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Este estudio evaluó cuales factores han influido la adopción de prácticas de conservación y aumento de la Cobertura Arbórea en Fincas (CAF) en tres zonas rurales de Costa Rica. Se complementó información de censos poblacionales y datos geo-espaciales con resultados de entrevistas y talleres con 163 productores, aplicando un enfoque de indagación apreciativa y el marco de capitales de la comunidad. Los resultados confirman que también utilizando indicadores de desarrollo basado en estos enfoques y trabajando con CAF en paisajes agrícolas, es válida la teoría de la transición forestal (Mather 1992). Además se sugiere que si el proceso de desarrollo pone mayor énfasis en fortalecer el capital social (capacidad de organización, intercambio de información) y humano (salud, educación, asistencia técnica), existirá mayor probabilidad que el desarrollo irá acompañado por un proceso de recuperación de la CAF. La combinación de estos factores surtió un mayor efecto sobre la CAF que la Ley Forestal de 1996 y su programa de pago por servicios ambientales (PSA)., This study proposed to evaluate which factors have influenced the adoption of conservation practices and the increase of On-farm Tree Cover (OTC) in three areas of Costa Rica. We compared information from population census and geospatial data with results of interviews and workshops with 163 producers, applying the approaches of appreciative inquiry and the community capitals framework. The results confirm that using development indicators based on these approaches and working with OTC within agricultural landscapes, the Forest Transition theory (Mather 1992) also applies. In addition, our results suggest that when the development process emphasizes the strengthening of social (organizational capacity, sharing of information) and human capital (health, education, technical assistance), there is more probability that development will be accompanied by a process of recovery of the OTC in agricultural landscapes. The combination of these factors had greater effect on OTC than the Forest Law of 1996 with its payment for environmental services scheme. more...

Forest concessions have been used by governments as a development instrument of remote and landlocked areas. Currently, in Africa, concessions are caught between the increase in population density in rural areas and agribusiness investors seeking land. They remain a controversial forest resource management instrument, although certification has been instrumental for improving management practices, in spite of contexts of poor governance. Relevance of traditional forest concessions is lowering in some places but innovations from both private and public actors create new opportunities of co-management of several “layers” of economic activity by different stakeholders sharing a common area. (Resume d'auteur) more...

In 2014 Decree 14/018 laying down the rules for granting forest concessions to local communities, followed by Ministerial Order 0/25 on the same issue was published in the DRC. This paper aims to analyse the abovementioned legislation with respect to participatory ma nagement of forests. The explicit recognition of the duality of a customary de facto local community forest and a modern legal entity (concession) is an innovation. However, viewed from the perspective of the long-established habits within the country, the question remains whethe r these legal measures can be sufficient for ensuring the sustainable development of these community-held forested areas. Allowing community concessions up to 50,000 ha demonstrated a shift in the government policy away from the industrial timber cultivation model. However, an ar ea this size is much larger than the communities can monitor, particularly in the case of artisanal charcoal or wood exploitation. (Resume d'auteur) more...

Tropical forests are major providers of natural resources and ecosystem services but their ecological functions are at threat, due to increasing human pressure linked to economic development. The identification of priority areas for conservation is crucial for land use planning to ensure the protection of biodiversity and ecological function. Intact Forest Landscapes (IFLs), as defined by Greenpeace and World Resources Institute (WRI), are areas of the forest ecosystems not subjected to human activities. They have been identified by mapping human disturbances through remote sensing. Contrary to similar global-scale concepts, IFLs have been integrated into the standards of the certification body Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and therefore have practical implications for forest management policies. The Motion 65, approved in the general assembly of FSC in 2014, mandates the protection of IFLs located in FSC certified logging concessions. Until the implementation of national standards, forestry operations are banished from 80% of the IFL area within each forest management unit. To trace the history and evaluate the suitability of IFLs in the Central African context, we searched for documents related to the IFL method, and related approaches focusing on the identification of areas devoid of human disturbances. The IFL method is simple and cost-effective and allows for a global assessment of the influence of human infrastructures and industrial exploitation on forests. However, the method does not consider the situation below the canopy and those forest components not visible by satellites. For example, hunting, one of the main threats faced by wildlife in Central African forests today, cannot be detected with satellite imagery. On the other hand, other anthropogenic activities which remote sensing may detect may be compatible with forest ecosystem conservation. To better tailor the IFL approach to Central African forests, we recommend (i) the consideration of wildlife communities in the intactness analysis, (ii) a thorough evaluation of the impacts of human activities on forest ecosystems, and (iii) the integration of local stakeholders and governments in the design of land management strategies to respond to social, economic and environmental needs. more...

By 2010, about 25% (180 million ha) of The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) producer countries’ permanent forest estate was being managed using an approved forest management plan (FMP). While the existence of a FMP is often used as evidence of sustainable forest management (SFM), State officials mandated to monitor and verify FMPs’ implementation often lack the technical knowledge and political incentives to assess the changes that have been introduced, notably in terms of harvested volumes and species. Among tropical timber producers, Cameroon is considered to be exemplary for its progressive forest regulatory framework. Here we aim to estimate for the first time in sub-Saharan Africa the causal impact of the implementation of FMPs on harvested volumes, species and carbon stocks. We do so by using a 12-year (1998–2009) unbalanced longitudinal data set of a detailed, official harvesting inventory of 81 concessions in Cameroon. Results provide evidence to the theoretical expectations that for many years many practitioners have had on the implementation of SFM, i.e. that FMPs show a substantial opportunity to reduce carbon emissions from forest while presenting logging companies with acceptable financial trade-offs. We explore the technical and political reasons for our findings and conclude that these analyses are important for countries that are underwriting carbon-related schemes in which they propose to reduce their emissions through the effective implementation of SFM. We also demonstrate that producer countries do record useful information that, when effectively used, can help them to inform their policies and improve their sustainable development strategies. more...

Accurate estimates of commercial volume in tropical forests are key for the implementation of sustainable forest management plans. Because of the lack of local or generic volumetric equations, most forest managers and forestry services are still using traditional expansion factors (i.e., multiplication of the diameter by a given value) to estimate the volume of commercial tree species in the Amazon. Volumetric models were developed through a unique data set of 1,264 fallen trees fully measured in 150 sample plots located across a broad range of forests in Amapá, Brazil. Forest-specific volumetric models were developed and compared with a generic (i.e., across all forests) model and with published equations developed elsewhere in the Amazon. The generic equation performed well in all forest types and allowed precise predictions. The most efficient sampling design to develop volumetric models consists of measuring approximately 50 trees across four different size classes representing the whole population. The form factors (FF) developed locally generated substantial bias but performed better than the traditional FF (0.7). Overall, our results suggest that it is possible to develop accurate generic models to estimate commercial timber volume, and this study can serve as a guideline for forest managers or scientists interested in calibrating volumetric models in a cost-efficient way. Study Implications: This work provides useful information on volumetric modeling methods for Brazilian Amazon tropical forests. Most of the studies in the literature only investigate the classical modeling using regression models considering only boom metrics with or without bark, and, in this way, they provide incomplete and biased total knowledge and estimates for a given population. Therefore, detailed and accurate analyzes are crucial tools for decisionmaking. If the harvesting interventions are carried out without considering the most appropriate method to estimate the total wood stock, there may be damages or even extinction of some species, as has happened with other forest domains in Brazil and in other rainforest regions in the world. In this work, the results clearly show the importance of testing different methodologies and selecting the one best suited for a particular site, as well as carrying out techniques for the sustainable and correct management of the forest. Because the analysis procedures provide only information on how methodologies behave statistically, our results may contribute to a more refined analysis to be applied in the future in similar environments. Currently, the Brazilian forestry sector is looking for alternatives to obtain forest resources within the concept of sustainability. For the Brazilian Amazon tropical forest domain, it is extremely important to achieve a sustainable management of resources through forest management. Most studies in the literature investigate the management of tropical rainforest, whereas there is a lack of scientific information on the transition range for the cerrado. Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-16T09:06:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CPAF-AP-2020-Accurate-estimation-of-commercial.pdf: 928769 bytes, checksum: dff30beaa41574825f8df54580bc8d84 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2020 more...

