Forest Policy Changes Research Articles

Implications of Forest Policy Changes on Investment Program Strengthening Forest Management Unit in Central Sulawesi

The forest investment program, supported by foreign funding, aims to promote the strengthening of Forest Management Units (FMUs) in implementing decentralized forest management in Indonesia. Ten FMUs have received funding from the forest investment program since 2017, one of which is FMU Dampelas Tinombo of Central Sulawesi. This program exited in 2022. During its implementation project, Indonesia’s forestry policy is changing, as are the primary tasks and functions of FMUs. This study examined the implication of forest policy changes on the sustainability of the FMU strengthening investment program in FMU Dampelas Tinombo of Central Sulawesi Province. This study was conducted from July to September 2022. Data was collected through interviews and focused group discussions with FMU managers and stakeholders. This study showed that the forest investment program to strengthen the FMU in Central Sulawesi had been effectively implemented but had not significantly affected decentralized forest management practices. Changes in forestry policy brought about by the amendment of the Job Creation Law and its subsidiary regulations have significantly affected the program’s performance and sustainability. The business development program promoting FMU independence must be discontinued because it contradicted the FMUS’ constitutionally mandated primary responsibilities and duties. FMU should optimize the governance function in achieving community-based forest management, which includes forest planning, facilitation, and technical guidance. Keywords: Forest management unit, forest policy change, governance, performance, sustainability

Analysing policy changes for achieving sustainable development goals: Insights from forest, environment and climate change action plan in Bangladesh

AbstractEnvironmental sustainability lies at the centre of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Many developing economies, including Bangladesh, undertook massive institutional and policy reformulation initiatives to accomplish the respective environmental targets of the SDGs. However, effective policy implementation and obtaining the desired impact on people and the planet remain challenging. Against this backdrop, using the typical case of Bangladesh, the study hypothesises whether environmental (including forest and climate change) policy changes beget optimal policy outcomes and bring innovative policy ideas. Or they deliver sub‐optimal policy outcomes and prioritise traditional policy substances in achieving the SDGs. The study uses a policy typology and does content analysis for a large number of policy changes (n = 82). It applies the analytical framework of policy planning and a coherent–consistent policy approach. The result shows a tremendous shortfall in policy planning and a lack of technical policy capacities to implement innovative policy substances, for example, sustainable and scientific resources management, pollution control, science‐based study and data generation, and so forth. Also, incoherent goal settings (e.g., biodiversity conservation versus infrastructure development) and inadequate policy solutions for long‐standing problems (e.g., land tenure conflict) can obstruct achieving transformative changes. The sustainable development targets demand an all‐inclusive sectoral approach and technical‐legal policy solutions to achieve environmental sustainability.

The multiple streams framework and forest policy change process in Ghana

The multiple streams framework and forest policy change process in Ghana

Deadwood: People, place, and neoliberal forest policy in British Columbia, Canada

This article describes the people and forests in traditional Secwépemc territory in the Interior Plateau of British Columbia (BC), Canada. It examines the intersection of neoliberal forest policy and profound ecological change in the south-central region of the province, with careful attention paid to the wider contexts of settler colonialism. The article critiques the implementation of forest policy reform (the Forest and Range Practices Act, enacted in 2004) as it coincided with one of the first major climate change events of landscape-altering magnitude in BC – the mountain pine beetle outbreak. Between 1998 and 2014, the outbreak resulted in tree mortality for roughly half of the mature lodgepole pine trees in the province. It left an expanse of ‘deadwood’ on the landscape, leading to heightened social and political conflict over how the beetle-affected areas were managed. Research methods include transcripts from a public hearing in Tk’emlúps/Kamloops, supplemented by eighteen semi-structured interviews. The article argues that the confluence of neoliberal forest policy and climate change has further entrenched the settler colonial and corporate capture of forests.

Recent forest and land-use policy changes in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo: Are they truly transformational?

