriculture: Establishing a Forest Landowners Association in Puerto Rico

The Centro para la Conservación del Paisaje (CCP), a collaborator NGO of the Puerto Rico ISTF chapter is working on a linking strategy between the Puerto Rico Farm Bureau (Bureau) and the forestry sector. The objective is to integrate private forest landowners under the organized Bureau that has been working in Puerto Rico since 1924 and celebrated its centennial in 2024. 

Historically, the Bureau has worked with farmers leaving agroforestry practices, like shaded coffee, in a gray area where landowners move according to funds’ availability and production objectives. The organization has arranged other agricultural sectors on the island such as milk production, honey production, meat sectors, etc. It has been an active and effective force of change toward policy reforms and is recognized as the voice of the farmers in the face of the government in Puerto Rico, the United States, and other countries. On the other side, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER), the agency in charge of the technical assistance, management, and economic support programs for forestland owners, has kept a disconnection with agroforestry initiatives because it is considered a responsibility of the Department of Agriculture. As this “Accidental Adversaries” archetype identified in system dynamics modeling or system thinking analysis takes place in Puerto Rico; the island has increased its forest land cover, is under many programs focused on climate-smart practices, and is without a technical assistance program for private forest landowners.

The CCP met with the Bureau and discussed the agroforestry practices funded by climate-smart initiatives on the island and identified the need for technical capacity and a multilayered policy discussion. For example, shaded coffee is under a dilemma regarding using native vs. exotic species for shade as part of an incentivized climate-smart project. Agencies stare to the biodiversity priority, jumping the potential application of stand improvement practices that could manage a shade developed with exotic species toward a shade with native species. This situation identifies the gap in the information of silvicultural practices that could integrate the expected shade while providing the needed starting shade for the crop. The CCP has also expressed the needs and potential management options for forest landowners who are not farmers and need the technical assistance or representation to move forward with a review of the current programs and incentives related to forestry initiatives on the island.

The CCP is in the process of integrating a group of farmers to formally integrate the agroforestry and forest management sector under the Bureau to: 

  • Facilitate access to farmers to provide information and options to manage the forest resources. 
  • Provide an option to forest landowners to participate in the Bureau to receive information and discuss a review of the policies and programs that could consider environmental services incentives or other management options.
  • Move a discussion with the U.S. Forest Service to examine and focus on forestry-related programs toward a more efficient strategy for the island.

The CCP concluded in 2024 with an agroforestry congress, which aimed to enhance the sector in the Bureau and improve the forest management options for an island with more forest coverage than active agriculture.

Note: This article was originally drafted in May 2024.

Author: Edgardo Gonzalez
Contact: edgonz581@gmail.com

Paradigm Change in Forest Management Governance in Nepal

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The development of forest governance in Nepal has been a complex journey shaped by various socio-political transitions, environmental challenges, and evolving policy frameworks. Historically, Nepal’s forests have been central to its socio-economic fabric, providing livelihoods to communities, supporting biodiversity, and regulating ecosystems. Over the years, forest management in Nepal has undergone a considerable shift from a state-dominated top-down approach to a community-based participatory approach through organizational and policy reform. However, until the mid-20th century, forest management was often characterized by centralized control and exploitation, leading to deforestation and degradation. 

The community participatory movement came in the 1970s with the launch of community forestry programs, which aimed to devolve management rights to local communities. The major thrust of the community forestry program came through the Master Plan for Forestry Sector of 1989 which fully recognized community forest as the primary forestry program, encouraging the transfer of forests to local communities for active management and utilization. This shift gained momentum in the 1990s following the restoration of democracy and promulgation of the landmark Forest Act in 1993, which provided community forest user groups (CFUGs) legal rights to manage designated forest areas. This shift towards decentralization and community participation marked a significant turning point in Nepal’s forest governance, empowering local communities to take ownership of their forest resources, implement sustainable management practices, and benefit from forest products and services. 

Over the decades, Nepal has made strides in expanding the coverage and effectiveness of community forestry, with millions of hectares now under community management. Furthermore, establishing institutions like the Department of Forests (DoF) and implementing policies such as the National Forest Policy have provided a broader regulatory framework for sustainable forest management. With the shift in the government system in 2015, as the country adopted a federal government system, the government focused beyond the subsistence needs of forest products, programs like “Forestry for Prosperity,” and green economy and green employment by scientific management of forest resources sustainably.

A paradigm shift in Forest management governance in Nepal

As of 2023, the state of forest governance in Nepal reflects a dynamic balance of conservation, community participation, and sustainable development. Despite these achievements, challenges persist — including issues of governance, equity, and climate change adaptation. Ensuring the inclusion of marginalized groups, enhancing the capacity of local institutions, and addressing illegal logging and encroachment remain critical priorities for Nepal’s forest governance agenda. Moving forward, embracing innovative approaches, integrating traditional knowledge with modern science, and fostering partnerships at local, national, and international levels will be essential for steering Nepal towards a more resilient and inclusive forest governance system.

Author: Pramod Ghimire
Agriculture and Forestry University, Faculty of Forestry, Hetauda, Nepal
Email: pghimire@afu.edu.np

Who Benefits From Carbon Offsets?

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One would hope that people who live in areas where forests are used for carbon credit offsets would benefit. Large sums of money are involved, but who gets it? Apparently, not always the local people. The popular press – newspapers and magazines – report many examples. Here are two.

Levi Sucre Romero’s guest essay in the December 1, 2022, New York Times: My Community Dosen’t Exist Just to Absolve You of Your Climate Sins, laments that large corporations offer no discernable guarantees for Indigenous rights on their land used for carbon offsets. The author talks of “carbon cowboys” – brokers who descend on Indigenous communities in Honduras, Brazil, and Columbia and talk them into signing away their rights to the carbon in their forests. Sucre Romero is a member of the Bribri Indigenous people of Costa Rica and coordinator of the Mesoamerican Alliance of People and Forests.

