Illegal Logging Research Articles

ASSESSMENT OF FOREST DISTURBANCES USING REMOTE SENSING: CASE OF KALIWA RIVER FOREST RESERVE (KRFR), PHILIPPINES

Abstract. The Kaliwa River Forest Reserve (KRFR) is located in the southwestern part of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, Philippines. KRFR is one of the most important forest reserves in the country that is adjacent to urban areas and is very much affected by various forest disturbances. Forest disturbances can be caused by either anthropogenic or natural phenomena (e.g., typhoons, drought, and pathogen outbreaks) and may have negative effects on the forest structure and function. The study used the Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI) in detecting forest disturbances for the period of 2010, 2015, and 2020. Results showed that the deforestation rate has significantly decreased from 6.22% in 2010 to 3.40% in 2020. The National Greening Program (NGP) and intensified forest protection activities of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) may have contributed to the observed decreasing trend in deforestation rate. However, forest disturbance in the closed and open forest areas of KRFR gradually increased from 0.11% to 0.40%. Based on the accuracy assessment, the NDMI performed well in determining forest disturbances with mean values of 0.91 and 0.93 for completeness and correctness, respectively. The main contributor to forest disturbances in KRFR was mainly anthropogenic factors such as kaingin, illegal logging, urban sprawl, and upland farming. Outputs of this study can aid in the formulation of policies for better forest resource management, rehabilitation, and protection in the protected area.

Opening the black box: explainable deep-learning classification of wood microscopic image of endangered tree species

BackgroundTraditional method of wood species identification involves the use of hand lens by wood anatomists, which is a time-consuming method that usually identifies only at the genetic level. Computer vision method can achieve "species" level identification but cannot provide an explanation on what features are used for the identification. Thus, in this study, we used computer vision methods coupled with deep learning to reveal interspecific differences between closely related tree species.ResultA total of 850 images were collected from the cross and tangential sections of 15 wood species. These images were used to construct a deep-learning model to discriminate wood species, and a classification accuracy of 99.3% was obtained. The key features between species in machine identification were targeted by feature visualization methods, mainly the axial parenchyma arrangements and vessel in cross section and the wood ray in tangential section. Moreover, the degree of importance of the vessels of different tree species in the cross-section images was determined by the manual feature labeling method. The results showed that vessels play an important role in the identification of Dalbergia, Pterocarpus, Swartzia, Carapa, and Cedrela, but exhibited limited resolutions on discriminating Swietenia species.ConclusionThe research results provide a computer-assisted tool for identifying endangered tree species in laboratory scenarios, which can be used to combat illegal logging and related trade and contribute to the implementation of CITES convention and the conservation of global biodiversity.

Log cross section quality metrics: Assessing the usability of roundwood image data for roundwood tracking

The proof of origin of roundwood is becoming increasingly important. As part of the digitization of the forest-based sector and to combat illegal logging, there is a growing interest in tracking wood logs individually. There are several previous publications on biometric wood log tracking based on log image data. A major problem for wood log tracking is the often poor visibility of discriminative features in log ends, such as the annual ring pattern, which makes it very difficult to track such logs. In this work we propose a method that quantifies the usability of image data for the purpose of roundwood tracking. There are no previous publications on this topic. More specifically, we propose a quality map that assesses the usability of different regions of the log cross section and a global quality metric that assesses the quality of entire images. We will show that the local and global quality metrics reliably assess the quality of log cross section images. Furthermore, we will show that the quality map can be used to improve the results of deep learning based log recognition systems. By combining the image data with the local quality map, the roundwood tracking system gets additional information about the usability of the different regions of the log cross section for roundwood tracking, which leads to improvements in most of the results.

Forestry Ecosystem Protection from the Perspective of Eco-civilization Based on Self-Attention Using Hierarchical Dilated Convolutional Neural Network