This study of values placed on wildlife by Bantu and Yaka Pygmy forest dwellers (n = 200) in Northern Congo identified and analyzed two wildlife value orientations - “anthropocentric” and “biocentric.” The former, strongly displayed across all segments of both societies, was likely motivated by heavy reliance on bushmeat and human–wildlife conflicts, and was linked to attitudes approving the killing of animals for human benefit. The “biocentric” orientation was more common among formally educated male respondents who do not hunt and positively linked to attitudes favoring conservation. Wildlife management strategies should consider including 1) sustainable local wildlife exploitation, 2) livelihood projects that provide a real alternative to hunting, and 3) human–wildlife conflict mitigation. more...

In Cameroon, sustainable timber management relies on the model of large logging concession. However, over the past fifteen years, small-scale logging has become a common activity, with two different forms. First, the creation of community forests in the late 1990s allowed village associations to legally harvest, process and trade timber, almost always with the support of external actors such as NGOs or private operators. Second, individual chainsaw milling, almost always informal, has grown considerably. The article compares the economic, social and environmental impacts of these two options of small-scale logging. Although much focus has been put on community forestry over the latest two decades, it remains a marginal activity with a turnover of less than € 2 million per year and a small impact on rural economies. Conversely, informal chainsaw milling represents an annual turnover of € 93 million, with a flow of revenues around € 30 million for the benefit of rural population. From an environmental perspective, none of the two options seems to substantially conserve or degrade forest resources, but more research is needed on the issue. The chainsaw milling sector remains largely ignored by – national and international – public policies in the attempts to achieve sustainable timber management in Cameroon. Some perspectives are proposed to legalise the small-scale logging sector without reducing its current socio-economic impact on rural and urban livelihoods. more...

Unravelling the psychological processes determining landowners’ support towards forest conservation is crucial, particularly in rural areas of the tropics, where most forest remnants are within private lands. As human–nature connections are known to shape pro‐environmental behaviours, the intention of preserving forest remnants should ultimately be determined by the ecological context people live in. Here, we investigate the pathways through which the ecological context (forest cover), via direct contact with forests and ecosystem services and disservices, influence the psychological antecedents of conservation behaviour (beliefs, attitude and intention of preserving forest remnants). We conceptualized a model based on the Reasoned Action Approach, using the ecological context and these three forest experiences as background factors, and tested the model using Piecewise Structural Equation Modelling. Data were collected through an interview‐based protocol applied to 106 landowners across 13 landscapes varying in forest cover in a consolidated rural region in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Our results indicate that: (a) ecosystem services are more important than disservices for shaping intention of preserving forests, particularly non‐provisioning services; (b) contact with forest has an indirect effect on intention, by positively influencing the frequency of receiving ecosystem services; (c) people living in more forested ecological contexts have more contact with forests, receive ecosystem services more frequently and, ultimately, have stronger intention of preserving forests. Hence, our study suggests a dangerous positive feedback loop between deforestation, the extinction of forest experiences and impairment of human–nature connections. Local demands across the full range of ecosystem services, the balance between services and disservices and the ecological context people live in should be considered when developing conservation initiatives in tropical rural areas. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. more...

Community forest management (CFM) is one way used to mitigate deforestation and forest degradation which have been occurring for more than half a century, particularly in northern Thailand. The collaboration in CFM, especially at multiple scales (e.g. subdistrict, district, or provincial levels) is essential to improve a forest ecosystem status and avoid forest degradation risks in the future. Recently, integrative and participatory modelling methodologies, specifically the Companion Modelling (ComMod), have been implemented in the context of sustainable common-pool resource management in several regions of the world. However, the application of this approach in CFM across institutional scales has still been challenging. Therefore, this research aimed to assess community forest ecosystem functions at the seven villages of Lainan Subdistrict, Wiang Sa District, Nan Province, and conduct a participatory modelling and simulation process to promote collaborative CFM at the subdistrict scale. Ecologically conventional and participatory assessments of ecosystem functions were performed to assess community forest ecosystem status. Lainan's community forests have officially been operating for nearly 50 years. There were 67 tree species, 18 orders of soil fauna, 105 wild mushroom species, and 183 non-timber forest products (NTFPs). Among these diverse NTFPs, Melientha suavis, Oecophylla smaragdina's queen broods, and wild edible mushrooms were identified as the three common NTFPs at this site with the productivity of 2, 12, and 2 kg/ha/y, respectively. The results from the participatory assessment showed that the forest status scores of all villages ranged from 233 to 322 of 500 points. Only village 3 obtained “good” for its community forest ecosystem status while the other villages' status was “moderate”. However, all villages were still facing forest degradation risks. Following this preliminary diagnostic analysis, a ComMod process including two participatory modelling and simulation sequences was implemented with 48 local stakeholders. The results showed that this iterative and evolving process could stimulate the integration of scientific and local knowledge through the exchanges of viewpoints, perceptions, knowledge, and experiences among local stakeholders, as well as between them and researchers. Moreover, it also supported collective decision-making among them as two CFM collective action plans at the subdistrict scale were proposed, including establishment of firebreaks and management options to deal with the over-harvesting of non-timber forest products by outsiders. In summary, the participatory assessment generated a shared understanding on the community forest ecosystem status and the participatory modelling and simulation approach supported collaborative CFM at the subdistrict scale. To translate the proposed CFM plans into actual collective action, focus group discussions and further participatory gaming and simulation sessions need to be enhanced by enrolling diverse stakeholders across generations, especially young local villagers. The participatory assessment and modelling process used in this case study would be useful to improve collaborative CFM at higher institutional scales or at other sites facing the similar problem. more...