A revelation on the negative aspects is a colossal boondoggle in Zimbabwe reported by Heidi Blake in the October 23, 2023, The New Yorker, pages 42-55, under the title of Hot Air: The Great Cash-for-Carbon Hustle. Major corporations paid for carbon offsets in an inhabited forest region of Zimbabwe, but the credits were worthless. The forest was not protected and local people got little from the cash. A hundred million dollars vanished.

The question is, are these exceptions to the rule? The issue of carbon offset credits’ impact on indigenous communities is well worth exploring. Readers who know of carbon offset projects that have significantly benefited local communities and resulted in the promised amount of carbon storage, could report these examples in the ISTF Newsletter.

Author:
Thomas Geary
Tilghman, Maryland, USA
Contact: ThomasGeary@hotmail.com

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Forest Carbon Offsets: A New Approach

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In an October 30, 2023 press release, the University of Cambridge (UK) announced the publication of an article in the journal Nature Climate Change of research by the Cambridge Centre for Carbon Credits. The University states that “Our new approach has the potential to address market concerns around nature-based solutions to carbon offsetting.” This is important because “Current valuation methods for forest conservation projects have come under heavy scrutiny, leading to a crisis of confidence in carbon markets. Measuring the value of carbon storage is not easy. Recent research revealed that as little as 6% of carbon credits from voluntary REDD+ schemes result in preserved forests.” Moreover, “the length of time these forests are preserved is critical to the climate benefits achieved.”

“Our new approach has the potential to address market concerns around nature-based solutions to carbon offsetting.”

Srinivasan Keshav, Robert Sansom Professor of Computer Science at Cambridge

Below is the author abstract of the article: Balmford, A et al.: ‘Realising the social value of impermanent carbon credits.’ Nature Climate Change, October 2023. DOI: 10.1038/s41558-023-01815-0.

Abstract: Efforts to avert dangerous climate change by conserving and restoring natural habitats are hampered by concerns over the credibility of methods used to quantify their long-term impacts. Here we develop a flexible framework for estimating the net social benefit of impermanent nature-based interventions that integrates three substantial advances: (1) conceptualizing the permanence of a project’s impact as its additionality over time; (2) risk-averse estimation of the social cost of future reversals of carbon gains; and (3) post-credit monitoring to correct errors in deliberately pessimistic release forecasts. Our framework generates incentives for safeguarding already credited carbon while enabling would-be investors to make like-for-like comparisons of diverse carbon projects. Preliminary analyses suggest nature-derived credits may be competitively priced even after adjusting for impermanence.

Access to the full article is not free. To read it one must belong to an institution with a subscription to Springer Nature, subscribe yourself, or pay for a PDF of articles of interest. A personal subscription appears worthwhile if one has a strong interest in climate change research. Many articles are about forests.

Author:
Thomas Geary
Tilghman, Maryland, USA
Contact: ThomasGeary@hotmail.com

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Mangrove Restoration at Meras, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Mangrove forests are among the most effective ecosystems on the planet for carbon sequestration, owing to their unique ability to rapidly convert carbon dioxide into biomass. Located in Meras, North Sulawesi Indonesia, these forests exemplify nature’s resilience and ecological importance. Here, species such as Rhizophora, Avicennia, and Sonneratia thrive, creating a rich tapestry of biodiversity that is crucial for the stability of marine and bird populations. These forests are not just biological treasures; they are also pivotal in stabilizing shorelines, filtering water, and providing protection against natural disasters like tsunamis and storms.

Mangroves accomplish these ecological feats under challenging conditions. They grow in waterlogged, anaerobic soils which slow down the decomposition of organic matter, allowing carbon to accumulate. This stored carbon forms a significant part of the earth’s carbon budget, making mangroves vital in efforts to mitigate climate change. Additionally, the complex root systems of these trees trap sediments rich in organic carbon, which are buried and stored over long periods, further contributing to their role as substantial carbon sinks.

However, the importance of mangroves extends beyond their environmental impact. In Meras, local communities depend heavily on these ecosystems for their livelihoods. The resources provided by mangroves, including timber and non-timber products, are integral to the local economy. Moreover, there is an emerging recognition of the potential for eco-tourism, which could offer sustainable economic opportunities while fostering environmental stewardship. Recognizing the indispensable role of these ecosystems, the Forestry Study Program at Sam Ratulangi University has initiated a collaborative effort for mangrove restoration. This venture seeks to involve the community, including local leaders, in long-term partnerships that focus not only on planting new trees but also on maintaining existing ones, such as clearing the mangroves of trash and other debris. Such maintenance is vital for the health and longevity of these forests.

We invite all stakeholders to appreciate and participate in preserving this precious natural gift. The involvement of each individual and group is crucial to ensuring that these vital ecosystems continue to flourish. Through collective action, we can safeguard these environments for future generations, ensuring that they continue to offer their manifold benefits ranging from biodiversity conservation to climate change mitigation.

In conclusion, the mangrove forests of Meras are not only ecological powerhouses but also key to local and global environmental strategies. Their ability to store carbon, combined with their critical role in local economies and in protecting against environmental hazards, underscores the need for sustained conservation efforts. The ongoing initiatives by educational institutions and community groups highlight a proactive approach to environmental stewardship and sustainable development, aiming to maintain the delicate balance of these unique ecosystems while enhancing their value for future generations.