This paper analyses the policy changes occurring in the forest and palm oil sectors of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, through the lens of the transformational change concept. The aim is to first examine whether Sabah is transforming and, if so, to identify the determinants enabling or hindering the change. To determine if Sabah is transforming, we used two criteria: - (i) an ambitious change in the policy framework, that promotes forest conservation and sustainable use, and is moving away from business-as-usual activities; and (ii) the level of implementation of the policies that we identified as supporting transformational change. We found that Sabah very likely did intend to transform. We made this conclusion based on comparing changes in policies occurring in Sabah, and we decided if it is ambitious by primarily comparing Sabah’s policies with other Malaysian states, the federal government, and internationally. We showed that: (i) Sabah decided to use voluntary international certification standards (private market instruments) like FSC and RSPO, while the other Malaysian states did not; (ii) they decided to protect more forest compared to national and international targets; and (iii) Sabah is an early mover as the state is one of the first in the world to adopt the RSPO Jurisdictional Approach. But intention needs to be followed by implementation, and this is where the state falls short. The policies in Sabah were not fully implemented because of the patronage system where the more powerful actors used their power to continue with business-as-usual activities, there is frequent political turnover in Sabah, and the state faced difficulty in meeting international standards. Our research shows that local leadership and a local transformational change coalition (civil society actively working in Sabah) mainly prompted the transformational change, although the promises of economic gains and better reputation also played a role. We conclude by emphasising the change must be made more compelling for political leaders, as part of a broader institutional structure, not only through the narrow focus on reducing deforestation but through the development of a more sustainable and equitable national economy, and that consumer countries should play a role in reducing pressures on forest by providing incentives to a state that manages its natural resources sustainably.

Advocacy Coalitions and Knowledge Transfer within Geothermal Policy Change in Indonesian Conservation Forests

The utilization of geothermal energy is recently disrupting the management of conservation forests. It has taken more than a decade to change related forest policy in justifying geothermal energy utilization in the conservation forests. This study combined the Advocacy Coalition Framework and the Research-Integration-Utilization models to analyze the driver of forest policy change related as per the legitimation of geothermal utilization linked to actor’s power and interests. Expert interviews, field observations, and document analysis were triangulated according to the methodology described in this study. The results show different interests of key actors affecting the geothermal practice through two opposing coalitions, namely, development and conservation coalition. Furthermore, the weak integration and implementation of science-based policy evoked conflicts, thus creating a deadlock for geothermal projects in the conservation forests. A sustainable and integrated policy is necessary to resolve conflicted interests without threatening the conservation forests and the local community.

Multiple streams framework and logging policy change in the Hyrcanian forests of Iran

ABSTRACT The 2017 logging ban in Iran’s Hyrcanian forests represents a considerable forest policy change, which was proposed following the development of other major policies to improve natural resource management. The aim of this paper is to explain the development of the logging ban policy using Kingdon’s multiple streams framework (MSF). Qualitative methods – interviewing and document review – were used for data collection and analysis. The problem, politics and policy streams are shown to be linked in framing the policy change. We investigate how participants in the development of the policy used interlinkages between the problem, politics and policy streams to develop their proposals and how this simplified the change process. Despite some limitations, the MSF is helpful in explaining and analysing outcomes of natural resource management policy development processes.

The competitive mechanism between post-abandonment Chinese fir plantations and rehabilitated natural secondary forest species under an in situ conservation policy

During the past 30 years, the global forest area has been subject to a continuous increase in planted forests and a decline in natural forests, raising significant concerns about biodiversity protection. Once these plantations are abandoned due to changes in conservation or forest management policies, can they recover to the same state as natural forests during secondary succession? The key ecological processes supporting the stable coexistence or competitive elimination mechanisms between post-abandonment plantations and natural secondary forest tree species are still poorly understood and may be the decisive ecological processes driving secondary forest restoration. A 12-ha long-term forest plot was established in an abandoned Chinese fir plantation that has been protected under an in situ protection policy for 40 years. In total, 66,317 individual trees were stem mapped and identified at the species level, and the spatial survival strategies and species coexistence mechanisms between Chinese fir and natural secondary forest tree species were investigated. The results showed that the spatial survival strategy of Chinese fir could effectively trade off a high conspecific density-dependent mortality rate of individuals during the early stage of secondary succession for the long-term survival of the whole population, which promoted its dominance during later stages of succession. By contrast, although the higher survival rate and larger intraspecific aggregation scale of natural secondary forest individuals favored their survival during initial colonization, this spatial survival strategy might occur at the cost of neglecting suitable habitats and the loss of competitive advantages at the later stage of succession. Regarding interspecific competition, the asymmetric competition process further ensured the advantages of Chinese fir in individual size growth and increased the competitive advantage of Chinese fir over natural secondary forest tree species by exclusion through interspecific competition during the later secondary succession stage. Our results suggest that implementing a forest recovery program or an in situ protection policy based on post-abandonment monoculture plantations may involve great uncertainty about whether the goal can be achieved. Specifically, although this strategy could quickly increase forest coverage and restore the forest landscape, it may also create difficulties in restoring the forest to its original state.

