Gerardo Mery

Sustainable forestry challenges for developing countries.

Preface. Part I: Global Prospects. Transition from Deforestation to Sustainable Forestry - a Distant Dream? M. Palo, G. Mery. Geography of Tropical Deforestation E. Viitanen. Modeling Underlying Causes of Pantropical Deforestation M. Palo, E. Lehto. Pine Plantations of the South P. Hakkila. North Queenslands Tropical Rainforests: the World Heritage Controversy E. Redfield. Part II: Tropical Asia. Tropical Asian Deforestation and Sustainability Prospects M. Palo, E. Lehto. Change and Continuity in the Philippine Forest Policy O. Saastamoinen. Land Use History of the Philippines E. Uitamo. Deforestation as an Environmental-Economic Problem in the Philippines P. Horne. Forest Degradation and Rehabilitation Prospects in Indonesia J. Kuusipalo. Environmental-Economic Evaluation of Forest Plantations A. Niskanen. Part III: Latin America. Latin American Deforestation and Sustainability Prospects M. Palo, et al. The Roasted Forests: Coffee and the History of Deforestation in Brazil S. Laakkonen. Sustainable Management of Forest Plantations and Natural Forests in Chile G. Mery. Deforestation in the Chaquena Region in Argentina M. Aguerre, G. Denegri. Part IV: Tropical Africa. Deforestation in Tropical Africa E. Yirdaw. Man and Forest in African History A. Siiriainen. Deforestation and Forest Plantations in Ethiopia E. Yirdaw. Deforestation and Sustainable Forestry Challenge in Ghana M. Palo, E. Yirdaw. Kenya Forestry Master Plan O. Luukkanen. List of Authors. Index.

World forests, markets and policies.

This article examines the roles of markets and policies in addressing the challenges the worlds forests are facing today and in the foreseeable future. The threats and opportunities of increased government control versus more liberalized markets are discussed . In many instances markets and policies can be viewed as complements rather than substitutes to each other. Perhaps the biggest th reat of the globalization of the world economy is that local and national institutions,especially in the develop ing countries,become marginalized.Governments could,worldwide,work against th is possibility by suppo rting local structures that help the lesser-equipped nations and the forest people to reap the benefits, rather than suffer the damage, of the globalization process.Corruption and government failures should be reduced, e.g. through increased transparency, publicity and capacity building. Only then, and at a sufficiently high level of economic development, is it poss ible to reduce the transaction costs related to forest ownership and marketing . Defined ownership of forests and working marketing mechanisms of wood are preconditions for closing open access to forests. In turn, competitive stumpage markets can be created only when access to forests is closed .These, as well as new market-based instruments for various forest services, are among the fundamental preconditions towards sustainable forest management. In short, a balanced mix of government policies and markets is recommended.The involvement of all the players, including the marginalized poor, is a prerequisite for approaching the optimum mix of markets and policies. On this front, the keys are in the hands of national governments.

Latin American Deforestation and Sustainability Prospects

The purpose of this paper is to review Latin American forest resources, to find out the underlying causes of deforestation in the tropical zone of this continent and to analyze the prospects for deforestation and sustainable forest management. In the forest resources description, Latin America is clustered in three regions, but frequently Brazil is analyzed as a separate entity due to its vast extension and prominent position in the continent. The natural forests of Latin America covered an area of approximately 960 million hectares in 1990. This vast area represents the largest closed broadleaved forest reserve of the world. The characteristics and approximate location of five major types of forests are presented. In 1981–1990 the annual average tropical deforestation area in the continent was 7.7 million hectares, the largest in the developing world. Eight models for explaining deforestation were estimated. Evidences were found for determining that growing population pressure is increasing deforestation. In addition, increasing incomes, deforestation costs and deforestation risks lead to decreasing deforestation. We made three simple scenario models. According to these scenarios a reduction of 21–28% of the total forest area of 1990 could be expected until the year 2020.

Forest-based development in Brazil, Chile and Mexico.

The article reviews the main trends of forest-based development in Brazil, Chile and Mexico during the last four decades. First, summarised comments on forest-based development concepts are presented. An overview of recent development sin forest resources and forest industries and main trends in trade and consumption of each country is presented, and prospects for sustainable management are analysed. Finally, some common and discrepant features of forest-based development in the three countries are discussed. While Brazil and Chile have experienced a rapid development of forestry and forest industries, emerging as important exporters of forest products in the world market, Mexico is the largest importer of forest products in the region. In Brazil and Chile, development policies have played a key role in promoting this rapid sectoral growth. However, markets have been decisive in attracting domestic and foreign investments. In Mexico, the ownership and tenure system, combined with strict policies of maintaining sectoral regulations on industrial expansion,has prevented rapid growth. In spite of the good prospects for continued accelerated growth in Brazil and Chile, the effects of globalisation should be foreseen. The situation in Mexico is uncertain because of its incorporation into NAFTA. A common element in the three countries is the lack of coherent long-term forest policies and programmes that would take into account the interests of all the key stakeholders. This is not only a potential source of conflicts, but could jeopardise the good forest development prospects of these countries. Another Important concern is environmental protection, an issue that is particularly sensitive in Brazil and Mexico where the pace of deforestation continues high. The definition of an optimal mix of market sand policies is an important pending issue in the three countries. Key words: Forest-based development; forest policy; Brazil; Chile; Mexico