Author:
Martina Langi
Lecturer and Researcher
Sam Ratulangi University
Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Contact: mlangi.kehutanan@gmail.com

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Sustainable Forest-Based Livelihood in Nigeria

Forests in Nigeria cover approximately 10% of the country’s land area. Sustainable forest-based livelihood in Nigeria provides employment opportunities for millions of people, particularly in rural areas, while playing a crucial role in environmental conservation and biodiversity protection[1]. Activities such as timber harvesting, non-timber forest products collection, agroforestry, and ecotourism, provide essential resources for local communities and contribute to the country’s economy[2]. Sustainable forest management practices help to ensure the long-term availability of these resources, supporting the livelihoods of local communities and driving economic growth[3]. By supporting the sustainable management of forests and empowering local communities to participate in decision-making processes, Nigeria can ensure the long-term viability of forest-based livelihood activities[2].

Challenges of Implementing Sustainable Forest-Based Livelihood Activities

Despite the benefits, Nigeria faces several challenges in implementing sustainable forest-based livelihoods. These include deforestation, illegal logging, land degradation, inadequate enforcement of forest regulations, and limited institutional capacity. Traditional forest management practices, which are often effective and sustainable, lack recognition and support from government authorities. Communities with indigenous knowledge of sustainable forest management are often not integrated into national forest policies, causing conflicts with government agencies. Additionally, the lack of access to markets for forest products undermines the economic potential of these livelihoods[2]. These challenges threaten the sustainability of forest-based livelihoods and contribute to environmental degradation and biodiversity loss[3].

Forest-based Livelihood (Fruit Production)
Forest-based Livelihood (Snail Production)

Opportunities for Sustainable Forest-Based Livelihoods

Despite these challenges, there are opportunities to enhance sustainability and improve the well-being of local communities[3]. These include:

  1. Community-based forest management initiatives supported by government policies and incentives can empower local communities to sustainably manage forest resources and derive livelihood benefits from them.
  2. Investment in value-added processing and marketing of forest products can create employment opportunities and improve the income of forest-dependent communities.
  3. Strengthening forest governance, law enforcement, and community participation in decision-making processes are essential for sustainable outcomes.
  4. Promoting sustainable forest management practices that balance conservation with economic development. 
  5. Capacity-building and training programs on sustainable practices, entrepreneurship, and market access can equip local communities with the skills and knowledge needed to enhance productivity and profitability.

References

[1]. Agbeli, D.K. and Ifatokun, O.M. (2019). Economic analysis of the impacts of forest-based livelihoods on household welfare in Nigeria. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 38(5): 464-481.

[2]. Ogunmokun, A. A., Sule, J. D., and Adedayo, A. A. (2018). Challenges of sustainable forest management in Nigeria: The way forward. Environmental Development, 25: 35-43.

[3]. Onuwa G. C., Mailumo S. S., Chizea C., and Alamanjo C. (2022). Socioeconomic Determinants of Livelihood Diversification among Arable Crop Farmers inShendam, Plateau State, Nigeria, Agricultural Socio-Economics Journal (AGRISE), 22 (4): 301-309.

Author: Godfrey C. Onuwa
Federal College of Forestry, Jos, Nigeria
Contact: onuwag@gmail.com

Enhancing capacities for effective ecosystem restoration throughout the decade and beyond

Among the five Task Forces established to achieve the vision of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (UN Decade), the Task Force on Best Practices is a collaborative effort of currently 450 members from 180 organizations, focused on capacity development and knowledge dissemination activities under the leadership of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). We invite ISTF members to become engaged in Task Force activities as described below and offer your expertise.

The Task Force on Best Practices, the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature Commission on Ecosystem Management (IUCN-CEM) partnered to draft ten guiding principles for achieving the highest level of recovery possible through restoration projects, in collaboration with the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), EcoHealth Network, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). To provide detailed guidance on the application of the principles and following the same participatory approach, the partnership continued to coordinate the development of Standards of practice to guide ecosystem restoration, co- produced with support of 33 authors from 25 organizations, as well as inputs and feedback from over 400 restoration experts from all continents. Currently, the Task Force is working on the development
of a supporting tool and e-learning course to facilitate the broad adoption of the Standards of practice.

Framework for Ecosystem Restoration Monitoring (FERM)
To facilitate knowledge sharing among practitioners, the Task Force developed a framework for the dissemination of good practices for ecosystem restoration. Embedded in the Framework for Ecosystem Restoration Monitoring (FERM), it allows for the documentation of good practices from restoration initiatives previously registered in the FERM and includes a common search engine to link and facilitate access to good practices collected from various allied platforms including GoProFor, Panorama Solutions and WOCAT, besides the FERM. We encourage ISTF members to contribute good practices to the FERM database and to serve as reviewers.

The Task Force also conducted a global capacity needs assessment for restoration and prepared a Capacity, Knowledge and Learning Action Plan for the UN Decade.This action plan proposes eight key capacity- and knowledge-development initiatives to address capacity gaps of different stakeholder groups according to the results of the global capacity needs assessment, a stock-taking of knowledge products and capacity development initiatives, and targeted consultations. The Task Force will undertake efforts to establish partnerships and mobilize resources in order to enable the implementation of the eight initiatives from 2023-2030.
The six initiatives under current implementation are:

  • Initiative 1: Ecosystem restoration professional education and learning platform
    (click here to learn how to contribute to this initiative)
  • Initiative 2: Ecosystem restoration youth education and learning platform
  • Initiative 3: Community-based ecosystem restoration mechanism
  • Initiative 4: Indigenous Peoples’ restoration approaches initiative
  • Initiative 5: Exploring pluralistic extension advisory services
  • Initiative 6: Restoration policy facility

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Task Force on Best Practices to support any of the activities and capacity development initiatives described above, or for any related question, kindly contact either of the following FAO focal points and facilitators of the Task Force:
Andrea Romero – Andrea.RomeroMontoya@fao.org and
Cristiane Sater Melnik – Cristiane.SaterMelnik@fao.org
Authors: Christophe Besacier (FAO), Robin Chazdon (Forestoration International), Cristiane Sater Melnik (FAO), Andrea Romero (FAO).