Natural regeneration represents more than half of all tropical forests. Within the Brazilian Amazon, the area of regenerating forest increased by 70% between 2004 and 2014, currently occupying more than 17 million hectares. These ecosystems have an important social roles, such as increasing food security and alleviating poverty among thousands of family farmers in the Amazon, while also being important repositories of biodiversity and carbon. Brazil has made bold commitments to the restoration of 12 million ha of forest by 2030 through the Bonn Challenge, Initiative 20 × 20, and its Forest Code law. The management of natural regeneration can be a viable alternative for accomplishing these commitments with less socioeconomic costs and higher environmental benefits. Here, we present a collation of different studies from the authors addressing natural regeneration on family farmers' land in the Eastern Amazon, aiming to address three overarching questions: i) How diverse are tree communities on these lands following natural regeneration? ii) What proportion of trees in regenerating forests have potential use recorded in the literature? iii) What are the real uses and motivations for farmers to maintain and manage these areas. We performed field surveys in 10m x 250m transects placed in regenerating forest fragments, followed by a literature review on potential uses for the dominant trees (> 80% of basal area). We separated the different uses in categories encompassing timber and non-timber forest products-NTPF (e.g. medicine, ornamental, food, handcraft, firewood). We applied semi-structured interviews and use the likert-scale to understand the uses and motivations for managing natural regeneration. The high tree diversity in the studied regenerating forests (up to 120 species ha-1) is reflected by a high variety of potential uses reported in the literature. Using an old regenerating forest plot (~50 years) as a case study in Northeast Pará, we found the vast majority of species reported in the literature as having potential for timber (76%), followed by firewood/charcoal (34%), medicine (29%) and food (20%). Natural regeneration has been used by family farmers in the Northeast of Pará for multiple uses, but mainly for extracting timber (50%) and hunting (18%). In fact, NTPF- extraction and beekeeping management are important motivations for family farmers to conserve naturally regenerating areas. Despite the high potential for Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration, the reality is that these areas continue to be prioritized for slash-and-burn agriculture. Therefore, public policies are needed to encourage family farmers to protect areas under natural regeneration to capitalize on the potential this form of restoration offers in the Amazon. more...

2013-2017: International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria, Project CRP 17947: Stable isotopes in precipitation and paleoclimatic archives in tropical areas to improve regional hydrological and climatic impact models Costa Rica is located on the Central American Isthmus, which receives moisture inputs directly from the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific Ocean. This location includes unique mountainous and lowland microclimates, but only limited knowledge exists about the impact of relief and regional atmospheric circulation patterns on precipitation origin, transport, and isotopic composition. Therefore, the main scope of this project is to identify the key drivers controlling stable isotope variations in daily-scale precipitation of Costa Rica. The monitoring sites comprise three strategic locations across Costa Rica: Heredia (Central Valley), Turrialba (Caribbean slope), and Caño Seco (South Pacific slope). Sporadic dry season rain is mostly related to isolated enriched events ranging from −5.8‰ to −0.9‰ δ18O. By mid-May, the Intertropical Convergence Zone reaches Costa Rica resulting in a notable depletion in isotope ratios (up to −18.5‰ δ18O). HYSPLIT air mass back trajectories indicate the strong influence on the origin and transport of precipitation of three main moisture transport mechanisms, the Caribbean Low Level Jet, the Colombian Low Level Jet, and localized convection events. Multiple linear regression models constructed based on Random Forests of surface meteorological information and atmospheric sounding profiles suggest that lifted condensation level and surface relative humidity are the main factors controlling isotopic variations. These findings diverge from the recognized ‘amount effect’ in monthly composite samples across the tropics. Understanding of stable isotope dynamics in tropical precipitation can be used to a) enhance groundwater modeling efforts in ungauged basins where scarcity of long-term monitoring data drastically limit current and future water resources management, b) improve the re-construction of paleoclimatic records in the Central American land bridge, c) calibrate and validate regional circulation models. Costa Rica está ubicada en el Istmo Centroamericano, que recibe aportes de humedad directamente del Mar Caribe y del Océano Pacífico Oriental. Esta ubicación incluye microclimas montañosos y de tierras bajas únicas, pero solo existe un conocimiento limitado sobre el impacto del relieve y los patrones de circulación atmosférica regional sobre el origen, el transporte y la composición isotópica de las precipitaciones. Por lo tanto, el alcance principal de este proyecto es identificar los impulsores clave que controlan las variaciones de isótopos estables en la precipitación a escala diaria de Costa Rica. Los sitios de monitoreo comprenden tres ubicaciones estratégicas en Costa Rica: Heredia (Valle Central), Turrialba (vertiente del Caribe) y Caño Seco (vertiente del Pacífico Sur). La lluvia esporádica de la estación seca se relaciona principalmente con eventos enriquecidos aislados que van desde −5,8 ‰ a −0,9 ‰ δ18O. A mediados de mayo, la Zona de Convergencia Intertropical llega a Costa Rica, lo que resulta en un notable agotamiento de las proporciones de isótopos (hasta −18,5 ‰ δ18O). Las trayectorias de retroceso de la masa de aire de HYSPLIT indican la fuerte influencia en el origen y transporte de la precipitación de tres mecanismos principales de transporte de humedad, el chorro de bajo nivel del Caribe, el chorro de bajo nivel de Colombia y los eventos de convección localizados. Múltiples modelos de regresión lineal construidos a partir de bosques aleatorios de información meteorológica de superficie y perfiles de sondeo atmosférico sugieren que el nivel de condensación elevado y la humedad relativa de la superficie son los principales factores que controlan las variaciones isotópicas. Estos hallazgos difieren del "efecto de cantidad" reconocido en muestras compuestas mensuales en los trópicos. La comprensión de la dinámica de isótopos estables en la precipitación tropical se puede utilizar para a) mejorar los esfuerzos de modelado de aguas subterráneas en cuencas no calibradas donde la escasez de datos de monitoreo a largo plazo limita drásticamente la gestión actual y futura de los recursos hídricos, Puente terrestre centroamericano, c) calibrar y validar modelos de circulación regional. Escuela de Química more...

Description du sujet. Les forêts du Bassin du Congo font partie des zones forestières les mieux préservées de la planète. Néanmoins, les facteurs qui entrainent la déforestation ailleurs dans le monde se manifestent également dans cette sous-région du globe. Cet article propose une revue de la littérature des causes directes et des facteurs sous-jacents de la destruction du couvert forestier des régions tropicales, afin de mettre en exergue les moteurs de la déforestation dans le bassin du Congo, et plus particulièrement au Cameroun et au Gabon. Littérature. Les causes directes de déforestation, définies comme ayant un lien cause-conséquence immédiat avec la destruction du couvert forestier, sont renforcées par des facteurs sous-jacents tels que les facteurs économiques, les avancées technologiques, les mesures politiques ainsi que les pressions démographiques. Toutes ces causes interagissent de façons distinctes dans les différentes régions tropicales de par le monde et expliquent les divergences et similitudes entre les dynamiques de déforestation régionales. En plus de l’expansion de l’infrastructure, du développement du secteur minier et de l’extraction du bois, l’agriculture représente la cause directe de déforestation la plus importante dans le bassin du Congo. Au Cameroun, la déforestation actuelle est principalement liée à l’agriculture. Le plan d’émergence de ce pays prévoit le développement des infrastructures, la modernisation de l’appareil de production national ainsi que l’exploitation minière. Au Gabon, le taux de déforestation plus faible s’explique par la dynamique agricole et l’ouverture des routes. Le plan d’émergence ambitieux y prévoit la modernisation de l’infrastructure ainsi que le développement de l’agriculture agro-industrielle. Conclusions. Une mutation des socio-écosystèmes liée à la déforestation est attendue en différents points du bassin du Congo. Les recherches futures devraient maintenant aborder la description de socio-écosystèmes types représentant les différents stades de la transition forestière ainsi que l’identification des facteurs du changement à différentes échelles., Drivers of deforestation in the Congo basin tropical forest. A reviewDescription of the subject. The forests of the Congo Basin are among the best preserved areas on Earth. Nevertheless, the factors causing deforestation around the world are also present in this subregion. This document presents a literature review of the direct causes and underlying factors of deforestation in the tropical areas and highlights the drivers of deforestation in the Congo Basin and particularly in Cameroon and Gabon.Literature. Direct causes of deforestation, defined as having a direct cause-and-consequence connection with the destruction of forest cover, are underpinned by economic factors, technological developments, pro-deforestation policy measures and demographic pressures. These factors interact in different ways in the various tropical regions worldwide, which explains the differences and similarities of regional deforestation dynamics. Beside the expansion of infrastructure, the development of mining and timber extraction, agriculture is the main direct cause of deforestation in the Congo Basin. In Cameroon, the current deforestation is primarily driven by agriculture. The State emergency plan includes the development of infrastructure, the modernization of production, equipment and mining. The lack of strategy for rapidly changing demographics might be the most important underlying cause of deforestation. In Gabon, although the deforestation rate is low, agriculture and the opening of roads are main drivers. The emergency plan includes modernization of infrastructure and the development of agro-industrial agriculture.Conclusions. A mutation of socio-ecosystems is expected in different parts of the Congo Basin. Future research should now turn to the analysis of socio-ecosystems representative of the various stages of the forest transition and identify drivers of change at different scales. more...

