Timber Exploitation Research Articles

Legal Examination of Benefit Sharing and Livelihood Improvement in Protected Area Managements: The Case of the Bakossi National Park

This study examines the interplay between benefit sharing and livelihood improvement within the Bakossi National Park (BNP) within the legal perspective. Traditionally, conservation efforts often placed local communities at odds with protected areas. However, through a doctrinal methodology, this research argues that a well-designed benefit-sharing program can foster collaboration and improve the lives of local communities. By analyzing the BNP as a case study, the research explores how initiatives like revenue sharing from timber exploitation, tourism, employment opportunities within the park, and community driven projects can generate income and empower local communities. The effectiveness of these programs hinges on understanding the specific needs of the communities and ensuring their equitable participation in decision-making processes. Ultimately, this study contends that successful benefit sharing in PAs management, like the BNP, can create a win-win situation, where biodiversity is preserved, and local communities thrive. The work concludes with robust recommendations that if complied with and enforced, it would go a long way to improve on the livelihood of local communities in the Bakossi National Park of Cameroon.

Timber Industry, Cosmopolitics, and Ontology of Trees in Peruvian Amazon

Since they were first contacted in the early 1960s, the Yaminawa people of Comunidad Nativa de Raya (Mapuya River, Peruvian Amazon) have been involved in the timber exploitation industry. Over the following decades, most of the Raya men were recruited to locate, cut, and transport valuable timber resources in the forest and even to become minor bosses within the habilitación system. This seems, in some way, contradictory with their sociocosmology that shares perspectival features with those of other Amerindians. Certain animals and plants have agency, desires, and habits analogous to humans and play a central role in the process of the social fabrication of persons. I focus here on some species of large trees and their ontology. Their relationship with human beings should be characterized as ambivalent. On the one hand, they have an intense predatory agency; on the other, they are the source of shamanic power. On the basis of this conception of the vegetal world, I explore the transformation of ideas about the agency of trees in recent decades, which occurred in interaction with the cosmology of the regional society, and enquire about how the Yaminawa people articulate the existence of these predatory human-like tree entities with their, also predatory, involvement in the timber industry.

Impacts of Climate Change on Food Security and Sustainable Water Resources in Nigeria

This study evaluates the impacts of climate change on food security and sustainable water resources in Nigeria. Stratified samples were taken from North Central States of Benue and Plateau, and South-South Cross River State and Akwa-Ibom. These four states are among the thirty six states in Nigeria that have been badly hit by climate change. This study used soft and hardware computer applications including German 12 handheld GPS, and Integrated Land and Water Information System (ILWIS), for data collection. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected for the evaluation. The GIS information software package was used to manipulate and perform feature identification, recognition, classification, calculation, and ground-trotting. A structured questionnaire was also used to collect data on some livelihood activities, the influence of livelihoods activities on water resources, food security, and climate change impacts. Data analysis, found that the forest and water bodies are shrunken. Industrial activities such as oil exploration and exploitation, mining, by Multinational Corporations, illegal mining, grazing, unsustainable farming practices, fishing and hunting for bush meats, bush fire, timber exploitation and deforestation have contributed to climate change. The study recommends climate action and climate diplomacy, building local capacity for resilience, engaging the private sector, partnerships and international assistance.

BRITISH ADMINISTRATION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON MIZORAM FOREST

The Colonial history of Mizoram (Lushai Hills district) witnessed a very little state intervention in matters of religion and customs. The advent of Christianity and education was phenomenal in changing the animistic world view and attitude of the people towards natural features and use of resources. The Lushai Hills district being a single political entity with fixed boundaries governed by Inner line Regulation, villages were concentrated in a given domain and the people were forced to rely on the shrinking resources domains to meet basic needs. Though Forest Department was created to enforce the State dominion over forest resources, the degrees of imperial control are different in the hill areas. In Lushai Hills district, concern to maintain public order outweighed the economic interests. The hill forests had less commercial potential in terms of species and their number and poor accessibility tended to restrict timber exploitation to areas on the route of navigable rivers. Small and localized reserves such as, riverine, roadside, and town reserves were created by executive order. Outside the reserves, people were entitled to remove forest produce for consumption. While the people utilized forest and fields as the basic resources for survival, the government utilized it for wealth.

