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White spruce breeding has traditionally focused on genetic improvement for high productivity, targeting mostly stem volume. However, new challenges, such as the effects of climate change on individual trees and ecosystems and the changing nature of forest products markets, require action to address these issues while providing improved stock for seed and seedling production. This work aims to define the relative importance of white spruce wood traits for the lumber industry, with the intent of guiding tree breeding programs. This manuscript examines: (1) wood features that are important for lumber, (2) the genetics of wood traits and their improvement and (3) the level of acceptance of raw material with optimal traits, as obtained from a survey conducted with sawmills. Stem diameter at stump height, wood density, bending strength and stiffness were determined as the most important properties for sawmills. Decay proportion, knot diameter, slope of grain and the proportion of compression wood were also determined as important for sawmills, but to a lesser extent. Breeding efforts aiming to produce lumber should focus on stems with improved growth that are capable of sustaining the production of dense wood in greater proportion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of non-timber forest products (NTFP) is often presented as an effective strategy for economic diversification in rural environments. Several rural regions in the province of Quebec, whose economies depend on the forest industry, now seek other ways to use the territory in order to create wealth for their local communities. There are, however, very few recreotourism businesses whose activities depend on NTFP. More importantly, there are very few studies to understand how much a local community could benefit from this industry. This paper draws on a survey of Essipit Enterprises customers in order to evaluate the potential for creating NTFP activities as a way to diversify the economy of forest dependent communities. Essipit Enterprises are owned by the Essipit Innu First Nation, whose traditional and reservation territories are located in the Côte-Nord region, a sparsely populated forested region. Our results show that tourists are interested in doing activities related to NTFP, mainly activities involving a guide. Our study provides evidence that NTFP activities could lead to social and economic benefits for the community. Additionally, our study provides evidence that Essipit could benefit from promoting its culture to distinguish its touristic offer, while at the same time reviving cultural traditions through gathering forest products. In sum, even if we have not quantified those benefits, we showed that promoting NTFP activities can contribute to economic diversification of forest dependent regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colonist farmers have been largely ignored to date in national consultations on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). Yet, good practices suggest that understanding all relevant stakeholders' perspectives, goals, and issues is a precondition for the development of successful environmental policies. The present research documents perceptions of the civil society and the government on the possibility of successfully implementing REDD+ activities with colonist farmers. The focus is on Eastern Panama. The perceptions on REDD+ vary greatly depending on the stakeholders' origins. The government perceives REDD+ as a possibility for improving laws, increasing control over the national territory, and investing more resources for conservation and public institutions, whereas respondents from colonist backgrounds mostly insist on the potential economic benefits and/or the negative implications that could encompass REDD+. Noncolonist participants from regional, national, and international organizations instead try to balance concerns of communities and conservation objectives. Because one of our results highlighted the difficulty of colonist farmers in speaking as a united voice, we carried out a case study of a successful colonists association in order to identify the characteristics and practices found to facilitate communal organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]