Symposium en ligne: « Utilisation du bois de chauffe dans les tropiques : enjeux et perspectives »

Session #4 – 19 Apr 2024

L’International Society of Tropical Foresters (ISTF) et l’Association des forestiers tropicaux et d’Afrique du Nord (AFT) présentent la première édition francophone du symposium en ligne « Utilisation du bois de chauffe dans les Tropiques : enjeux et perspectives » le 19 avril 2024 de 16h à 18h30 Burundi UTC+2), de 15h à 17h30 Kinasha (RDC) (UTC+1), de 14h à 16h30 Sénégal (UTC+0), de 10h à 12h30 EDT Montréal (Heure locale de New York) (UTC -4). Une grande partie des régions tropicales dépendent du bois de chauffage pour la cuisson des aliments. Vous trouverez une programmation complète de l’événement en cliquant sur ce lien. Les vidéos des présentations seront publiées ultérieurement sur la chaîne YouTube de l’ISTF-Global en cliquant sur ce lien. Trouvez votre fuseau horaire ici en cliquant sur ce lien. Inscrivez-vous à la session en cliquant sur ce lien . Des questions? Contactez catherine.ruest.bel@gmail.com.

Horaire du symposium:

  1. Présentation du International Society of Tropical Foresters. Michael Sterner, ISTF (3 min)
  2. Présentation de L’Association des Forestiers Tropicaux et d’Afrique du Nord. Bernard Mallet et Jean-Paul Lanly, AFT (3 min)
  3. Présentation du sujet du symposium et des présentateurs. Catherine Ruest Bélanger, Consultante en environnement, Canada (5 min)
  4. Le bois énergie en Afrique : Problèmes forestiers pour un produit de première nécessité d’usage pluriquotidien – 1975-2015. Alain Bertrand, chercheur retraité du CIRAD, France.
  5. Le bois de chauffe pour la restauration des terres dégradées en Haïti. Frény Alcinat, Centre d’enseignement et de coopération internationale, Haïti.
  6. g. Mangroves et bois de feu. Séverin TCHIBOZO, Centre de Recherche pour la Gestion de la Biodiversité, Bénin.
  7. Bois-énergie et plantations à vocation énergétique en République Démocratique du Congo : cas de la province du Nord-Kivu. Désiré K. Kasekete, Université Officielle de Ruwenzori, République Démocratique du Congo.
  8. i. Gestion des ressources naturelle et approvisionnement durable en bois énergie des grands centres urbain. Mamane Seini, Association National des Exploitants du Bois du Niger, Niger.
  9. Performance des briquettes issues de sciure d’Isoberlinia pour une valorisation durable de l’espèce. Samirath C. Nansounon, Unité de Recherche en Biologie forestière et Modélisation Écologique, Bénin.
  10. Discussion modérée par Catherine Ruest Bélanger et Mike Sterner.

CONFÉRENCIERS

* Alain Bertrand, Chercheur retraité du Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD), France. edenia.consult@gmail.com

Alain Bertrand

Alain Bertrand a vécu l’évolution des concepts relatifs à la gestion des forêts tropicales. Passant par le Gabon, la Côte d’Ivoire, le Niger, Madagascar, le Mali, le Maroc et d’autres encore, il a couvert l’évolution de la gestion des forêts tropicales de 1968 à 2018, en se penchant plus particulièrement sur :

  • L’approvisionnement durable en bois énergie dans un contexte de forte démographie et de raréfaction de la ressource ligneuse ;
  • La nécessaire implication des populations dans la gestion locale des ressources naturelles, afin que celles-ci contribuent à leur développement socioéconomique ;
  • Le besoin de politiques transcrites en lois et décrets.

Chercheur forestier socio-économiste, il a publié nombre d’articles et ouvrages pour communiquer ses résultats.

Le bois énergie en Afrique : Problèmes forestiers pour un produit de première nécessité d’usage pluriquotidien – 1975-2015

En 1972 sévit une grande sécheresse du Sénégal à l’Éthiopie, causant d’importantes mortalités humaines et des troupeaux et entraînant le début d’un exode rural vers les villes. Auparavant, il n’y avait pas de problème avec le bois énergie. Les bailleurs ciblent les plantations comme solution à ce nouveau problème. Devant l’ampleur de la tâche, ils changent de stratégie 10 ans plus tard pour se tourner vers les plantations villageoises et la gestion durable des ressources naturelles. Dans les années 1990, l’attention est plutôt portée vers les stratégies énergie domestique. Depuis 2000, des plantations d’envergures sont mises en place, notamment sur les plateaux Batékés pour alimenter Kinshasa en bois énergie. Alain Bertrand a participé activement à chacun de ces changements et présente quelques-uns des projets majeurs dans lesquels il a été impliqué.

Cette présentation est en lien avec l’article Le bois, énergie de première nécessité en Afrique – Une ressource trop souvent négligée, par Gérard Madon, publié dans Afrique contemporaine 2017/1-2 (N° 261-262), pages 201 à 222, disponible au https://www.cairn.info/revue-afrique-contemporaine-2017-1-page-201.htm

 

* Frény Alcinat, agronome, Chargé de projet pour le Centre d’enseignement et de coopération internationale (CECI), Haïti. frenya@ceci.ca

Frény Alcinat

Frény Alcinat est un agronome spécialisé dans les ressources naturelles et le transfert de technologie. Il participe à la conception, à la mise en œuvre et au suivi de projets agroforestiers dans l’ensemble de son pays. Il travaille directement avec les agriculteurs et les organisations locales afin d’améliorer leurs compétences techniques pour faire face au changement climatique.