Historical analysis of timber exploitation in the Central Pacific Mountains of Costa Rica

Abstract [Introduction] The mountainous region of the Central Pacific of Costa Rica, currently made up mostly of the cantons of Turrubares, Puriscal and Mora, and to a lesser extent by the southwest of Acosta, was one of the most deforested areas since colonial times. [Objective] To comprehensively analyze the historical, socioeconomic, geo-climatic and ecological factors that possibly favored the logging exploitation of the forests of that region. [Methodology] The historical documents, and the geo-climatic, ecological and socioeconomic factors of the region were reviewed. In addition, a census was carried out among forestry professionals and industrialists to determine the timber species possibly extracted from the forests based on the floristic composition of protected forest areas in the region. [Results] The mountainous region was a transit and settlement site for Spanish colonists since the 16th century, which facilitated the development of access roads. Its proximity to the Central Valley, which needed forest and agricultural products for the growing urban area, together with the existence of an ecological convergence zone extraordinarily rich in trees of commercial importance, greatly facilitated the extraction of forest products. [Conclusion] The early colonization of the region, the existence of infrastructure, high demand for forest products at the national and international level, and the availability of forest resources in an area where the tropical dry forest, the cloud forest and the humid forest converge, and the edaphoclimatic conditions that also facilitated the development of agricultural crops, favored the change in land use and therefore the forestry exploitation of the region.

Hydrological and nutrient regulation per occupation unit differ between structurally contrasting native and planted forests in the Northern Andes

Understanding ecohydrological dynamics that result from land-use conversions is fundamental in managing ecosystem services. One common forest transformation in the tropics is the establishment of monospecific plantations with exotic species for timber exploitation, replacing highly diverse natural forests. The impacts of establishing forest plantations in hydrological processes and biogeochemical dynamics have been highly controversial, with functions from structurally homogeneous plantations being sometimes assumed to be comparable to natural forests. To assess the effects of planting exotic conifer species versus natural forests on hydrological and biogeochemical functions, we measured incoming precipitation, throughfall, and stemflow. To compare between forest types, we propose the use of basal area for standardization of hydrochemical fluxes. While net precipitation was similar among forest types, the transmission of water to the forest floor per basal area unit was significantly higher in native forests. Yet, nutrient concentrations were similar among them. However, greater nutrient enrichment per unit basal area was observed for the native species. This more efficient nutrient cycling could be related to native forests being better adapted to oligotrophic soils. The re-establishment of native species rather than with exotic species can result in more efficient hydrochemical regulation, improving the capacity of these ecosystems to produce services.

Prospective analysis of deforestation determinants in the Amazonian landscapes

Amazonian landscapes are socio-ecological systems that provide fundamental ecosystem services for the maintenance of landscape regulation, biodiversity, and climate regulation. The increasing pressure of population density, productive activities over natural resources, infrastructure development, timber exploitation, and illicit crops among other determinants have put Amazonian landscapes at risk due to deforestation. This research work aims to understand the possible interactions of the determinants of Amazonian deforestation and to describe its complex behavior with the socio-ecological systems with a supporting vision for future studies. Initially, a rigorous analysis the of literature review on the determinants of deforestation in the Amazon was made to be carried out a systemic representation based on the dynamics of systems methodology on the behavioral interactions between these different determinants. The determinants of deforestation can be classified into determinants by activity, by support, by social dynamism, and by political pressure, which converge in these natural areas of the Amazonian landscape and transform into an urban-agricultural area, this change in the coverage of Amazonian land use generating rate environmental problems both locally and globally. By analyzing the causal relationships of the determinants of Amazon deforestation in the different scenarios, the proposed hypothesis is that with the large-scale increase of productive activities on natural resources, the Amazonian landscapes will not be sustainable in urban-agricultural environments. Finally, this research found that Amazon can confront different scenarios with diverse futures subject to the socio-ecological actions generated for the conservation and relevance of its ecosystem services.