Against a backdrop of growing concerns over REDD+ implications for tenure of forest-dependent communities, very few scientific studies have attempted to assess the linkages between the two. This paper offers empirical evidences for impacts of REDD+ intervention based on a case study of Thailand, where de jure state property and de facto tenure apparently co-exist. In contrast to the existing literature proposing positive tenure impacts, the findings suggest that REDD+ would not be sufficient to incentivize the government to embark on tenure reforms or any improvement of customary tenure and challenge REDD+ about its incentives for countries to accelerate tenure reforms. The findings also reveal that risks associated with tenure insecurity discouraged REDD+ investment leading to the withdrawal of the fund altogether. The findings enrich the on-going debates on the tenure impacts, tenure reform and competing agendas and provide insights to support the development of future national strategies and frameworks. The paper moreover proposes measures to create enabling conditions for REDD+. more...

Community forest management (CFM) is considered an alternative way to protect forests while providing income for smallholders. Since the mid-1990s, the number of CFM projects has rapidly increased in the Brazilian Amazon, although most of them still face several difficulties. In this paper, we discuss the obstacles to the financial viability of CFM in this region and propose some ways to overcome them. Based on evidence from five case studies, we assess the extent to which sustainable forest management for commercial timber production contributes to smallholder income. We show that harvesting timber only provides a limited cash income to smallholders, even though forest covers 80% of their landholding. Market access to timber is very uncertain and smallholder communities often fail to make a profit from their timber. Minimum remunerative public prices and support for timber marketing are thus needed. Simpler and more flexible procedures are required to reduce the high transaction costs of obtaining a permit and increase smallholder involvement in legal forest management for commercial purposes. Finally, a better assessment of timber potential in smallholder forest reserves through systematic inventories would be useful to avoid arousing false expectations. more...

The dynamics in livelihood needs of people at the fringes of tropical forests have increased the stakes and management challenges of biodiversity worldwide. Since the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the importance of biodiversity has been emphasized in several international agreements. However, the incentives to implement such agreements in poor countries are lacking. The present study characterised the determinants of deforestation, and forest management practices within Mabira Forest Reserve (MFR) in central Uganda. This was done within the context of the evolution of the policy and legal frameworks of Uganda. Literature on MFR as well as the policy and legal framework on forests and related resources was reviewed. The results show that evolution of the forest policy was characterised by limited input from key stakeholders. Moreover, there has been political interference and limited sharing of benefits amid failure to harmonize the forestry policy with relevant policies of related sectors. Consequently, deforestation has continued. To address this anomaly, we encourage the involvement of all key stakeholders including local people in designing management guidelines and sharing benefits from forests as an incentive for participation to promote sustainable forest growth. This is crucial for the success of forest restoration programmes in the tropics. more...

Despite its inclusion in the forest laws and the support of the international community, Multiple-use Forest Management (MFM) remains poorly implemented in tropical forests. Two specific barriers limit the effectiveness of this approach in the timber concessions of Central Africa. On one hand, formal attempts at MFM are poorly conceived either because they promote forest uses, such as ecological functions or tourism, that have little relevance to direct stakeholders, or because they rely on the legal definition of local users' rights, which is disconnected to customary rules and practices. The article develops an alternative approach for six timber concessions in Cameroon, Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo, in which the foremost purpose of MFM is to solve or reduce actual conflicts of uses, notably regarding agriculture, hunting, chainsaw milling and firewood collection. On the other hand, the costs of implementing MFM measures are rarely estimated and assigned to concerned actors. The costs of resolving conflicts of use were evaluated in the same concessions, based on consensual solutions elaborated by the logging companies, the forestry and agriculture administrations and the local people. In half of these concessions, the cost of MFM equals or exceeds 1.5 million dollars in the next fifteen years. Several trade-offs are possible between these stakeholders, combining tax relief, technical and financial support to local development, and reduction of some illegal practices. more...

Dry forests play a significant role if the livelihoods strategies of millions of people, including many of the world's poorest. This paper reviews the role of dry forests in providing goods and services to the rural poor. The review shows that while dry forests are essential, rural communities are engaged in multiple activities that generate income and the economic importance of forests and trees is context specific. Although the majority of households benefit from forest resources, poorer households tend to generate more relative income from forest products than wealthier households. Community forestry, tourism and payment for environmental service (PES) are promising alternative sources of environmental income, but the outcomes for the poorest remain uncertain. Trade in non-timber forest products (NTFP) is often viewed as a last resort and provides the safety net to cope with both environmental and economic shocks, especially for women. Hence, beyond timber, there are few examples of dry forest products that have generated a sustainable source of significant wealth. As such, it seems likely that dry forests will continue to play a more supplementary role in direct poverty alleviation but an increasingly important role as a safety net that prevents the most vulnerable from slipping into increased poverty and food insecurity during times of crisis. more...

SUMMARY The dry forest biome covers extensive areas of the global tropics. However, the understanding of these forest formations from both human and biophysical perspectives varies widely both geographically and in terms of disciplinarity. While considerable resources have been made available for the sustainable management of the humid tropical forests, there has been a lack of comparable sustained attention on their dry forest equivalents. This special issue is an attempt to provide further insights into the state of the knowledge of global dry forests, and identify research gaps that could contribute to their long-term sustainability, both for human well-being and ecological integrity. more...

Dry forests today are managed following the standards of scientific forestry imported in the tropics in the XIXth century by the colonial empires. The model proved efficient to control deforestation and regulate production but its evolution even after decolonization increased the segmentation between forests and agriculture and the lack of consideration for local knowledge by the forest administration. The process of decentralization of forest management that disseminated in the 1990s aimed at bringing back local communities within the formal management of forests. However the results of this process, often restricted to a simple transfer of tools and techniques, have fallen below expectations. If discourses shifted towards a better recognition of local needs, knowledge and constraints, the day-to-day implementation of participatory forest management in the dry lands remains fraught with administrative inefficiencies and a mistrust of local communities. Sustainable management of dry forests is yet to be invented. more...

