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Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) are 20-year State-Federal agreements first signed between 1997 and 2001. They underpin the management of the majority of Australia’s commercially productive native forests. Their objectives are to deliver certainty of resource access to forest industries, ensure that forest industries are profitable and protect environmental values, including biodiversity. I argue the objectives of RFAs have not been met with five key areas being unsuccessful. RFAs have: (i) failed to protect biodiversity and maintain ecosystem processes; (ii) been characterized by poor governance and watered down forest protection; (iii) overseen a demonstrable lack of profitability of, and declining employment in, native forest logging industries; (iv) led to the overcommitment of forest resources to wood production and (v) failed to account for other forest values that are often much greater than wood production. There is an urgent need for a comprehensive environmental, economic and social re-assessment of Australia’s RFAs and forest industries per se. Efforts to thoroughly review RFAs must take better account of recent scientific and economic information, and explore new ways to manage forests values beyond only timber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today wood and nonwood forest resources management meets and often clashes with environment and biological diversity protection. A main problem is to understand relationships between the different roles of forest biodiversity, site, and management parameters. A multivariate statistical analysis has been carried out in order to interpret relationships between some forest biodiversity components and forest inventory data. Several indices of floristic diversity, species abundance, and structural heterogeneity at stand level have been calculated. The different components of forest biodiversity were separated by principal components analysis. Relations between forest biodiversity indices and site and management attributes have been investigated by two multivariate statistical techniques: bivariate correlation analysis and multiple linear regression. Results showed a high correlation between all the investigated components of forest biodiversity and some topographic and/or forest management attributes. Results also gave ancillary information to define sustainable forest management criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Walnut fruit forests represent both a valuable hotspot of biological diversity and have significant economic value for the livelihoods of local communities. However, the sustainable management of these forests is a complex task requiring the successful juggling of the different interests of local stakeholders, including fulfilling their economic, social and ecological demands. Birds were chosen as the indicator of biodiversity with which to evaluate the effects of forest management activities. A research study was conducted in 2005 during the birds’ breeding season in five different habitats (primary and secondary forests, plantation, agroforestry and brushwood) using the point sampling method. A total of 23 species were recorded. According to the various diversity indices employed, the best habitats for species richness were areas of agroforestry, while primary forests were found to be the best habitats in terms of species abundance. In contrast, the lowest bird diversity was observed in plantations due to their structural homogeneity. In addition, habitat suitability was assessed according to both horizontal and vertical structural parameters and tested using five selected indicator bird species. The results reveal a link between birds and vegetation, with abundance of old trees, availability of deadwood and habitat understorey density found to be the most important indicators of bird survival. Our research findings highlight that it is imperative to protect existing primary forests which are genetic diversity hotspots for endemic species such asDendrocopos leucopterus. Although areas under agroforestry were primarily found to be relatively promising habitats in terms of species richness, these intensively managed ecosystems may also be useful for simultaneously fulfilling the needs of local people, if such projects are carefully planned and managed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many contemporary societies, multiple functions are connected to hunting. Here, we use the concept of multifunctionality to investigate the role of hunting beyond its traditional function of supplying meat. Hunting may contribute, for example, to biodiversity conservation, recreation and the preservation of economies and cultures in rural areas. Our comparative analysis of hunting in eight study sites in Europe and Africa examines the tensions and trade-offs between these ecological, economic and social functions of hunting, and investigates the interplay between the institutions regulating these functions to better understand conflicts over hunting. Based on this analysis, we present institutional arrangements that have developed to address these challenges of multifunctionality, and explore the institutional change brought about by such arrangements. Finally, we discuss the implications of this study for policy and institutional design. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this article, we discuss cooperative networks for forest conservation from the viewpoint of deliberation. We ask how deliberative processes are produced and what predicts deliberation in the cooperative networks for forest conservation that have been established for policy implementation as a part of the Finnish forest biodiversity programme METSO. We base our argument on both qualitative and quantitative material. In the qualitative study, we present two cooperative networks for forest biodiversity conservation in Finland. The results show that clear leadership, active and determined work for common goals and openness to actively engage new actors assist in creating deliberative processes in cooperative networks. In the quantitative study, we explore the perceptions of implementers of METSO programme about the prerequisites for achievement in deliberation. The results of a quantitative study support those of a qualitative one: involving new forest owner groups and including conservation-biological knowledge were connected to perceived achievement. Based on the findings, we argue that in order to become as deliberative and empowering a programme as it has potential for, METSO needs to expose its actions to a broader public, critique and debate, involve new collaborators actively and support integration of various types of knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated public aesthetic preferences regarding naturally occurring dead and downed wood in Norwegian boreal forests. In an Internet-based survey conducted in cooperation with a commercial polling company, 1082 respondents from south-eastern and middle Norway were asked to rate 24 photos of forest settings. All photos had been taken at a stand level in primary or lightly altered semi-natural forests, although this was not disclosed to the respondents. Survey participants showed a clearly greater preference for images of forests settings containing little or no visible dead or downed wood. Participants also rated photos of forest settings with the dead wood elements removed through digital manipulation substantially higher than otherwise identical non-manipulated photos. However, public aesthetic perception of dead wood in forest setting did appear to be influenced by their understanding of the ecological benefits dead wood provides to forest biodiversity. Photos shown with an accompanying