Ensuring the sustainable protection of forestry ecosystems faces numerous challenges. One significant hurdle is the constant threat of illegal logging and deforestation. Despite various regulations and conservation efforts, enforcing these measures can be difficult, particularly in remote or poorly monitored areas. Additionally, the increasing global demand for timber and other forest products puts immense pressure on these ecosystems, leading to overexploitation and habitat degradation. In this manuscript, Self-Focused Hierarchical Augmented Convolution Neural Network (SAHD-CNN) optimized with Tasmanian Devil Optimization (TDO) algorithm is proposed. Initially data is taken from Global Leaf Area Index (LAI) dataset. Afterward the input data is fed to Adaptive Distorted Quantum Matched-Filter. The pre-processing output is provided to Self-Focused Hierarchical Augmented Convolution Neural Network (SAHD-CNN) to effectively classifying Forestry Ecosystem Protection (FEP) for high, medium, and low. The weight parameters of the SAHD-CNN are optimized using Tasmanian Devil (TD) Optimization method. The proposed method is implemented in MATLAB working platform. The FEP-SAHDCNN technique attains higher accuracy value of 99% than the existing techniques such as Forestry Ecosystem Protection based Particle swarm Optimization (FEP-PSO) Accuracy value is 65%, Forestry Ecosystem Protection using Evaluation-based Neural Network (FEP-EN) Accuracy value is 82%, and FEP-GRS Accuracy value is 79%. Thus, the proposed method gives optimal output than the existing methods.

Anthropogenic Pressures on Gorillas: A Case of Grauer’s Gorillas in Maiko National Park, the Democratic Republic of Congo

Anthropogenic activities put biodiversity under pressure, adversely affecting the forest ecosystem and wildlife habitats. Habitat disturbance and modification are among the main threats to animal populations in tropical forests. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Grauer’s gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri) are continuously threatened through forest encroachment for agricultural expansion, human settlements, new refugee camps, illegal logging, and mining across the country. Moreover, poaching and bushmeat trafficking continuously threaten gorillas’ existence. These drivers increase the proximity of humans and the risk of disease transmission. The emerging and existing zoonotic diseases, including Ebola, are continuously impacting gorillas’ lives. All of these pressures combined are disrupting natural behavior patterns and are leading to the decline in the Grauer’s gorillas’ population. Therefore, this review scrutinizes findings on the anthropogenic pressures on the habitats and survival of Grauer’s gorillas. Also, it is important to engage with people for the shared conservation role and ecotourism to support the conservation of forest biodiversity and Grauer’s gorillas’ habitats, particularly for the Maiko National Park in the DRC.

Salvia josetta (Nepetoideae; Lamiaceae), a new species from Lebanon

Salvia josetta, a new species of Lamiaceae, is described and illustrated. The species was discovered in 2018 from the district of Danniye, North Lebanon. We collected samples each year and prepared herbarium specimens. By comparing our samples with the already known taxa in the genus Salvia, through morphological descriptions and herbarium specimens, we established that they belong to a species new to science. This new species grows in openings within pine woodlands on brown soil developed from limestone and sandy bedrocks. Following the guidelines and criteria of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it is assessed as critically endangered, based on its limited distribution area (0.02 km²) and the threats impacting the site where it was found, namely illegal logging, forest fires, and quarrying. The morphological characters are compared with two similar species, Salvia fayruziana from Lebanon and Salvia veneris from Cyprus.

Effects of chainsaw noise on the activity budgets and calling behaviour of the northern yellow‐cheeked crested gibbon (Nomascus annamensis)

Wild animals are increasingly subjected to noisier environments as the scale and scope of human activities, such as development and resource extraction, encroach into their habitats. Anthropogenic noise alters the behaviour and vocalisations of wild animals including primates, yet our understanding of how noise affects small apes is limited. The large population of endangered northern yellow‐cheeked crested gibbons (Nomascus annamensis) inhabiting Veun Sai‐Siem Pang National Park (VSSP), in northeastern Cambodia, is frequently exposed to noise produced from illegal selective logging activities within the park. To determine the impacts of chainsaw noise on the gibbons' activity budgets and calling probability, we collected behavioural data on the only habituated gibbon group in VSSP during two consecutive dry seasons between 2017 and 2019. Our analyses of scan and focal‐animal samples revealed that when chainsaws were active, the group rested more and scanned less. The gibbons called more on mornings when there was no chainsaw activity; however, the trend was non‐significant. These findings suggest that despite long‐term exposure, chainsaw noise variably impacts important aspects of gibbon behaviour.

Global bamboo forest certification: The state of the art

Illegal logging is an important cause of deforestation and forest degradation. As a voluntary market-driven mechanism, sustainable forest management certification aims to reduce illegal logging in forests and promote sustainable management practices by creating a transparent, independent tracing and auditing mechanism. To date, around 11% of global forest areas have been certified under forest certification schemes. Biologically, bamboo belongs to the grass family and is classified as a non-timber forest product. Owing to its high fibre quality, many bamboo panel-based products, such as flooring, furniture, and kitchenware, are traded as alternatives to timber products in the global market. Forest certification is widely acknowledged as a means of ensuring the sustainability and legality of forest sources by European countries and the United States, which are the largest importers of bamboo products. Therefore, certified bamboo and its products are often required to meet the legal requirements and public procurement policies when entering these markets. Currently, 48 valid Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) bamboo forest management certificates and 3237 valid bamboo FSC Chain of Custody (CoC) certificates have been issued, while only 1 bamboo forest management and 3 bamboo CoC certificates have been documented in PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) online database. Here, we describe the current development of global bamboo forest certification in terms of certification standards, practices, and markets; analyze challenges and future trends; and offer recommendations for creating interest in this issue and taking further action.

ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and Machine learning for sustainable wood sourcing and species Identification: Applications to wood forensics

Wood forensics, a vital tool in addressing global concerns surrounding illegal logging and the authenticity of wood products, plays a pivotal role in promoting sustainable forestry practices. The integration of Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and machine learning presents a potent approach to streamline identification processes and enhance responsible wood sourcing. ATR-FTIR facilitates the detailed characterization of wood components by analyzing spectral data, revealing unique chemical signatures associated with different wood species. This study focuses on Eucalyptus, Dalbergia, and Populus wood species in India, revealing common peaks related to cellulose, flavones, hemicellulose, and lignin constituents. Isolation Forest (iForest) identifies outliers, subsequently removed for supervised modelling, while Principal Component Analysis (PCA) reduces dimensionality effectively. Tree-based supervised machine learning algorithms, including Decision Tree, Extra Tree, Random Forest, and CatBoost classifiers, enhances the accuracy of wood species discrimination by deciphering complex patterns within ATR-FTIR spectra. Further, evaluation through various performance metrics supports the comparative analysis. The outcomes of this study hold significant value for law enforcement agencies in combating illegal logging and timber trade, and potential applications in quality control for timber industries. This research substantiates its real-world applicability, marking a noteworthy advancement in the evolving field of wood forensics.

Changes in natural forest land cover of the Eucalyptus urophylla type in the Mutis Timau area in 2002-2022, East Nusa Tenggara Province

Anthropogenic activities carried out by communities around forests in production forests, protected forests, and conservation forests have an impact on changes in the land cover of these areas. This impact is difficult to avoid because, on the other hand, production forests and protected forests are in direct contact with the lives of local communities. Changes in land cover have a significant impact on the contribution of Folu Net Sink, which is set by the government at 31.89% in 2030 with its efforts. This research aims to provide an overview of land cover changes that occurred in natural forests of the Eucalyptus urophylla type from 2002 to 2022. The method used in this research is a supervised/guided digital classification technique. Ground checks were also carried out in this research to match the accuracy of the image data with the actual conditions in the field. The research results show that changes in land cover in 2012 and 2017 were very extreme. Forest fires were the cause of changes in land cover during this period. Meanwhile, in 2002, 2007, and 2022, the land cover was still good, in a positive direction. The causes of changes in land cover are encroachment activities, encroachment, illegal logging, firewood theft, rice fields, forest fires, plantations, and farming. Forest preservation provides very high benefits for life on earth. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the welfare of local communities so that they do not damage the forest, as well as increase the capacity to educate the community regarding zoning or blocks in conservation and protected forests. Apart from that, good forest management is needed to ensure forest sustainability in the future.

LA TEAK: PAINTED ANIMATION AS AN EDUCATIONAL MEDIA MAINTAINING TREE SUSTAINABILITY AR 3D FILTER-BASED

Forests which are often given the nickname the lungs of the world are starting to dwindle day by day. There are many cases of illegal logging for the benefit of private industry individuals without thinking about the impact that will be caused. The bad influence that appears is not only felt now but also in the future. Education regarding the existence of a tree is deemed necessary to be made. Taking into account these problems, this study aims to create a combined work of art that carries the idea of the tree itself. Artwork is made from two elements of art, namely painting, and animation. Many say that there is a wall between traditional art and digital art. This research also intends to prove that the two types of art can be united. The method of creating works is in the form of static paintings which are used as tracker/marker objects for making augmented reality (AR) animations. The results of the creation of works in this study show that they can provide knowledge to the wider community regarding the importance of trees and instill in them a sense of love for the environment, as well as provide more experience to the community regarding new media.