Introduction. Les espèces d’arbres du genre Entandrophragma font l’objet d’une attention toute particulière de la part des exploitants forestiers et des scientifiques depuis plusieurs décennies. Établir un bilan exhaustif actualisé des connaissances acquises sur leur taxonomie et leur écologie afin d’en dégager des pistes de nouvelles recherches est le but de cette synthèse bibliographique. Littérature. Le genre Entandrophragma compte des espèces (10 à 12) exclusivement africaines et qui sont exploitées pour la qualité de leur bois. Ces espèces sont répandues dans la région guinéo-congolaise (6 espèces) et dans les régions zambézienne et afromontagnarde (5 espèces). Le genre est caractérisé par une évolution taxonomique qui s’est traduite par une importante synonymie des noms d’espèces (36 à 37). Des études écologiques un peu larges ont été réalisées sur quelques principales espèces commerciales (Entandrophragma angolense, Entandrophragma congoense, Entandrophragma candollei, Entandrophragma cylindricum, Entandrophragma palustre et Entandrophragma utile) dans leurs zones phytogéographiques comprises principalement dans la région guinéo-congolaise.Conclusions. Les informations sur la taxonomie et l’écologie des espèces d’arbres d’Entandrophragma des forêts claires et des savanes sont insuffisantes comparativement à celles des forêts denses humides. Des travaux de recherches devraient être développés pour l’amélioration des connaissances taxonomiques, génétiques et la maitrise de leur écologie en vue de formuler des recommandations adéquates en matière de préservation et de gestion durable de ces espèces., Entandrophragma: taxonomy and ecology of a genus of African tree species with economic importance. A review Introduction. Entandrophragma tree species have been the subject of special attention by foresters and scientists for several decades. The purpose of this bibliographic review is to examine the current knowledge acquired on the taxonomy and ecology of this genus in order to identify new research priorities.Literature. The genus Entandrophragma has exclusively African species (10 to 12) that are exploited for the quality of their wood. These species are widespread in the Guineo-Congolese region (6 species) and in the Zambezian and Afromontane regions (5 species). The genus is characterized by a taxonomic evolution that has resulted in an important synonymy of species names (36 to 37). Ecological studies have been carried out on some major commercial species (Entandrophragma angolense, Entandrophragma congoense, Entandrophragma candollei, Entandrophragma cylindricum, Entandrophragma palustre and Entandrophragma utile) in their phytogeographic zones, mainly in the Guineo-Congolese region.Conclusions. Taxonomy and ecology of Entandrophragma tree species typically occurring in woodlands and savannas have been insufficiently studied in comparison with Entandrophragma species occurring in rainforests. Research needs to be developed for the improvement of taxonomic, genetic and ecological knowledge, with a view to formulating appropriate recommendations for the conservation and sustainable management of these species. more...

The long-Term survival of Andean forest landscapes (AFL) and of their capacity to contribute to sustainable development in a context of global change requires integrated adaptation and mitigation responses informed by a thorough understanding of the dynamic and complex interactions between their ecological and social components. This article proposes a research agenda that can help guide AFL research efforts for the next 15 years. The agenda was developed between July 2015 and June 2016 through a series of workshops in Ecuador, Peru, and Switzerland and involved 48 researchers and development experts working on AFL from different disciplinary perspectives. Based on our review of current research and identification of pressing challenges for the conservation and sustainable governance of AFL, we propose a conceptual framework that draws on sustainability sciences and social-ecological systems research, and we identify a set of high-priority research goals and objectives organized into 3 broad categories: systems knowledge, target knowledge, and transformation knowledge. This paper is intended to be a reference for a broad array of actors engaged in policy, research, and implementation in the Andean region. We hope it will trigger collaborative research initiatives for the continued conservation and sustainable governance of AFL. Fil: Mathez Stiefel, Sarah Lan. University of Bern; Suiza. Centro Internacional de la Papa, Lima; Perú Fil: Peralvo, Manuel. Consortium For The Sustainable Development Of The Andean Ecoregion; Ecuador Fil: Báez, Selene. Consortium For The Sustainable Development Of The Andean Ecoregion; Ecuador. Escuela Politécnica Nacional; Ecuador Fil: Rist, Stephan. University of Bern; Suiza Fil: Buytaert, Wouter. Imperial College London; Reino Unido Fil: Cuesta, Francisco. Institute For Biodiversity And Ecosystem Dynamics; Países Bajos. Consortium For The Sustainable Development Of The Andean Ecoregion; Ecuador Fil: Fadrique, Belén. University of Miami; Estados Unidos Fil: Feeley, Kenneth J.. University of Miami; Estados Unidos Fil: Groth, Aaron A. P.. University of Texas at Austin; Estados Unidos Fil: Homeier, Jürgen. Universität Göttingen; Alemania Fil: Llambí, Luis D.. Universidad de los Andes; Venezuela Fil: Locatelli, Bruno. Centre For International Forestry Research; Perú. Cirad Centre de Recherche de Montpellier; Francia Fil: López Sandoval, Maria Fernanda. Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales; Ecuador Fil: Malizia, Agustina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina Fil: Young, Kenneth R.. University of Texas at Austin; Estados Unidos more...

Many scholars, in many disciplines, writing since the 1960s have been so certain that the region is a distinctive and coherent entity that they have not bothered to define it. Southeast Asia is characterized by both high species richness and high level of endemism linked to its geological history. Deep evolutionary origins of flora and fauna have to be searched for in the tectonic-plate dynamics that occurred through geologic times, whereas more recent diversification origins are linked to the consequences of changing paleo-climates with sea level fluctuations. Hill is one of the scholars who has tried to define Southeast Asia both politically and geographically, emphasizing both its diversity and unity. There are eleven states in Southeast Asia inhabited by 600 million people. McGregor emphasized one main characteristic of Southeast Asia, which is its diversity: a high diversity in economical development among and within countries and a high diversity in political systems. more...

The attributes of social ecological systems affect the management of commons. Strengthening and enhancing social capital and the enforcement of rules and sanctions aid in the collective action of communities in forest fire management. Using a set of variables drawn from previous studies on the management of commons, we conducted a study across 20 community forest user groups in Central Siwalik, Nepal, by dividing the groups into two categories based on the type and level of their forest fire management response. Our study shows that the collective action in forest fire management is consistent with the collective actions in other community development activities. However, the effectiveness of collective action is primarily dependent on the complex interaction of various variables. We found that strong social capital, strong enforcement of rules and sanctions, and users' participation in crafting the rules were the major variables that strengthen collective action in forest fire management. Conversely, users' dependency on a daily wage and a lack of transparency were the variables that weaken collective action. In fire-prone forests such as the Siwalik, our results indicate that strengthening social capital and forming and enforcing forest fire management rules are important variables that encourage people to engage in collective action in fire management. more...

