C. Sabogal

Dynamics of secondary forests in slash-and-burn farming: interactions among land use types in the Peruvian Amazon

Abstract The regeneration of secondary forests (SF) on previously cleared land in the Amazon is a promising development within the generally pessimistic scenario about tropical deforestation. This has stimulated efforts to augment the value of SF to farmers to induce them to increase the area in SF. The objective of this paper was to document the regeneration of SF in slash-and-burn agriculture and to develop policy and technological recommendations for conserving forest cover on small farms and improve farmer welfare. The dynamics of SF in slash-and-burn farming were studied by investigating changes in the role of SF with frontier development. Farm survey data from a colonist settlement area in the Peruvian Amazon were analyzed by using a recursive econometric model. Results confirmed that substantial areas of SF exist on slash-and-burn farms during the first few decades after settlement. As a result, over a third of the farm area is under forest cover. This implies that deforestation in slash-and-burn farming may be less than previously believed. Soil recuperation is the most important reason for the existence of SF in slash-and-burn agriculture. During the relatively early stages of frontier development studied in this paper, fallow periods increased over time as site productivity declined, giving rise to secondary forests. Pastures lowered forested areas on farms and appear to impede the regeneration of SF. Commercial exploitation of SF products was minimal and declines with frontier development. The conclusions show that improved short-rotation fallows may recuperate the soil at the expense of forest cover, particularly in areas where most of the forest cover consists of SF. This conflict could be resolved by technologies that enrich SF and reinforce its multiple functions, including soil recuperation. Reduction of extensive cattle ranching may be a more effective way to conserve forest cover in slash-and-burn farming than technologies for shortening fallow periods. A ‘quantum leap’ in the benefits of forested land will be required if increases in forest cover are to be compatible with farmer welfare. This is likely to require innovative approaches, such as commercialization of the environmental services of forests. The results of this research could potentially shift efforts to control deforestation away from slash-and-burn farmers, thus reducing the perceived conflict between forest conservation and the livelihood of poor people.

Regeneration of tropical dry forests in Central America, with examples from Nicaragua

. This paper focuses on the management potential of natural forests in the tropical dry zones of Central America, particularly Nicaragua. Distribution and status of dry forest formations are reviewed. Two case studies from the Pacific coast of Nicaragua are presented to illustrate the disturbance created by traditional utilization, and to show the relatively high potential for natural forest management, with many of the tree species having economic value. Natural forest management, together with conservation and reforestation, is viewed as the main management option for the tropical dry forest areas. In spite of its importance, this option has received little attention or promotion from the governmental forestry sector. Four complementary options which can be devised for silvicultural work in production forests are: encouragement of advanced growth of desirable tree species, inducement of natural regeneration, coppice management, and compensatory planting. These options form different strategies for rehabilitation of the production and conservation functions of the forest and may well be combined in the same area. Research applied to better utilization of the forest resources should form an intrinsic part of rural development programs. Research work in tropical dry forest areas should focus on ecological, as well as socio-cultural and economical aspects related to the management options. Experimental sites are important enabling and securing long-term basic and applied biological research. They may also serve as units for demonstration, training and extension.

Compliance with reduced-impact harvesting guidelines by timber enterprises in terra firme forests of the Brazilian Amazon

SUMMARY The paper presents the results and main conclusions of an assessment of compliance with technical guidelines for Reduced Impact Harvesting (RIH) in terra firme forests of the Brazilian Amazon. The assessment was carried out in two certified timber enterprises in the State of Para, Brazil applying the RIH-guidelines for a period of over three years. From a tool developed for Amazonian forest enterprises to monitor the sustainability of their harvesting operations, which uses a set of criteria and indicators (C&I), a total of 190 verifiers were selected for assessing the 61 RIH-guidelines. The assessment revealed valuable information with regard to the state of implementation and quality of the forest operations in the two enterprises and important insights for improvement of the RIH-guidelines. Two thirds of the RIH-guidelines were fully implemented. Their acceptance, however, differed according to the situation and interest of the enterprises. Among the reasons for incomplete implementation of the RIH-guidelines, the lack of systematic monitoring, insufficient training and qualification, and inadequate equipment appeared to be most important. The study also showed the need for the continuous assessment of the quality and relevance of RIH-guidelines.

Local participation, livelihood needs, and institutional arrangements: three keys to sustainable rehabilitation of degraded tropical forest lands

In many tropical countries, government agencies, international agencies, the private sector, and civil society have expended much effort and resources in forest rehabilitation activities to meet rising demands both for forest products and environmental services. The projects have differed in scale, objectives, background conditions, and implementation strategies, and results have been variable. It is critical to draw strategic lessons from these experiences and use them to plan and guide future efforts to increase their chances of success and long-term sustainability. The key lessons and examples in this chapter are based on the preliminary results of the study Review of Forest Rehabilitation Initiatives—Lessons from the Past, undertaken by CIFOR in collaboration with national partners in six countries: Peru, Brazil, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and China. The study involved a comparison of a full range of forest rehabilitation projects in each country, an assessment of the technical, ecological, and socioeconomic outcomes of selected case studies, and workshops to obtain the inputs of concerned stakeholders (http://www.cifor.cgiar. org/rehab/). The review focussed on initiatives that aimed to establish trees on formerly forested land to enhance productivity, livelihoods, or environ58 Local Participation, Livelihood Needs, and Institutional Arrangements: Three Keys to Sustainable Rehabilitation of Degraded Tropical Forest Lands