text describing the ecology or natural history of forest scenes containing dead wood received significantly higher ratings than identical photos without accompanying text. Our results suggest that those involved in maintaining or increasing forest biodiversity by retaining standing and fallen dead wood also need to incorporate outreach efforts that educate the public about the ecological benefits of these forest elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the effects of exploitations in natural forest ecosystems on tree species diversity and environmental conservation. This was achieved by comparing tree species diversity and yield in an unlogged forest (Strict Nature Reserve) and a forest reserve where active logging is in progress in Ondo State, Nigeria. Eight plots (20 m × 20 m) were assessed in each site using systematic sampling techniques. All living trees with dbh >10 cm were identified, categorized into families with their diameter at breast height (dbh) measured in each plot. Shannon-Weiner and species evenness indices were used to assess and compare tree species diversity and abundance. The results show that the tropical humid forest is very rich in tree species, as a total of 54 different tropical hardwood species from 23 families were encountered in both forest types. There were 46 species distributed among 21 families in the unlogged forest and 24 species in 14 families in the logged forest. Shannon-Weiner diversity index of 3.16 and 3.03 and evenness index of .83 and .81 were also obtained for the unlogged and logged forest, respectively. Every variable computed had a higher value in the unlogged forest relative to the logged forest. In the unlogged forest, the species with the highest number of occurrence was Mansonia altissima A. Chev. (80 stems/ha). Caesalpinoidae and Sterculiaceae families had the highest number of species (6). In the logged forest, Triplochiton scleroxylon K. Schum. (18 stems/ha) had the highest frequency and Caesalpinoidae family has the highest number of species (4). The study concludes that exploitation has affected species diversity in the ecosystem and subsequently, the roles of trees in environmental conservation are affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the failure of forest conservation policy in the uplands of Vietnam. A case study conducted in an upland village located in the buffer zone of the Ba Vi National Park shows that conservation policy has failed because it emphasises biodiversity conservation at the expense of local livelihoods. In addition, local officials colluded with National Park authorities to monopolise access to the land which they then used to marginalise villagers. The implementation of forest conservation policy has produced patron-client relationships in the village. Forest land has become an instrument for local officials to derive personal gain and a means to control villagers. Villagers resisted both the local officials' land grabs and the government's conservation policy. The Park became a site of conflict between villagers, local officials, and the government. This paper suggests that unless local interests are included in the design and implementation of policy forest conservation is unlikely to succeed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate processes through which organizations engaged in natural resource management pursue conservation innovations—that is, create capabilities that allow them to produce new goods and services or produce goods and services in ways that reduce environmental degradation. Through an accounting of organizational competencies, we conduct an exploratory analysis of investments Finnish forest management service providers—public agencies, private firms, and civil society actors—have made to address demand for biodiversity conservation. From the perspective of theory and method, our pilot study points to opportunities to test, and perhaps advance, hypothesized tendencies toward environmental improvement through assessment of material practices and organizational strategies. This materialist approach is applicable to analysis at the level of organizations, sectors and territories. From an empirical perspective, the research highlights the contemporary coevolution of incentives and patterns of organizational behavior in Finnish forestry in response to social demand for biodiversity conservation and multifunctional landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated factors limiting the recovery of natural forest in former large-scale conifer plantations abandoned after clear-cutting in southwestern Japan. We analyzed forest recovery status (“recovered” sites covered by evergreen broad-leaved trees, and “unrecovered” sites covered by pioneer community or nonvegetated sites) using aerial photographs and field survey. We applied logistic regression analyses to evaluate the effects of topography, construction of harvesting roads, distance from remnant forest, stand condition before clear-cutting, and prior land-use history on forest recovery. Human factors, i.e., land use and clear-cutting age, were found to affect to forest recovery more than environmental factors such as topography. Harvesting roads had the strongest negative impact on forest recovery. Forest recovery after clear-cutting of young sugi plantations also took longer than after clear-cutting of old sugi plantations or evergreen broad-leaved forests. Furthermore, areas formerly utilized as meadows recovered less successfully than those that had been managed as coppices. The influences of these factors were thought to be promoted by the advance reproduction as the regeneration sources for forest recovery. The influence of stand age before logging suggested an effect of thinning, which might alter the abundance of advanced reproduction in the understory. However, distance from remnant forest appeared to be less important. An influence of topography was also detected, but this could be partly explained by the existence of advance reproduction in the understory in certain topographic positions. Thus, our analysis suggests that regeneration sources originating from advanced reproduction in plantations play a significant role for the recovery of natural forest after clear-cutting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa has limited indigenous forest resources. These indigenous forests play a significant role in biodiversity conservation and socioecononiic development, although these values have never been fully accounted for. The general scarcity of natural forest cover defines the long history of forest biodiversity conservation that commenced as a proclamation in 1658. Subsequent proclamations and laws addressed the same issue until it was obvious that natural forests could not be managed sustainably to meet environmental, timber, and fuelwood needs that laws favoring the establishment of plantations were passed. Today, more sophisticated policies and laws which are anchored in South Africa's constitution and the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) have evolved to conserve the same resources. However, successful implementation of these natural resource conservation laws is weakened by the lack of' institutional capacity within the Forestry Function in the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF). Furthermore, lack of capacity limits intersectoral and intergovernmental coordination which is essential for optimizing strategic synergies for natural resource conservation. Opportunities for overturning these constraints on indigenous forest conservation are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including biodiversity conservation, coral reef biodiversity in the Philippines, and a bird biodiversity study in the walnut forests of Kyrgyzstan.