Location factors and dynamics of tree plantation expansion in two coastal river basins in south-central Chile: basis for land use planning

ABSTRACT Tree plantations have expanded rapidly during the last decades, specially in Asia and South America, and Chile has shown one of the largest increases in tree plantations in the world. The aim of this study was to analyze the dynamic and factors statistically associated with the expansion of tree plantations in two coastal basins in south-central Chile. We used logistic regression and a multimodel inference approach to assess the association of 13 location factors with tree plantation expansion in two periods (1987–2001; 2001–2015). The area of tree plantations increased by 292% and 196% in the Budi and Lingue basins, respectively. The presence of agriculture fields before conversion to tree plantations showed the greatest effect in both basins, followed by the suitability of the soil for forestry. Likewise, tree plantations were highly associated with the replacement of native vegetation, contributing to ongoing deforestation, and changes in forest policy increased the expansion in indigenous land.

Very Rapid Forest Cover Change in Sichuan Province, China: 40 Years of Change Using Images From Declassified Spy Satellites and Landsat

Forests have significant impacts on the global carbon cycle, hydrological processes, and biodiversity. Driven by socioeconomic developments, forests experienced drastic changes since the mid-20th century in China. Although declassified spy satellite and other Earth observation satellite data offer remote sensing technologies for mapping these long-term changes, challenges remain unsolved for applications of large volumes of historical data. This study uses long-term satellite observations, including declassified satellite data in the 1960s and Landsat products since the 1970s to monitor the decadal changes. A semi-automated method was developed for the rapid registration of declassified images with reference to Landsat data. The method was applied to quantify the forest cover (FC) in Sichuan Province (excluding Chongqing), China. Combined with a Landsat-based FC change product, it revealed that the FC in Sichuan declined rapidly by 38% from the 1960s to 2005. The FC was estimated to be 45.19 ± 1.62% in the 1960s and 38.98 ± 2.06% in 1975, but it rapidly decreased to 28.91 ± 2.07% in 1990 and 27.87 ± 2.14% by 2005. Supplemented with the official statistics, the FC in Sichuan was reported to increase to 38.03% by 2018. Although differences between the remote sensing-based estimates and the statistics were observed, they highlight the challenges in reconstructing historical land use changes for carbon and other studies. The drastic loss of forests before 1990 and the stabilizing afterward reflects the changes in forest policies, which transitioned from serving timber products to forest conservations.

Reforestation policy has constrained options for managing risks on public forests

Strict forest renewal policies in western Canada focus on replicating the stand type that was cut and projecting the growth of young stands forward using simple models based upon past growing conditions. These policies arose from European principles of sustained yield and now limit options for adaptive management at the time of investment in forest renewal of public lands. We assert that such simple and restrictive policies, combined with long-term yield predictions, give a false sense of sustainability in times of increased drought, fires, and insect and disease attacks that accompany climate change. We must undertake comprehensive changes in forest policy that incorporate disturbance in our forest management planning. This is a large task! Options include (i) zoning public forests to vary intensities of management and minimize risk; (ii) changing stand- and forest-level models to increase the diversity of forests regenerated; (iii) widening the sphere of scientific experts that can influence forest policy and risk management; and (iv) reallocating expenditures on forest renewal, protection, and management to minimize negative impacts of disturbance. Such a comprehensive overhaul of forest management will be necessary as the current assumptions of forest sustainability come under further scrutiny by the public and investors.

Trend PNBP sektor kehutanan Provinsi Papua Barat pasca implementasi kebijakan si-puhh online dan self assesment

Changes in forest management policies by applying the Self-Assesment system, and online SI-PUHH are expected to affect the realization of PNBP for West Papua Province. How the PNBP Trends after implementing the policy in West Papua Province is a problem that will be answerd through this research. The study aims to determine trends and forecasting of PNBP Forestry Sector after the implementation of online self-assessment and SI-PUHH policies in West Papua Province. The realization of PNBP of West Papua Province originating from PSDH and DR during 2010 – 2018 shows an increasing trend even in certain years of decline. Fluctuations occur as a result of the enforcement of the self-assessment and SI-PUHH Online policies which often experience changes, especially the use of certain applications that are erquired.