In northern Cameroon like in all Sudano-Sahelian regions, women have very few rights to trees, although they are key users of tree products. Surveys and feedback sessions were conducted in five villages, each being representative of an agroecological subregion, to understand the disparity between the importance of trees for women and their lack of involvement in tree management. Although women are aware of the pressure on available tree resources, they feel powerless to do anything about it. Tree management actions women have undertaken or intend to undertake are limited to the vicinity of the homestead. In other places, parkland fields and savannah bush, women are skeptical about and sometimes unaware of actions that could be undertaken. This is mainly due to the existing gender relations. Men have the power over rights of access to trees and make all decisions concerning management of trees in the parklands and savannahs. The gender division of labor is such that women are not involved in tree management. A change in gender relations and a complete reversal of opinion and behavior would be needed for a more balanced involvement of women and men in the management of trees. more...

Harvesting from common resources has been studied through experimental work in the laboratory and in the field. In this paper we report on a dynamic commons experiment, representing a forest, performed with different types of communities of resource users in Thailand and Colombia, as well as student participants. We find that all groups overharvest the resource in the first part of the experiment and that there is no statistical difference between the various types of groups. In the second part of the experiment, participants appropriate the common resource after one of three possible regulations is elected and implemented. There is less overharvesting after the rules are implemented, but there is a significant amount of rule breaking. The surprising finding is that Colombian villagers break the rules of the games more often than other groups, and even more so when they have more trust in members of the community. This observation can be explained by the distrust in externally proposed regulations due to the institutional and cultural context. more...

International audience

International audience; La gestion des écosystèmes forestiers tropicaux peut faciliter ou freiner les mécanismes écologiques d'adaptation, qui peuvent en retour contribuer à l'adaptation de la société. Leur gestion peut également contribuer à l'atténuation du changement climatique, par exemple par la réduction des émissions de la déforestation tropicale. De nouvelles façons de penser la gestion des écosystèmes et des paysages sont ainsi requises. more...

Industrial forest concessions cover about 45 million hectares in Central Africa. This paper discusses the weaknesses of the current concession model and initiatives for helping it evolve; it then proposes a new type of concession, entitled 'Concessions 2.0', adapted to the future challenges presented by the overlapping among the rights and modes of the harvesting of multiple resources. This proposed model is based on four features: (i) mapping and recognition of the customary territories within and around the industrial concession, (ii) timber revenue sharing indexed on the extension of the customary territories and contractual management agreements within the communities, (iii) allowance of commercial exploitation of non-timber resources by entitled claimers under the supervision and/or in association with the concessionaire, and (iv) inclusive governance for the management of overlapping rights over the concession area. (Resume d'auteur) more...

Tropical forests are crucial in terms of biodiversity and ecosystem services, but at the same time, they are major sources of revenue and provide livelihoods for forest-dependent people. Hopes for the simultaneous achievement of conservation goals and poverty alleviation are therefore increasingly placed on forests used for timber extraction. Most timber exploitation is carried out unsustainably, which causes forest degradation. Two important mechanisms have emerged to promote sustainable forest management: certification and community-based forest management (CFM). We synthesize the published information about how forest certification and CFM perform in terms of environmental, social, and economic variables. With the caveat that very few published studies meet the standards for formal impact evaluation, we found that certification has substantial environmental benefits, typically achieved at a cost of reduced short-term financial profit, and accompanied by some improvement to the welfare of neighboring communities. We found that the economic and environmental benefits of CFM are understudied, but that the social impacts are controversial, with both positive and negative changes reported. We identify the trade-offs that likely caused these conflicting results and that, if addressed, would help both CFM and certification deliver the hoped-for benefits. ISSN:1755-263X more...

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) initiated the GCS-Tenure project in Indonesia, Uganda and Peru conducted the study to analyze the relationships between statutory and customary land tenure and how these relationships affect tenure security of forest dependent communities, including women and other marginalized groups. Using a global comparative approach and standardized methodologies, the study analyzes the differential success or failure of policy and institutional innovations to enhance secure tenure rights. It also examines how these innovations identify strategies likely to lead to desired outcomes. The Participatory Prospective Analysis (PPA) is used as a first step by engaging key stakeholders. Through participatory meetings, all expert stakeholders progressively identify and develop a range of tenure security scenarios. They then elaborate actions in response to the scenarios identified. With the application of PPA, the research team aims to answer the following questions: What are the key factors influencing forest tenure security? What possible actions can mitigate negative implications (or reduce barriers impeding implementation) and promote positive changes (e.g. equitable access for women and marginalized groups? Who should be responsible for those actions? PPA aims to help decision makers understand the key drivers, challenges and future consequences of policy options. (Resume d'auteur) more...

The importance of forest resources for rural communities' livelihoods has increasingly been recognized over the last three decades. Forests provide food, generate incomes, provide supporting (nutrient cycling, pollination), and regulating (climate, diseases, water regulation and purification) services for agriculture, in addition to their aesthetic, cultural and spiritual role. However, most of the studies on forest resource use do not focus on the role of landscape organization in addressing the impact of climate variability and the risk of food insecurity. This study aims to examine the contribution of woodlands and trees towards decreasing the risk of food insecurity and the importance of landscape structure and composition in coping with food shortages. It took place in two villages in Burkina Faso, on both ends of the woodlands and tree-cover spectrum. We demonstrate that in both landscapes, ecosystem goods, such as shea nuts and fuelwood, represent a safety net for households during food shortage periods. We demonstrate that households shape their adaptive strategies differently depending on the resources available and the structure of the landscape. People living in a landscape with a savannah matrix (Sorobouly) rely on fuelwood trade to purchase cereals, while those living in a landscape with a parkland matrix (Kalembouly) rely on shea nuts. Agricultural, environmental and climate change policies that reinforce the rights of the most vulnerable to access key resources provided by these landscapes and development programs which assure their sustainable use will simultaneously enhance food security and increase their adaptive capacity in the face of climate change and variability. more...

Na Amazônia brasileira, o desmatamento anual vem diminuindo desde 2004, passando de 27.000 km², ele passou para 4.650 km2 em 2011-2012, uma cifra que está próxima da meta do plano nacional de luta contra a mudança climática para 2020, fixada em 3.900 km2. Até 2008, esta diminuição podia ser explicada pela redução das cotações mundiais /dos produtos agrícolas, na medida em que havia menos incentivo para desmatar. Mas, desde então, essa redução vem se mantendo apesar das cotações, o que mostra o impacto do Programa de Prevenção e Controle do Desmatamento na Amazônia, lançado em 2004. more...

Remote sensing has been widely used for mapping land cover and is considered key to monitoring changes in forest areas in the REDD+ Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) system. But Remote Sensing as a desk study cannot capture the whole picture; it also requires ground checking. Therefore, complementing remote sensing analysis using participatory mapping can help provide information for an initial forest cover assessment, gain better understanding of how local land use might affect changes, and provide a way to engage local communities in REDD+. Our study looked at the potential of participatory mapping in providing complementary information for remotely sensed maps. The research sites were located in different ecological and socio-economic contexts in the provinces of Papua, West Kalimantan and Central Java, Indonesia. Twenty-one maps of land cover and land use were drawn with local community participation during focus group discussions in seven villages. These maps, covering a total of 270,000ha, were used to add information to maps developed using remote sensing, adding 39 land covers to the eight from our initial desk assessment. They also provided additional information on drivers of land use and land cover change, resource areas, territory claims and land status, which we were able to correlate to understand changes in forest cover. Incorporating participatory mapping in the REDD+ MRV protocol would help with initial remotely sensed land classifications, stratify an area for ground checks and measurement plots, and add other valuable social data not visible at the RS scale. Ultimately, it would provide a forum for local communities to discuss REDD+ activities and develop a better understanding of REDD+. more...