Le bois de chauffe pour la restauration des terres dégradées en Haïti

L’industrie du bois de chauffage a longtemps été accusée d’être à l’origine de la déforestation en Haïti. Le CECI, une organisation de coopération internationale, et Viridis Terra, une entreprise spécialisée dans la restauration des terres dégradées, ont décidé de renverser cette histoire et de faire de l’industrie du bois de chauffe un moteur de la reforestation. Cette idée a donné naissance au projet KLIMA, qui s’est déroulé dans le Nord et le Nord-Est d’Haïti de 2017 à 2021. Depuis, le projet a été étendu au Sud d’Haïti, tandis que les arbres et les mentalités ont eu le temps de grandir dans le Nord et le Nord-Est. Frény sera ravi de partager les résultats et les leçons tirées de cette expérience.

 

* Séverin TCHIBOZO, membre fondateur et bénévole du Centre de Recherche pour la Gestion de la Biodiversité (CRGB), Cotonou, Benin. tchisev@yahoo.fr

Séverin TCHIBOZO

https://www.linkedin.com/in/s%C3%A9verin-tchibozo-85506851/

Séverin TCHIBOZO est membre fondateur du Centre de Recherche pour la Gestion de la Biodiversité (CRGB, www.crgbbj.org) et expert naturaliste/biodiversité. Il travaille depuis 28 ans sur la conservation de la nature, l’agriculture, l’entomologie et le développement local. Il a évalué des projets transfrontaliers sur l’environnement en Afrique de l’Ouest et Centrale.

Mangroves et bois de feu

Les mangroves sont d’importants écosystèmes côtiers du sud de la planète. Ils fournissent des ressources naturelles aux communautés côtières et protègent les régions côtières de l’érosion et des effets dévastateurs des phénomènes météorologiques extrêmes. En République du Bénin, la loi n°93-009 du 2 juillet 1993 protège les mangroves. Malgré les multiples lois et la sacralisation, les mangroves sont coupées discrètement pour les besoins de bois de feu des petits ménages et pour assurer des activités économiques. Nous parlerons des différents impacts de la coupe des mangroves pour l’usage en bois de feu.

Selon l’article « État des lieux des palétuviers des îlots de forêts naturelles de mangrove en République du Bénin, disponible au https://societebotaniquedefrance.fr/2023/07/24/le-jb-n108-est-en-ligne/ ».

 

Désiré K. Kasekete, Enseignant-chercheur, Faculté des Sciences, Université Officielle de Ruwenzori, Butembo, République Démocratique du Congo. dkasekete@gmail.com

Désiré K. Kasekete

Désiré Katembo Kasekete est titulaire d’une maîtrise en gestion de la biodiversité et aménagement forestier durable, obtenue avec une spécialité Forêt – Environnement. Il se prépare à la soutenance de sa thèse de doctorat dans ce même domaine. Désiré K. Kasekete est impliqué dans l’enseignement universitaire et la recherche scientifique en RDC. Ses activités de recherche portent sur la problématique du bois énergie et son impact sur les écosystèmes forestiers, ainsi que sur la dynamique des plantations forestières en région tropicale (croissance, productivité, biomasse, stockage du carbone, etc.) Désiré Katembo Kasekete est basé à Butembo, dans la province du Nord-Kivu (RDC).

Bois-énergie et plantations à vocation énergétique en République Démocratique du Congo : cas de la province du Nord-Kivu (Synthèse bibliographique)

En République Démocratique du Congo (RDC), le bois constitue la principale source d’énergie pour les ménages et certains professionnels. Cette ressource est principalement utilisée sous la forme de charbon de bois en milieu urbain et de bois de chauffe en milieu rural. Si le charbon de bois est essentiellement utilisé pour cuisiner et dans le secteur artisanal, le bois de chauffe est quant à lui utilisé pour la cuisine, la cuisson des briques et le chauffage domestique. Le bois utilisé est extrait de toutes les zones boisées accessibles dont les forêts naturelles, les terres agricoles, les plantations forestières, et même les aires protégées. Pour gérer durablement la ressource bois et sécuriser les approvisionnements, des actions sont indispensables en ce qui concerne prioritairement la diversification des sources d’approvisionnement en bois-énergie, l’amélioration des techniques d’exploitation du bois et de sa carbonisation, etc.

Selon un article publié dans la revue Bois et Forêts des Tropiques, N° 357, octobre 2023, pp 5 – 28. https://doi.org/10.19182/bft2023.357.a36927.

 

*Mamane Seini, Secrétaire Général, Association National des Exploitants du Bois du Niger (ANEB-Niger), Niger

Mamane Seini

Mamane Seini est secrétaire général de l’Association Nationale des Exploitants du Bois du Niger (ANEB-NIGER), qui est une coopération réunissant tous les exploitants, commerçants, transporteurs, détaillants et structures locales de gestion du bois au Niger. ANEB-NIGER encourage aussi l’engagement écocitoyen pour un développement durable en mettant les jeunes et les femmes au cœur des processus du développement et en tenant compte des aspects économiques, sociaux et environnementaux.

Monsieur Seini est également consulaire auprès de la chambre régionale d’agriculture de Niamey et membre du conseil d’administration d’Agence pour la Promotion du Conseil Agricole (APCA). Il est également membre de plusieurs plateformes et réseaux nationaux, régionaux et mondiaux tels que la Plateforme changement climatique développement durable, le Forum Forestier Africain (AFF) et le Réseau mondiale sur la gestion des risque et catastrophe (GNDR).