Forest cover and agricultural technology

A widespread belief among development and forest researchers and practitioners holds that technological progress in tropical agriculture is good for forest conservation. Higher yield enables farmers to produce the same amount of food on less agricultural land. The alternative view suggests that productivity improvements make it more profitable for farmers and companies to convert forests to agriculture. New agricultural technologies should therefore stimulate deforestation. This article synthesizes research done by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) on this issue. It points to several critical factors which can make new technologies speed up or slow down the rate of deforestation: the market characteristics, the farmers’ objectives and constraints, the technologies’ labor and capital intensities, and the agricultural systems and areas in which the technology is applied. Several empirical studies a reused to illustrate the importance of these factors. While new technologies in frontier agriculture often stimulate forest clearing, conditions and technologies for “win-win”outcomes also exist or can be created by appropriate policies.

Forests, Societies and Environments in North America and Europe

In this article Europe includes the Baltic republics but excludes the rest of the former Soviet Union countries. North America consists of Canada and the United States of America.

Forest Set-Asides and Carbon Sequestration

This paper presents estimates of the gain in carbon sequestration withforest areas set aside from future timber production. Three alternative scenarios ofecological processes on the set-aside land are considered. The results suggest thatset-asides are not likely to be cost-effective methods for enhancing carbon storage inglobal forests, although the exact results depend on assumptions about ecologicalprocesses. Further, the results suggest that set-asides may reduce overall carbon storagein those regions due to unexpected effects in other forests, such as increasedharvesting of currently inaccessible regions. In particular, if set-asides occur in NorthAmerica and Europe today, they could potentially lead to short-term carbon emis-sions by the time of the Kyoto Protocol commitment period in 2008–2012.

TRANSITION FROM DEFORESTATION TO SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY - A DISTANT DREAM?

This volume addresses the acute challenges of sustainable forest management with emphasis on the developing countries. Sustainability is analyzed primarily as being an opposite phenomenon to deforestation. A multilevel approach is adopted in order to take into account that the causes of deforestation are multilevel. Accordingly, the volume contains contributions at global, continental, country, and sub-national levels. The contributions by 17 authors have a multidisciplinary character and represent such fields as forest economics and policy, forest mensuration and inventory, tropical silviculture, land use economics, environmental economics and history, as well as geography and political history. One of the aims of this volume is to present a collective analysis of deforestation and sustainability using the most reliable and valid empirical data available. The authors have been among the first scientists in the world to have had access to the new FORIS-database established by the FAO. Consequently, their deforestation modeling is based on better data by quality and quantity than other respective modeling attempts. Population pressure, income, deforestation costs and risks were found both theoretically and empirically to be underlying causes of tropical deforestation. There is no immediate way to stop deforestation. A transition to sustainable forest management can gradually take place along with general transformation of societies with adequate national and international political will.

Sustainable Management of Forest Plantations and Natural Forests in Chile

The Chilean forest sector is playing an increasingly important role in the economy of the country. It has swiftly grown during the last 25 years. About 45% of the total land area has been classified as land deemed apt for forest growing. However, only less than 10% is covered by closed natural forests and 2% by the fast growing monocultures of Radiata pine plantations, which provide approximately 80% of total consumption of industrial roundwood. Most commercial forests are owned by private companies and individuals. The forest industries have expanded rapidly, concentrating a large part of commercial forests, exports of forest products, investments, and technological development. In spite of the increasing economic importance of forestry, the analysis of its development also reveals weaknesses. A wood production criterion has dominated and little attention has been paid to sustainable forestry. The development of the Chilean forest sector should be based on a better knowledge of the forest ecosystems’ extension and location, rational management, and utilisation on the basis of silvicultural, environmental, and socio-economic considerations. A new forest policy has to be established for promoting a balanced and sustainable development of both natural forests and plantations, and forest industries should be required to uphold these principles.

World Forests, Markets and Policies: Towards a Balance

This article examines the roles of markets and policies in addressing thechallenges the world’s forests are facing today and in the foreseeable future. Thethreats and opportunities of increased government control versus more liberalizedmarkets are discussed. In many instances markets and policies can be viewed as complementsrather than substitutes to each other. Perhaps the biggest threat of theglobalization of the world economy is that local and national institutions, especially inthe developing countries, become marginalized. Governments could, worldwide, workagainst this possibility by supporting local structures that help the lesser-equippednations and the forest people to reap the benefits, rather than suffer the damage, ofthe globalization process. Corruption and government failures should be reduced, e.g.through increased transparency, publicity and capacity building. Only then, and at asufficiently high level of economic development, is it possible to reduce the transactioncosts related to forest ownership and marketing. Defined ownership of forestsand working marketing mechanisms of wood are preconditions for closing open accessto forests. In turn, competitive stumpage markets can be created only whenaccess to forests is closed. These, as well as new market-based instruments for variousforest services, are among the fundamental preconditions towards sustainableforest management. In short, a balanced mix of government policies and markets isrecommended. The involvement of all the players, including the marginalized poor, is aprerequisite for approaching the optimum mix of markets and policies. On this front,the keys are in the hands of national governments.