Changing forest coverage and understanding of deforestation in Nepal Himalayas

The environmental situation of the Hiamlayas is a matter of global concern. Understanding on Himalayas environment is usually shaped by the changing views expressed by research institutions, doner organizations, and finally by politics and power relations. In line with changing paradigms in knowledge-producing institutions, different understandings of environmental challenges in the Himalayas have emerged. Based on the literature and available data, we have tried to discern changes in forest policies, their implication on forest management and various understandings of deforestation in Nepal Himalayas that are salient in the scientific literature. The debate of deforestation/degradation on the state of Himalayan environment came on the global agenda in the 1950s. The initial focus was on population growth and pressure on natural resources. It was followed by attention to processes of development and physical interventions in a fragile environment. Most recently local participation and poverty alleviation have been high on the agenda. In this context, the present paper attempts to examine the debates in the light of recent events and circumstances related to environmental processes in general and forest management of Nepal in particular.

Local impacts of federal forest policy changes on Canadian model forests: An institutional capacity perspective

AbstractAlthough research in multiparty environmental governance has examined how local actors work together, few have focused how changes in higher order government policy directives affect the capacity of local organizations to implement associated management activities over time. We examine changes in three Canadian Model Forests as federal policy objectives shifted from “sustainable forest management” to “sustaining communities.” Specially, we adopt the concept of institutional capacity from planning theory to assess changes in knowledge resources, relational resources, and mobilization potential of Model Forest sites during the shift from the Model Forest Programme to the Forest Communities Programme. Analysis of key documents shows that despite being developed as a top‐down programme, individual sites exhibited an array of responses by drawing on local actors with new skills, political acumen, and relational resources to generate local opportunities. Although overall federal support decreased, Model Forest sites fostered collaborations with new sectors, enabling them to link ideas, resources, and influence in new ways and respond to changes they observed in the local context. Local networks created under a federal programme were able to move forward, shift their organizational identity, change visions, and initiate alternative projects after the programme stopped.

Decentralisation and Corruption in the Forestry Sector

Decentralisation aims to improve social welfare. However, the authority held by regional governments increases the opportunities for corruption in the forestry sector. The aim of this research is to elaborate on problematic decentralisation and corruption in the forestry sector; additionally, the study considers the change in forest management policy before, during, and after decentralisation in a discussion of the measures taken to eradicate regional corruption in the forestry sector. The findings indicate that holders of large amounts of capital are influential in politics, leading to legislation that favor’s individual interests over the welfare of low-income populations. The integrity and commitment of regional heads determine whether a region is corruption-free. The following could help reduce corruption that damages the environment within regional areas: (1) enforcing the commitment of regional heads to eradicating corruption; (b) strengthening the structure of law enforcement; and (c) strengthening community groups. It is recommended that the government enforce the integrity of regional heads and maintain an internal commitment in all areas to eradicating corruptors.

고려시대 山林政策에 대한 기초적 검토 : 산림정책의 推移를 중심으로

전근대사회에서 난방, 취사, 건축 자재에 소요되는 목재와 기타 임산물 등 생활필수품은 모두 산림에서 구하였으며, 이러한 산림 자원의 이용에 국가가 관심을 기울이고 있었다. 고려시대에는 풍수지리 관념과 유교적 자연관에 바탕을 둔 산림정책이 실시되었으며, 이는 산림자원의 활용을 위한 보호의 측면도 있으나 법률적이기 보다는 관념적인 면이 작용한 것이었다.<BR> 고려의 산림정책은 성종대 유교정치이념에 의한 『月令』의 준수, 현종대 산림보호에 관한 禁令의 실시 이후 대개 유사한 방식으로 지속되었다. 12세기 이후 개간의 확대 등으로 산림 자원의 희소성이 보다 높아지는 가운데 식재와 송충이 피해 방지, 산림의 사점 금지 등 조처가 내려졌다. 그러나 무신정권 이후 산림의 훼손과 산림 이용의 독점 현상이 증가하였다. 무신집정에 의해 무분별한 영선 사업이 늘어났고 몽골과의 전쟁과 강화 천도를 전후로 산림 이용이 급증하였기 때문이다. 元의 지배아래서 두 차례 이루어진 일본 원정에 막대한 산림자원이 소요되었으며 元에 의한 목재의 수탈도 심하였다.<BR> 고려후기 산림의 私占현상은 더욱 심각해졌다. 사점을 금지하고 처벌하였으나 근본적인 대책이 되지 못하였다. 이러한 상황에서 시지를 공급하던 전시과도 붕괴되었으며 貢賦의 수취와 所를 통한 산림자원의 공급도 원활하지 못하였다. 결국 고려의 산림정책은 산림의 사점을 막지 못하였고, 이는 새 왕조가 들어서면서 해결할 수밖에 없는 상황으로 전개되었다.