Gestion des ressources naturelle et approvisionnement durable en bois énergie des grands centres urbain

Au Niger, plus de 90 % des besoins en énergie domestique des populations rurales et urbaines sont satisfaits par le bois. Celui-ci restera encore pendant longtemps la principale source d’énergie domestique des populations. C’est pourquoi le Niger a conçu et mis en œuvre, depuis 1989, la Stratégie Energie Domestique centrée sur une gestion participative, responsable et durable des ressources forestières. Les marchés ruraux de bois énergie qui en découlent constituent aujourd’hui des outils de gestion des ressources forestières qui intègrent les dimensions économiques, sociales et environnementales dans la gestion et développement durable des forêts.

 

*Samirath C. NANSOUNON,  Doctorante en Monitoring et Conservation de la Biodiversité, Université de Parakou, Unité de Recherche en Biologie forestière et Modélisation Ecologique (UR-BioME), Bénin.

Samirath C. NANSOUNON

Nansounon Nangnon Samirath Cléopâtre est titulaire depuis peu d’un master en aménagement et gestion des ressources naturelles, spécialité des sciences et techniques forestières. Elle s’intéresse aux questions d’écologie et de conservation de la biodiversité, mais aussi à la technologie du bois. Son sujet de recherche actuel porte sur la technologie du bois et la valorisation des résidus de bois des espèces d’arbres Isoberlinia spp. pour des utilisations durables et l’atténuation des effets du changement climatique.

Performance des briquettes issues de sciure d’Isoberlinia pour une valorisation durable de l’espèce

Les résidus de bois sont une ressource prometteuse pour la production de briquettes en raison de leur caractère durable et de leur potentiel de conversion en bioénergie. Cette étude examine le potentiel de transformation des résidus de bois d’Isoberlinia spp. en briquettes et compare leurs performances au charbon traditionnel. Des paramètres tels que le temps d’allumage, la durée d’ébullition de l’eau et le temps de combustion complet ont été mesurés pour évaluer l’aptitude des briquettes produites. Les résultats révèlent des similitudes entre les temps d’allumage des briquettes de bois et le charbon traditionnel, ce qui indique leur potentiel en tant que sources d’énergie alternatives aux propriétés similaires au charbon de bois. De plus, des durées d’ébullition d’eau semblables pour différents types de combustibles suggèrent une équivalence dans l’émission d’énergie et la capacité de combustion, mettant en évidence le potentiel prometteur des briquettes de bois en tant qu’alternatives énergétiques durables.

Invitation to regional encounters with ISTF Members /Invitación al los encuentros regionales con miembros de la ISTF. 10, 16, 26 April/abril

Invitation to regional encounters with ISTF Members /Invitación al los encuentros regionales con miembros de la ISTF. (all members of ISTF are welcome, to any session whatever their region; todos los miembros de ISTF están bienvenidos a cualquier sesión, de cualquier región).

The ISTF Americas Member Encounter in ENGLISH will be held on Wednesday 10 April 2024 The encounter will be held at 23:00-01:00 UTC; 20:00-22:00 Belem, Brazil; 19:00 -21:00 EDT and Puerto Rico; 18:00-20:00 CDT and Panamá; 17:00-19:00 MDT and México D.F; 16:00-18:00 PDT. (Find the time in your time zone at https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html.) The purpose of the meeting is to share our observations and concerns about forestry issues in our countries. Register at THIS LINK. You will be able to register for the meeting up to 2 hours before the event. The deadline to indicate you would like to give a short talk is 6 Apr 2024 on the registration form. Send any questions to tropicalforesters@gmail.com . The Zoom link will be sent before the meeting.

Agenda:

1st hour: Short presentations ISTF Board/Members about recent activities and/or key forestry issues in their countries.

2nd hour: Open discussion among members about the presentations and other topics of interest.

The ISTF Asia-Pacific Members Encounter IN ENGLISH will be held on Tuesday 16 April 2024 at 08:00-10:00 UTC; 20:00-22:00 Fiji; 16:00-18:00pm Philippines and China, 13:30-15:30pm India, 13:45-15:45pm Nepal; 11:30-13:30 Iran. (Check the time in your time zone at https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html.) The purpose of the meeting is to share our observations and concerns about forestry issues in our countries. Register at THIS LINK. You will be able to register for the meeting up to 2 hours before the event. The deadline to indicate you would like to give a short talk is 10 Apr 2024 on the registration form. Send any questions to tropicalforesters@gmail.com . The Zoom link will be sent before the meeting.

Agenda:

1st hour: Short presentations ISTF Board/Chapters/Members about recent activities and/or key forestry issues in their countries.

2nd hour: Open discussion among members about the presentations and other topics of interest.

El Encuentro de ISTF para las Américas EN ESPAÑOL se celebrará el martes el 16 de abril 2024 a las 22:00-24:00 UMT+0; 19:00-21:00 Belém, Brasil, 18:00-20:00 EDT y Puerto Rico; 17:00-19:00 Panamá y y Ecuador y CDT; 16:00-18:00 México D.F. y MDT; 13:00-15:00 Tijuana y PDT. (Busca para la hora en su zona en https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html.) La reunión será en español. El propósito de la reunión es compartir nuestras observaciones y preocupaciones sobre asuntos forestales en nuestros países. Por favor, registrase en ESTE ENLACE. Puede registrar para la reunión hasta dos horas antes del evento. La fecha limitada para indicar les gustaría hacer una presentación corta es el 10 abril de 2024 en el formulario. Envía sus preguntas a tropicalforesters@gmail.com. Enviamos el enlace para la reunión en Zoom antes de la reunión.