International audience; In Central Africa, industrial forest concessions and protected areas occupy most of the forested space while community forests are confined to the margins. This separation ignores the reality of land rights and overlapping uses, as well as the need for governance involving different users of the same space. The mapping of local land rights lays the foundation for sharing timber revenues and the development of new economic activities involving industrial operators and communities. A partnership based on rights between industrial operators, communities and other economic operators would lead to a new type of institution of territorial development, which we call Concession 2.0. These redesigned concessions would cohabit and interact with community concessions. The latter would remain forest landscapes offering exclusive rights for autonomous community development.; En Afrique centrale, les concessions forestières industrielles et les aires protégées occupent l'essentiel de l'espace forestier et les forêts communautaires sont cantonnées aux marges. Cette dissociation ignore la réalité de droits fonciers et d'usage superposés ainsi que le besoin d'une gouvernance associant différents usagers sur des espaces utilisés en commun. La cartographie des droits fonciers locaux pose les bases pour un partage des revenus du bois et pour le développement de nouvelles activités économiques associant exploitants industriels et communautés. Un partenariat fondé sur les droits entre exploitants industriels, communautés et autres opérateurs économiques conduirait à un nouveau type d'institution de développement territorial, que nous nommons Concession 2.0. Ces concessions repensées pourront côtoyer les concessions communautaires et interagir avec elles. Ces dernières devront rester des espaces forestiers d'exercice de droits exclusifs pour un développement communautaire autonome. more...

La proportion de tiges endommagées par l'exploitation est un paramètre clé de l'aménagement des forêts naturelles de production dans les trois continents tropicaux (Afrique, néotropiques, et Asie du sud-est). En s'appuyant sur une revue de la littérature et sur une méta-analyse des données publiées, nous avons estimé le taux de dégâts d'exploitation pour une exploitation conventionnelle, et l'avons comparé entre les trois continents. Des coefficients de conversion ont été estimés pour convertir le taux de dégâts et l'intensité d'exploitation d'une unité à l'autre. Les arbres abattus sont plus petits dans les néotropiques (61 cm dhp en moyenne) qu'en Afrique ou en Asie (92 cm dhp). Une équation pan-tropicale prédisant la proportion de tiges endommagées (a, sans dimension) en fonction de l'intensité d'exploitation (Nlog, en ha-1) a été ajustée : a = 1 - (1 + 0,09135Nlog)-0,70461. Un effet résiduel significatif du continent a été trouvé, lié à la taille des arbres exploités : à même intensité d'exploitation, le taux de dégâts est moins important dans les néotropiques qu'en Afrique ou en Asie. Le taux de dégâts varie selon la taille des arbres endommagés, et se répartit à parts égales entre arbres détruits et arbres blessés. Les arbres blessés subissent une mortalité trois fois plus importante pendant 5 à 10 ans. Prendre en compte au moins la dépendance du taux de dégâts vis-à-vis de l'intensité d'exploitation améliorerait les projections faites dans l'aménagement forestier. more...

International climate negotiations have stressed the importance of considering emissions from forest degradation under the planned REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation + enhancing forest carbon stocks) mechanism. However, most research, pilot-REDD+ projects and carbon certification agencies have focused on deforestation and there appears to be a gap in knowledge on complex mosaic landscapes containing degraded forests, smallholder agriculture, agroforestry and plantations. In this paper we therefore review current research on how avoided forest degradation '… may affect emissions of greenhouse gases …' (GHG) and expected co-benefits in terms of biodiversity and livelihoods. There are still high uncertainties in measuring and monitoring emissions of carbon and other GHG from mosaic landscapes with forest degradation since most research has focused on binary analyses of forest vs. deforested land. Studies on the impacts of forest degradation on biodiversity contain mixed results and there is little empirical evidence on the influence of REDD+ on local livelihoods and tenure security, partly due to the lack of actual payment schemes. Governance structures are also more complex in landscapes with degraded forests as there are often multiple owners and types of rights to land and trees. Recent technological advances in remote sensing have improved estimation of carbon stock changes but establishment of historic reference levels is still challenged by the availability of sensor systems and ground measurements during the reference period. The inclusion of forest degradation in REDD+ calls for a range of new research efforts to enhance our knowledge of how to assess the impacts of avoided forest degradation. A first step will be to ensure that complex mosaic landscapes can be recognised under REDD+ on their own merits. more...

Local communities, especially those living in forested areas, are generally presented as innocent victims of global economic policies that benefit the private and public sectors. This paper discusses local stakeholders' perception of the government policies and actions, people's rights, and people's participation in decision-making, with a focus on land and forest uses. It is based on a perception survey conducted in 2009 in 12 villages of the Bungo district, (Jambi province, Sumatra, indonesia), and semi-directed interviews of representatives of the regional government. The surveys conclude to a good agreement between local people and the different levels of government. Besides, villagers consider that their voice is well taken into account in decision-making processes. And over all, there is a broad consensus among all stakeholders to favour economic development at the expense of forest conservation. more...

Dans les forêts sèches d'Afrique subsaharienne, les communautés rurales les plus exposées au risque d'insécurité alimentaire pendant les périodes de soudure alimentaire, utilisent les ressources forestières pour y faire face. Cependant dans la zone soudano-sahélienne d'Afrique de l'ouest, la savane est en train de régresser au profit des champs, où des arbres sont épargnés pour former des parcs arborés. Cette dynamique engendre un changement dans l'organisation du paysage à l'échelle du village et donc des services écosystémiques d'approvisionnement en produits forestiers disponibles. Elle rend nécessaire l'étude de l'impact de l'organisation du paysage sur la capacité des populations, notamment les plus vulnérables, à surmonter leurs difficultés alimentaires en période de soudure. Pour ce faire, deux territoires villageois très contrastés au point de vue du paysage mais comparables d'un point de vue agroclimatiques, car très proches l'un de l'autre ont été choisi afin d'étudier cette relation. La comparaison de ces deux villages nous a permis de démontrer que, quel que soit le type de paysage, les ménages les plus exposés aux risques alimentaires face à la variabilité climatique compensent les pertes de céréales alimentaires par des produits issus des arbres qui proviennent soit des formations naturelles (savanes, jachères), soit des parcs arborés, selon les types de paysages, et qui sont soit consommés, soit vendus pour acheter des céréales. Nous démontrons ainsi en région soudano-sahélienne la fonction de filet de sécurité alimentaire des arbres. Si les revenus issus des arbres ne parviennent pas à couvrir toutes les dépenses alimentaires des ménages les plus exposés au risque d'insécurité alimentaire, ils couvrent cependant les dépenses céréalières de ces ménages, ils sont la première source de revenus pour les ménages les plus vulnérables sur le plan alimentaire, très généralement détenus par les femmes, qui les utilisent pour acheter de la nourriture pendant une période de soudure alimentaire difficile. Outre le rôle de filet de sécurité alimentaire joué par les ressources forestières dans cette région, cette étude démontre également l'importance de l'organisation du paysage dans la mobilisation des produits forestiers pour surmonter la soudure alimentaire : bois et charbon là où la savane demeure encore la matrice du paysage ; noix de karité où ce sont les champs avec les parcs arborés qui en forment la matrice. Associés aux différents éléments de paysage, les droits d'accès et d'usage des ressources prennent dans cette perspective une importance toute particulière, notamment pour les ménages les plus vulnérables et pour les femmes en général. L'importance des ressources arborées et des droits d'accès des femmes à ces ressources pour surmonter les périodes de soudure alimentaire est ainsi démontrée pour la zone soudano-sahélienne du Burkina Faso. Ces résultats amènent à reconnaitre leur importance dans les politiques d'adaptation aux changements climatiques au niveau national, tout en garantissant une gestion durable de ces ressources. more...