Integration of Forest and Climate Change Policies in Nepal

Climate change poses threats to forest ecosystems, forest dependent communities and society as a whole. Incorporation of climate change in forest policy and vice-versa is essential to effectively deal with climate change impacts while managing forest. Review of climate change and forest policies, incorporating forestry and climate change issues has not been substantially discussed and analyzed yet in Nepal. In this paper we aim to review the climate change and forest policies in terms of its content, relevancy and adequacy. We reviewed five forest policies and three climate change related plans and policies regarding integration of forest and climate change issues in respective policies. Our review reveals that forest policies contain notable provisions in regard to the contribution of forestry to climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, new and emerging issues such as climate refugia and invasive species are least concerned in forest policies. Climate change policies also contain provisions for forest management focusing on the mobilization of forest user groups for carrying out adaptation activities at the local level. However, the implementation of both polices seems poor due to lack of legal framework. Therefore, formulation of legal framework for implementation of these policies is essential. Similarly, we suggest both policies need to be revised incorporating the provisions based on scientific findings and field experience.

Land use planning based on the connectivity of tree species does not ensure the conservation of forest biodiversity

Amidst rapid global climate change and at a time when many adaptive policies and strategies have been implemented, reductionism in forest management decisions may have detrimental effects on forest biodiversity. Stăncioiu et al. (2018) made an important contribution by assessing forest connectivity based on tree species populations in Romania. Their study concluded that current management policies and inherited guidelines from the past likely promoted the conservation of regional biodiversity. In this viewpoint paper, we present a different perspective on their conclusion. We show that current management policies are threatening biodiversity in Romania, and changes in forest management policies are urgently needed to halt the loss of habitats of protected species. Although recent management policies likely did lead to good tree species connectivity, habitats of protected species are becoming increasingly fragmented by logging. Adopting policies to protect forest habitats of protected species, limiting large-scale salvage logging within protected areas, and restricting road building to reduce forest fragmentation are crucial steps towards the long-term persistence of biodiversity hotspots in the Romanian Carpathians.

Resilience through policy integration in Europe? Domestic forest policy changes as response to absorb pressure to integrate biodiversity conservation, bioenergy use and climate protection in France, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden

In this paper, we analyse how and why domestic forest policies in Europe have responded to pressures to integrate biodiversity conservation, climate and bioenergy policies. We use content analysis of documents and interviews to analyse change and stability in domestic forest policy goals, instruments and practices in France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden over time. We find that decision-makers in forest policy and practice responded to pressure to integrate biodiversity into forestry through four different types of policy change outcomes and processes. Depending on the context, these responses included layering, drift, conversion and/or replacement. In all countries, the forest policy changes were driven by (partly shifting) coalitional politics and changes in external conditions. Domestic forest policy regimes shifted from ‘timber production’ towards ‘multifunctional’, ‘sustainable forest management’ or ‘biodiversity’ primacy, and then back to ‘timber harvesting’. Forest policy also integrated bioenergy and climate change policies in order to minimise pressure by EU and national biodiversity policy sectors and to enable ‘timber harvesting’ (re-)turns in forest policy. We conclude that policy integration processes and the shifts in forest policy they contain refer to a sectoral resilience, that is, the ability of forest policy to react to, minimise, and absorb pressures to integrate biodiversity conservation policies.

Determinants of forest land use decisions among rural farm households in south-western Nigeria

Abstract The study examined factors determining forest land use decisions among rural farm households in south-western Nigeria. Primary data on socio-economic and community characteristics as well as land use systems were obtained from 300 farm households using a structured questionnaire through a multistage sampling technique. The study revealed that marital status (P &lt; 0.01), gender (P &lt; 0.01), land tenure security (P &lt; 0.01), dominant crop type (P &lt; 0.05), and preference for tree on farm land (P &lt; 0.01) are factors influencing forest land use decision in either agroforestry, pure cultivation or in both practices. Land use choice proportion estimation shows that 63 % are still willing to retain their existing land use practice (pure cultivation). A total of 32 % are willing to shift completely from their existing land use practice while 4 % of the respondents are willing to practice both “agroforestry and pure cultivation” simultaneously. The study therefore suggests the need for a change in forest land use policy, particularly, with a view influence the pattern of use, limitation on type of crop that can be grown, and compliance to sustainable land use practice. This would go a long way in driving forest land use towards agroforestry – a practice identified as a means of ensuring food security while ensuring safe environment.