Agenda:

1ra hora: Presentaciones cortas de la Junta de ISTF/Capítulos/Miembros sobre sus actividades recientes y/o problemas fundamentales forestales en sus países.

2da hora: Discusión abierta entre los miembros sobre las presentaciones y otros tópicos de interés.

The ISTF Africa/Europe Members Encounter in ENGLISH will be held on Friday 26 April 2024 at 14:00-16:00 UTC+0; 17:00-19:00 Kenya, 16:00-18:00 Rwanda and CEST, 15:00-17:00 Nigeria and BST, 14:00-16:00 Ghana. (Check the time in your time zone at https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html.) The purpose of the meeting is to share our observations and concerns about forestry issues in our countries. Register at THIS LINK. You will be able to register for the meeting up to 2 hours before the event. The deadline to indicate you would like to give a short talk is 20 Apr 2024 on the registration form. Send any questions to tropicalforesters@gmail.com . The link for the Zoom meeting will be sent before the meeting.

Agenda:

1st hour: Short presentations ISTF Board/Chapters/Members about recent activities and/or key forestry issues in their countries.

2nd hour: Open discussion among members about the presentations and other topics of interest.

We will be scheduling a meeting for ISTF members in French for July or August. / Nous planifierons une réunion pour les membres de l’ISTF en français en juillet ou en août.

Online Symposium: Legacy of the Tropical Forest Foundation 19 Jan 2024

The International Society of Tropical Foresters (ISTF) and the International Forestry Working Group of the Society of American Foresters (IFWG-SAF) are offering the online symposium “Legacy of the Tropical Forest Foundation” on Friday 19 January 2024 for 2.5 hours, at 7-930am Seattle, 10am-1230pm Washington DC, 10pm-1230am Jakarta. The Tropical Forest Foundation was active from 1990 to 2015, with independent branches in Brazil, Indonesia, and Guyana, South America, continuing today. The TFF was a unique forum that engaged industry, conservation and researchers in productive dialogue about tropical forestry. The TFF had much impact by developing techniques and demonstration projects for low impact logging for the tropics, and the influence of the TFF continues today.

More information is posted at https://tropicalforesters.org/blog/2024/01/13/online-symposium-legacy-of-the-tropical-forest-foundation-19-jan-2023/. Find your time zone at https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html. Register for the session at https://forms.gle/gNxFG59PDHN4mam96. Questions? Contact tropicalforesters@gmail.com

Symposium schedule:

a. Introduction to ISTF and IFWG-SAF. Sheila Ward, ISTF (2 min)

b. Intro to Symposium and speakers. Mike Sterner, ISTF (5 min)

c. History of the Tropical Forest Foundation. Keister Evans, Forest Carbon Offsets, LCC. USA. (10 min)

d. Development and Implementation of Reduced Impact Logging by the Tropical Forest Foundation. Jim Bowyer, University of Minnesota, USA (10 min)

e. Collaboration for the Tropical Forest Foundation: Education, research, and outreach. A. L. (Tom) Hammett, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, USA (15 min)

f. Some Lessons Learned from Johan Zweede, Art Klassen, and the Rest of TFF. Jack Putz, University of Florida, USA (15 min)

h. TFF: Reduced Impact, Improved Income & Better Market Credibility. Hasbie HASBILLAH, Tropical Forest Foundation-Indonesia (15 min)

i. Open Discussion (Moderators Sterner / Ward – 50 min)

SPEAKERS

*Keister Evans, Former Executive Director/President, Tropical Forest Foundation; President/Owner, International Woods, Inc. of Virginia; President/CEO Forest Carbon Offsets, LCC. USA. keisterevans@forestcarbonoffsets.net

Keister Evans

Keister Evans was co-founder of the Tropical Forest Foundation (TFF) in 1990 and served as TFF Executive Director (1990-2010) and President/Executive Director (2009-2010). Keister received his BS and MS from Virginia Tech and his early work experience included being a VA Tech County Agricultural Extension Agent in Virginia. He has served as the Executive Director of the American Rose Society, the American Horticultural Society, and the International Wood Products Association. He currently is President/Owner of International Woods, Inc. of Virginia (1982- ), and President/CEO of Forest Carbon Offsets, LCC (2009- ).

History of the Tropical Forest Foundation

The Tropical Forest Foundation (TFF) was formed in 1990 as the result of a Tropical Forestry Workshop held at the Smithsonian Institution in October 1989. The workshop was sponsored by the International Wood Products Assn (IWPA) in response to severe criticism by international publications and NGOs as having major responsibility for the rapidly diminishing tropical forests. The workshop was suggested by and chaired by Dr. Thomas Lovejoy, an official at the Smithsonian (who also served as the first Chairman of TFF), and involved authorities in tropical forestry and related disciplines from major tropical timber regions and the U.S. The workshop concluded that the tropical forest can be used and retained if given economic value and sustainable harvesting methods are practiced. TFF then set forth to established offices and demonstration projects in Africa, Indonesia, Brazil and Guyana, South America. A concept known as Reduced Impact Logging (RIL), was introduced by TFF, and demonstrated and taught at the forestry training camps. Thousands of individuals have received TFF RIL training and vast areas of tropical forests have been affected. These initial efforts and the concept of Reduced Impact Logging have been widely accepted and continue to be practiced in the tropical timber trades.

*Jim Bowyer, Former Chairman, Tropical Forest Foundation; Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering. USA. jimbowyer@comcast.net

Jim Bowyer

Bowyer is a Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering. A specialist in wood-based bio-products and life-cycle assessment, and elected fellow of the International Academy of Wood Science, Bowyer has authored several books and numerous scientific articles. Bowyer has served as President of the International Society of Wood Science and Technology and of the Forest Products Society, and as Vice President and co-founder of the Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials. He joined the TFF Board of Directors in 1995, and served as Chairman 2006-2008. He is currently a Senior Contributor with the Minneapolis-based Dovetail Partners consulting firm.

