Forest Land Use Planning Research Articles

The Forest Line Mapper: A Semi-Automated Tool for Mapping Linear Disturbances in Forests

Forest land-use planning and restoration requires effective tools for mapping and attributing linear disturbances such as roads, trails, and asset corridors over large areas. Most existing linear-feature databases are generated by heads-up digitizing. While suitable for cartographic purposes, these datasets often lack the fine spatial details and multiple attributes required for more demanding analytical applications. To address this need, we developed the Forest Line Mapper (FLM), a semi-automated software tool for mapping and attributing linear features using LiDAR-derived canopy height models. Accuracy assessments conducted in the boreal forest of Alberta, Canada showed that the FLM reliably predicts both the center line (polyline) and footprint (extent polygons) of a variety of linear-feature types including roads, pipelines, seismic lines, and power lines. Our analysis showed that FLM outputs were consistently more accurate than publicly available datasets produced by human photo-interpreters, and that the tool can be reliably deployed across large application areas. In addition to accurately delineating linear features, the FLM generates a variety of spatial attributes associated with line geometry and vegetation characteristics from input canopy height data. Our statistical evaluation indicates that spatial attributes generated by the FLM may be useful for studying and classifying linear features based on disturbance type and ground conditions. The FLM is open-source and freely available and is aimed to assist researchers and land managers working in forested environments everywhere.

Evaluating the use of an integrated forest land-use planning approach in addressing forest ecosystem services conflicting demands: Experience within an Irish forest landscape

There is an increasing demand for genuine public participation in Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) planning to address the various demands for forests to deliver a range of ecosystem services. However, as of yet, there are few developed and tested mechanisms to help authorities and stakeholders with diverse interests to effectively work together to reach a common goal. Integrated Forest Land-Use Planning (IFLUP) is an approach that has the potential to accommodate multi-stakeholders’ demands in the field of SFM planning. In this paper an IFLUP framework process that facilitates stakeholder participation in future-oriented SFM planning is explored. This framework combines scenario analysis and stakeholder collaborative learning. Its application in a case study area in the West of Ireland is outlined and its effectiveness in accommodating conflicting stakeholder demands on forest ecosystem services as well as its potential opportunities and challenges are evaluated.Based on the results and participants evaluation feedback of the IFLUP workshop outcomes, there was a shared view that the IFLUP approach has potential to address conflicting societal demands on forest ecosystem services within local forest landscapes. Likewise, collaborative learning process helps build trust and respect among stakeholder groups as well as improving the legitimacy and acceptance of SFM planning outcomes.

The urban public and forest land-use planning: Tapping into the majority

Canadians desire involvement in forest management at normative or early planning phases. One way of accomplishing this is through meaningful public involvement in land-use planning efforts. The Provinces of Ontario and Manitoba have, respectively, completed or are completing the development of land use plans for large areas of forested landscapes. Both governments identified public participation as being an integral part of these processes. This paper examines how well these processes promoted participation by the general public, the vast majority of which resides in urban areas located outside the respective planning regions. It is determined that in both cases this was poorly done. Reasons are given for why and how increased participation by the urban public should be pursued. Key words: public involvement, land-use planning, forest management, urban centres, Lands for Life, East Side Planning Initiative, Canada

Outdoor recreation and forest management: A plea for empirical data

For many people, outdoor recreation provides one of the main opportunities to experience, interact with, and learn about forested landscapes. Yet public recreation use of forests in Canada is not yet well understood; knowing more about this important forest stakeholder group would help to address aspects of social sustainability in forest management. Four considerations for explicitly addressing outdoor recreation interests in forest land-use planning and for the collection of recreation data are presented: (1) normative; (2) pragmatic; (3) economic; and (4) governance. Approaches for the collection of recreation-use characteristics are also discussed. Key words: outdoor recreation, data collection, sustainable forest management, social values

How well are outdoor recreationists represented in forest land-use planning?: Perceptions of recreationists in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor of British Columbia

The case of recreation in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor in British Columbia (BC) is used to explore the issue of the representation of outdoor recreation in forest landscape management. The widening array of outdoor recreation activities in high-use areas poses new challenges to the equitable participation of diverse recreation user groups in forest land-use planning. How well have past forest land-use planning exercises in BC represented the needs of the widening diversity of outdoor recreationists? How well represented do participants of newer outdoor recreation activities feel? Are participants in newer recreation activities being excluded from the planning process, or do participants in more established activities feel they are being squeezed out by newer, more high-profile recreation activities? Moreover, who should represent these diverse groups? In an initial attempt to explore these questions, this study measures outdoor recreationist perceptions of representation in forest land-use planning outcomes in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor. We examine the relationships between recreation characteristics and perceptions of representation in forest land-use planning. Moderate levels of perceived representation were found for most recreation groups, although some users seemed unclear about how well they were represented. The highest levels of perceived representation were found among mountain bikers and off-trail hikers. Mountaineers reported the lowest levels of perceived representation. The contributions of four categories of variables to perceived representation in land-use planning in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor were assessed: demographics, characteristics of recreation participation, involvement in recreation advocacy, and the location of recreation engagement. A logistic regression suggests that five variables contribute to explaining respondents’ perceptions of representation in forest land-use planning: (1) household income; (2) membership in a recreation club; (3) the number of recreation activities engaged in; (4) annual participation rate; (5) location of recreation pursuit. The results of this study support five forest land-use planning strategies that may assist planners in increasing actual and perceived representation of forest recreationists.

The Area Production Model: A tool and concept for sustainable land-use and forest-resource management

In developing countries, planning in the forestry sector has been seen as an appropriate instrument to prepare and implement government policies and programs. Despite its potential and recent advancements in, for example, remote sensing and infrastructure, tropical forest land-use planning is often formal and non-integrated with agriculture. It rarely involves all legitimate stakeholders and neglects taking into account actual land-use. The socio-economic and environmental consequences of these shortcomings emphasise the need for alternative ways of approaching planning. This article summarises the idea, structure and current status of the Area Production Model (APM), originally developed in the 1980s, which is now gaining interest as a land-use planning tool in Africa and Asia. It describes the development over time of production and consumption in agriculture and forestry within a defined geographical area operating under different assumptions on management, land use and socio-economic and macro-economic changes. From a narrow perspective, the APM is a fairly simple computerised tool for generating scenarios. In a broad sense, it is a concept comprising the whole planning process including organisation, inventory, data analysis, consensus building and strategy. A case-study in Laos, based on verified data for a historical period of 45 years, and a review of different APM applications in the world over the last 15 years are presented as a base for conclusions about its potential and shortcomings. In some cases where the APM concept was used in training courses and planning exercises involving stakeholders, it generated a strong interest in collecting and analysing relevant information. It provides the means of addressing a number of shortcomings in current planning.

Victoria's Statewide Forest Resource Industry—an outline of methods

Summary The Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment has embarked on a major inventory project, which will provide the first comprehensive, standardised statement of the State's native forest resources. The Statewide Forest Resource Inventory (SFRI) will provide forest managers with resource information for making informed and consistent sustainable yield forecasts, and decisions on forest land-use planning and resource allocation. The SFRI project features detailed stand mapping from aerial photographs combined with model based, variable probability sampling of trees for stem size and defects, tree ring analysis for yield curve development and collection of data on tree hollows and other forest stand information for biodiversity and habitat modelling.