Blockchain-based Traceability for Teak Identity: A Transformational Approach

The Southern regions of India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Indonesia are where teak originated. Teak is a high-value wood that used to be an export good for Thailand, bringing in a lot of money. Thailand produced approximately 71,954.53 m3 of teak plantation timber and exported wood products worth 1.1 billion baht overseas in 2018, according to the Forest Industry Organization (FIO). Due to its high demand, there is also a chance that smuggled wood from within the country or wood that has been illegally obtained abroad will enter the supply chain. Encroachment and illegal logging are still major problems in Thailand. Blockchain technology has become extremely popular due to its distinctive immutability and traceability properties, which have the opportunity to overcome a variety of issues. In order to get rid of illegal teak timber and achieve traceable, transparent, and reliable teak data that is moved through the teak supply chain, we present a decentralized application (DApp) based on the Ethereum blockchain that implements a traceability system for teak identity. According to the findings of the experiment, our DApp achieves a good trade-off between the system’s gas cost of 116K (2.53 USD) to store data in the Ethereum blockchain and provide high security, transparency, privacy, resilience, and robustness. We observed that the newly proposed blockchain-based system can reduce illegal logging, the usage of paper-based documentation, and the time needed to validate the documentation in teak supply chain controls when we compared it to the traditional process used in the supply chain.

The Constraints to Effective Implementing of Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation in Nigeria

Since the adoption of the Non-Legally Binding Authoritative Statement of Principles for Global Consensus on the Management, Conservation and Sustainable Development of all types of Forest at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the issue of combating deforestation remains one of the topical issues relating to climate change discussions globally. To combat deforestation, countries go beyond international conventions to institutionalize domestic frameworks to regulate illegal timber logging. However, the implementation of regulatory policies has been ineffective in countries like Nigeria. Situated within this problem, this study identified some domestic constraints affecting the effectiveness of timber logging regulation in Nigeria. To this end, data was collected from respondents using structured questionnaires. The data were analysed using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC) at a 0.05 level of significance. Constraints identified are corruption, insufficient legal framework, lack of coordination in regulation enforcement, inadequate staff, and the state monopoly of forest ownership.

Locally protected forests: status, character and challenges a case study of Inhambane Province, southern Mozambique

AbstractMozambique has undocumented forest patches that are cultural landscapes and locally protected as heritage sites. Using the case of Inhambane Province, in this paper, we present the status and purposes of forest patches protected by local communities and discuss threats working against local protection. Findings point out that these heritage forests are reservoirs for biodiversity conservation and the local system of conservation is effective, but there are challenges local custodians face to safeguard heritage forests, ranging from illegal logging, misrecognition of customary protection and lack of legislation enforcement. We argue that the existence of heritage forests requires collaboration between entities dealing with forests, heritage and conservation. We suggest strategies to increase protection in the Inhambane Province and the Mozambique context. This will support local institutions in the protection of heritage forests, as biodiversity reservoirs and in keeping heritage practices and the customary protection of heritage forests alive.

Evaluating the effectiveness of protected area management in Indonesia

Abstract Protected areas worldwide are strongholds for safeguarding biodiversity, natural habitats, ecosystem services and cultural values. Yet despite their importance, the effectiveness of protected area management varies greatly. Indonesia is a biodiversity hotspot, with 554 protected areas that cover 27 million ha across the archipelago. To assess and improve the management effectiveness of these protected areas, the Government of Indonesia applied an adapted version of the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) to assess 422 of the country's protected areas, of which 170 were repeatedly assessed in 2015, 2017 and 2019. We investigated the METT score changes across these protected areas and the factors explaining the varying scores. Over the study years, METT scores significantly improved (mean increase of 44.1%). National parks had the highest mean score, which was 13.4 points higher than other protected area types. After correcting for spatial autocorrelation using a generalized least-squares model, we found that METT score increase was positively influenced by year of assessment and having a well-resourced management authority, with no influence of protected area size or mean protected area budget allocation per ha. The assessments identified five main threats to protected areas: poaching, illegal logging, human settlements, tourism and non-timber cultivation. The widespread and repeated use of METT across the protected areas of Indonesia and the increasing METT scores indicate an overall improvement in management and professionalism. Building on the foundational work in our study, future studies should assess the association between METT scores and progress made towards achieving the conservation objectives of protected areas.