Development and Implementation of Reduced Impact Logging by the Tropical Forest Foundation.

In this presentation, findings that informed the development of TFF training programs and the Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) standard will be discussed. An initial project at Cauaxi, Brazil dramatically illustrated the differences between logging using traditional methods vs. responsible logging employing best practices. TFF built upon this project, creating training programs within a larger surrounding concession where those involved in the logging industry could come to learn better ways of doing things, and where scientists, educators, and others could come to view and study impacts of forest operations. The organizational structure of TFF will be described as will the basic philosophy of training site selection and program development. The nature of training programs, and development of region-specific training materials will also be discussed.

* A. L. (Tom) Hammett, Professor, Sustainability, Design and Innovation, and lead of the Non-timber Forest Products Program, Department of Sustainable Biomaterials, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, and Research Faculty, Future Generations University, Franklin, West Virginia USA. himal@vt.edu  

A. L. (Tom) Hammet

Tom focuses on human and institutional capacity development (HICD) and sustainable nature-based enterprise development, specializing in non-timber forest products and services. He has served Virginia Tech since 1995 as Professor in the area of Sustainability, Innovation and Design in the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials, College of Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE). From 2005 to 2015, he served on the Board of the Tropical Forest Foundation. Tom seeks to improve educational opportunities and link them to local enterprise development and sustainment of natural resources. He has served as project director for a global agricultural education and training capacity program. Tom has worked in over forty countries, including developing agri-business training resources in Armenia, and the utilization of specialty crops and forest products in Thailand. In 2023 he led a group of Virginia educators to work with university faculty in Tanzania and Kenya.

Collaboration for the Tropical Forest Foundation: Education, research, and outreach

The legacy of building and supporting training sites and making RIL training available to harvesting and management entities had long lasting impact on forest conservation. While the Foundation made important progress in developing Reduced Impact Logging and then promoting its use, other areas emerged as critical to forest conservation. Extending the role of the Tropical Forest Foundation by reaching out to educational institutions through our board members, and new partners became increasingly important. Work developed in new areas included early research with carbon, the impact of mining on forests, and incorporating examples from our work in classroom curriculum and other materials. Working relationships with forest landowners, both government and private, was important for the Foundation. Building linkages and facilitating education and research collaboration with non-government organizations and universities was a natural first step.

Francis E. (Jack) Putz. Distinguished Professor of Biology and Forestry, University of Florida, USA; and Forest Research Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland fep@ufl.edu

F.E. “Jack” Putz

F.E. “Jack” Putz is a researcher focused on improvements of the fates of tropical forests through improved management for timber, non-timber forest products, biodiversity, and other natural values. He served on the TFF Permanent Review Committee in 1993 and on the TFF Board 1999-2002, but was much involved with TFF throughout its existence, benefiting greatly from the tutelage of Johan Zweede and Art Klassen, late and lamented leaders in tropical forestry.  Jack is a professor at the University of Florida (since 1982) and at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia (since 2023).

Some Lessons Learned from Johan Zweede, Art Klassen, and the Rest of TFF

I shared with TFF my career-long efforts to improve the fates of tropical forests through improved management but only joined the Board in 1999. Long before that I was a student of two late and lamented TFF forest engineers, Johan Zweede and Art Klassen. My formal training as an ecologist did not prepare me to implement the Reduced-Impact Logging (RIL) we all endorsed—that’s where the expertise of Johan and Art were so critical. In retrospect, I should have been more involved with TFF from the outset; academics, like me, are seldom offered opportunities to interact with representatives of major corporations involved in the forest sector (e.g., Caterpillar and Stihl) or with those involved in the international trade in forest products. Since its closure in 2015, the platform provided by TFF has not been replicated but is much needed.

Hasbie Hasbillah, Executive Director, Tropical Forest Foundation Indonesia. Indonesia; Member, Board of Directors Indonesia Ecolabel Institute hasbie@tff-indonesia.org

Hasbie HASBILLAH

Hasbie HASBILLAH has more than 30 years of experience in forest management, including planning, operations, environment, industry, and social and policy of natural and plantation forests in Indonesia, South East Asia, and the Pacific. He has conducted extensive fieldwork for planning and operational logging to implement Reduced Impact Logging (RIL). Hasbie has been lead auditor for both the International and National Standards for Sustainable Forest Management and Palm Oil Certification He is a RIL Carbon trainer who also conducts Assessment of High Conservation Value, High Carbon Stock and Climate Change. In the last ten years Hasbie, has pursued Forest Carbon accounting for natural forests.

TFF: Reduced Impact, Improved Income & Better Market Credibility

TFF is an international coalition of industry, conservation, and scientific leaders working to achieve to the sustainable management of tropical timber. TFF has established demonstration models and training schools to show the advantages and teach the principles of sustainable forest management and Reduced Impact Logging (RIL), including Reduced Impact Logging Carbon (RIL Carbon). TFF promotes sustainable tropical forest management by gathering and disseminating information about its benefits and by teaching proper management practices to promote trade in forest products from legally sourced and sustainably managed timber. Adoption of RIL will: 1) Reduce impact on soil and future crop trees up to 50 %; 2) Save money up to 20%, with improved efficiency, higher productivity, less waste, less conflict; 3) Promote market credibility; and 4) Reduce emissions of CO2 by 30 to 60 %. TFF has contributed to the success of forest certification of more than 2 million hectares by FSC standards in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea.

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