Les transferts de gestion se sont multipliés durant les 25 dernières années à Madagascar, où 1 248 contrats de transferts de gestion (TG) ont été recensés en 2014. Pourtant, les écarts se sont creusés entre le cadre théorique et le cadre pratique de la mise en oeuvre de la Gestion Communautaire des Ressources Forestières (GCRF). Quelles ont été les causes ayant entravé l'efficacité de la politique de GCRF par rapport aux objectifs de conservation des forêts naturelles et d'amélioration des conditions de vie des populations locales ? L'analyse conclut à l'existence d'un désordre juridique portant atteinte à l'application efficace du droit, lequel se manifeste par la présence d'importantes incohérences des textes de base et par l'inexistence des textes d'application de la loi GELOSE. L'application inefficace des règlementations locales a également contribué à fragiliser la GCRF. Du point de vue institutionnel, malgré des principes inscrits dans les documents de référence, la synergie entre la GCRF et les politiques sectorielles est relativement faible. Les recommandations insistent sur l'urgence de mettre en cohérence les textes et de donner la priorité à l'adoption de dispositions techniques favorisant l'intersectoralité. more...

Description du sujet. Cet article traite de la typologie des exploitants artisanaux de bois en vue d’aider à la formulation d’une politique publique en province Orientale (RDC).Objectifs. L’objectif est de caractériser l’exploitation artisanale de bois d’œuvre pour proposer la mise en place de voies légales afin d’accroitre sa contribution à l’économie nationale.Méthode. Des enquêtes ont été réalisées avec 412 exploitants artisanaux actifs dans 23 villages de la province Orientale entre 2010 et 2012. Une analyse factorielle des données mixtes (FAMD) et la classification hiérarchique des composantes principales (HCPC) ont été réalisées.Résultats. Trois types d’exploitants artisanaux sont distingués : les scieurs d’origine provinciale ravitaillant les marchés de Kinshasa, les scieurs d’origine locale desservant les marchés locaux et les scieurs originaires des autres provinces que la province Orientale approvisionnant les marchés du Kivu et d’Ouganda.Conclusions. La prise en compte de la spécificité de chacun de ces groupes d’opérateurs artisanaux permet d’améliorer l’élaboration et la mise en œuvre des mesures de politique publique nécessaires pour sécuriser et formaliser l’activité., Utility of a typology of timber artisanal loggers, in order to contribute to the formulation of public policy on logging in Orientale province (DRC)Description of the subject. This paper discusses the types of wood artisanal loggers, in order to assist in the formulation of public policy on logging in Orientale province (DRC).Objectives. The objective was to characterize artisanal timber in order to propose the establishment of legal channels to increase the contribution of this product to the national economy.Method. Surveys were conducted with 412 artisanal loggers active in 23 villages in Orientale province between 2010 and 2012. Factor analyses for mixed data (FAMD) and hierarchical classification on principal components (HCPC) were performed.Results. Three types of artisanal loggers were distinguished: (1) sawyers of provincial origin who supply local markets in Kinshasa; (2) sawyers of local origin that serve local markets; (3) sawyers from the other provinces of Orientale province, supplying markets in Kivu and Uganda.Conclusions. Taking into account the specificity of each of these groups of artisanal operators could improve the development and implementation of public policy measures needed to secure and formalize logging activity. more...

International audience

Se propone mostrar que es factible estudiar la complejidad de la dinámica arbórea en fincas privadas en tres zonas agrícolas de Costa Rica. Con este fin, se aplicó la combina-ción de enfoques de capitales de la comunidad y de la indagación apreciativa. Se entrevistaron 210 productores y se reunió 40% de ellos en 16 grupos focales. El primero permitió tomar en cuenta los diferentes recursos que poseen, mostrando que consideran capital financiero importante, pero que la dinámica arbórea en sus fincas está más influida por los capitales humano, social y cultural. El segundo enfoque fomentó la participación de actores locales, ayudó a dar mayor dinámica al análisis y facilitó la reflexión por parte de los participantes de la investigación. The objective of this work is to show that it is feasible to study the complexity of arboreal dynamics on farms in three agricultural zones of Costa Rica. With that purpose, the Com-munity Capitals Framework and the Appreciative Inquiry approaches were combined, interviewing 210 producers and gathering 40% of them in 16 focal groups. The first approach considered the different resources that they possess, showing that producers think that financial capital is important, but that the arboreal dynamics on their farms is more influenced by cultural, social and human capital. The second approach encouraged the participation of local actors, it helped give greater dynamics to the analysis and facilitated reflection by the participants involved in the research. more...

Avec l'accroissement démographique et le développement des villes, la demande africaine en bois ne cesse de croître. La plupart des pays du continent sont confrontés à un défi majeur : concilier leur développement économique, souvent synonyme de déforestation, avec le maintien d'un couvert arboré synonyme de ressources et de services essentiels aux populations rurales et urbaines. more...

Le devenir des forêts est désormais l'une des préoccupations majeures du 20ième siècle. Celles-ci sont justifiées par l'importance que revêtent les forêts pour de multiples acteurs et à de multiples échelles. L'enjeu consiste aujourd'hui à conserver la biodiversité des forêts tropicales et à les gérer durablement, c'est-à-dire à exploiter leurs ressources en préservant à long terme leurs fonctions écologiques, économiques et sociales. Protéger et gérer durablement un écosystème dans son ensemble conduit à le considérer non plus comme un ensemble indépendant de processus biologiques mais comme un ensemble de processus interdépendants. Analyser, comprendre ou encore prédire le future de ces écosystèmes nécessite certaines précautions et des méthodes d'analyses adéquates doivent être employées. C'est ce que je me suis efforcé de faire au cours de ma carrière et ce mémoire, d'habilitation à diriger des recherches, présente les travaux que j'ai été amenés à développer. Il est important de souligner que ce sont les questions biologiques qui ont motivé mes recherches en statistique. Il m'est donc apparu naturel que ce soit au travers des applications que je devais présenter mes activités de recherches en bio-statistiques. La première partie donne un rapide aperçu du contexte biologique et mathématique. La seconde présente plus en détail quatre résultats qui me semblent majeurs et qui traitent de la prise en compte des dépendances spatiales, de la richesse spécifique des écosystèmes tropicaux ou encore des questions de prédictions. La dernière partie présente les stratégies à long terme que je souhaiterais mettre en place pour mener à bien et fédérer les recherches et répondre ainsi à l'objectif commun : la préservation des écosystèmes forestiers compatible avec le développement des populations humaines. more...