PROGRESSIVE INTERPRETATION OF THE QUR'AN IN TAFSIR AT-TANWIR: MUHAMMADIYAH'S COLLECTIVE IDENTITY ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Tafsir At-Tanwir, the progressive interpretations in it cannot be separated from Muhammadiyah's collective identity. The logical consequence of efforts to understand the interpretations in Tafsir At-Tanwir, directly or indirectly, needs to understand Muhammadiyah's collective identity as a whole. Especially in research focused on environmental issues. This research is a library research using a qualitative approach. The research subject (formal object) is Tafsir At-Tanwir, while the research object (material object) is progressive interpretation that includes environmental discourse as researchers found in Tafsir At-Tanwir. While this research uses a descriptive-analytical type of research, in which it will describe and analyze Tafsir At-Tanwir in which it shows the progressive interpretation of the Qur'an on environmental discourse. This research uses collective identity theory to portray the progressive interpretation in At-Tanwir cannot be separated from Muhammadiyah. These interpretations have critical and creative nuances in responding to environmental problems that exist in contemporary times. Actually, the interpretation of At-Tanwir makes critical efforts towards current actual problems such as illegal logging, environmental pollution, exhaust emissions, which ultimately create global warming. Muhammadiyah's collective identity on environmental issues is divided into three points, namely Muhammadiyah's attitude towards environmental issues based on ideology, the characteristics of Islam Berkemajuan, and Muhammadiyah's attitude.

Biocultural Conservation-based Narrative Text: An Effort to Enhance Conservation Literacy of the Local Community in the Sanctuary Area

This study is part of the Faculty of Languages and Arts’ second-year research project in partnership with International Animal Rescue (IAR). The major goal was to raise conservation awareness among the local people dwelling in the sanctuary region of Pematang Gadung Village, Ketapang Regency, West Borneo, to tackle environmental challenges such as illegal logging, poaching, and illegal mining. The research and development process were divided into three stages based on the Successive Approximation Model (SAM): preparation, iterative design, and iterative development. This work focuses primarily on the iterative design phase, expanding on the findings of the research completed in the first year when the local people perceived forest as commodities due to their lack of conservation literacy. Their biocultural conservation, on the other hand, was profoundly based on their indigenous, Muslim Malay ethnic beliefs and traditions. This study aims to construct a biocultural conservation-based narrative text as a first step toward generating conservation material that resonates with the community’s local wisdom using a biocultural approach.
 Keywords: conservation literacy, biocultural conservation approach, SAM, REB, local community of Pematang Gadung Village

Assessment of revenue loss from illegal logging in Ghana’s informal timber sector

This study estimated stumpage, Social Responsibility Agreement (SRA) and carbon revenue loss from Ghana’s informal timber sector. Secondary data on confiscated timber were collected from 13 District Forest offices from 2020 to 2022. The timber species volumes were computed with their corresponding stumpage, SRA, and potential carbon revenue. The results indicate that US$ 14,670.73 was lost as stumpage revenue between 2020 and 2022 in the study Forest Districts. SRA revenu e of US$ 733.54 originally destined for the development of forest fringe communities was also lost. For the study period, the highest potential carbon revenue loss (US$ 37,572) was recorded in the year 2020. The findings have implications for the country’s forest sector emission reduction target under the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and the realization of carbon revenue from the mandatory and voluntary markets. One key way to improve the forest revenue system is to address illegal logging as it is widespread in the country and contributes to the decline in stumpage revenue, which is one of the main sources of revenue for forest management and development at the local level.

An Efficient Method and Hardware System for Monitoring of Illegal Logging Events in Forest

An Efficient Method and Hardware System for Monitoring of Illegal Logging Events in Forest

Collaborative Governance in Government Administration in the Field of State Security Along the Republic of Indonesia (RI)-Malaysia Border Area

In recent decades, new forms of government have emerged to replace managerial models in policy making and execution. According to (Chris Ansell & Alison Gash, 2007), collaborative governance is a concept used by the government to regulate the involvement of nongovernmental parties in formal, consensus-oriented, and deliberative collective decision-making processes that aim to create and implement public policies and manage public programs or assets. This study aims to analyze and describe the collaborative government carried out in the Implementation of the State Mission in the Field of State Border Security between the Republic of Indonesia and Malaysia in North Kalimantan Province. The results show that the collaboration carried out to combat crime in the RI-Malaysia border area has not been optimal. This is based on the high crime rate that occurred in 2018 in the North Kalimantan Province area, which is directly adjacent to Malaysia in the form of illegal logging (as much as 200,000 m³). Foreign fishermen who abet illegal fishing amounted to 474 vessels, the arrest of illegal Indonesian migrant workers captured in Malaysia in 2018 was 6,135 people, and the number of drug smuggling cases increased due to 890 incidents in the border area of Malaysia in North Kalimantan Province. Therefore, to overcome these problems, powerful collaboration among government institutions, the private sector, and the community is needed to support effective communication and coordination to create a conducive atmosphere, crime eradication, and rules of order between the RI-Malaysia border area in North Kalimantan Province.