Development of a Watershed Management Plan to Protect Soil and Water Resources, Case of Imady Region Amoron’ny Mania

Unsustainable development has often threatened watershed ecology in many parts of the world, and population growth has played a major role in this process. Our study consists of the development of a watershed management plan. The degradation of environments by bushfire, timber exploitation, and firewood harvesting dew soil and pollutes spring water, in addition, there are also negative impacts on the physicochemical property of the soil. This research aims to put in place a watershed management plan to restore the soil and the soil pit against erosion. The development also allows for the protection of water resources and the pollution generated by this degradation. The study specifies the physical characteristics of the watershed: altitude, slope, and constant of Graveluis. We also examine the physicochemical properties of the soil: structure, texture, and pH. After the study of the soil, we also determined the measure of the flow of the source, the organoleptic analysis, and also the physicochemical and bacteriological analysis. The results of this work once made available to the authorities of the basic data could be exploited in the framework of the improvement of the quality of water intended for human consumption. To fight against water pollution, the easiest measure to apply is a large awareness campaign.

Abundance and Regeneration Potentials of Trees Species at Ukpon River Forest Reserve, Cross River State, Nigeria

Tropical rainforest is continuously declining by timber exploitation, commercial and monoculture plantation. In This study, abundance and regeneration potentials of trees at Ukpon river forest reserve cross River State, Nigeria was assessed using Systematic line transects and purposive sampling techniques for plots demarcation and data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as tables, charts, frequencies and diversity indices were analyzed using ‘R’ soft wear. 65 tree species in 32 families and 10 genera. Meliaceae, (6) Caesalpiniceae and Moraceae (5) families each were the most abundant families individuals population.). The highest relative frequency (2.256%) and (2.241%) were recorded in Melicia excelsa. Relative dominance (4.970%) was highest in Bianella toxisperma. IVI recorded the highest value (4.970%) in Melicia excelsa . The highest dbh and tree height were (80.5cm) and (68.3m). Shannon wiener index was (5.058), Margelef index (36. 097) and species richness (68). Regeneration potentials seedlings ranged between 0. 22% and 0.01%. However, it is necessary to understand the phenology of the forest reserve, to study whether seeds or fruits produced are adequate, physiological conditions to germinate and growth into wildlings for regeneration purpose.

Timber as a Marine Resource: Exploitation of Arctic Driftwood in the North Atlantic

Abstract The North Atlantic islands of the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland have always been relatively poor in terms of native timber resources, due to their cold climate and exposed topography. Nevertheless, timber was vital to the material culture of the Norse settlers of these islands, and driftwood often met this need. As in subarctic Norway, where trees are also scarce, driftwood use and ownership were prescribed in medieval law codes. Historical documentary evidence shows that wealthy landowners bought driftwood rights as valuable assets, and ethnohistorical sources reveal a wide range of local and regional customs related to driftwood exploitation. However, driftwood was an unstable resource, and its delivery depended on a range of unpredictable factors related to climate and ocean currents. There is also ongoing debate regarding the relative importance of imported timber, which is for example often referenced in the Icelandic sagas. The use of driftwood is difficult to demonstrate through macroscopic, microscopic, or (geo-)chemical analysis. Similarities in the microscopic anatomy of boreal wood taxa preclude definitive provenancing through taxonomic analysis, and material traces of immersion in seawater are often either impermanent or ambiguous, especially in archaeological wood remains. This paper presents a comprehensive review of current historical and archaeological research on the exploitation of driftwood timber in the Medieval North Atlantic and explores potential future directions in this field. Furthermore, it asserts that this line of research should be pursued with some urgency, as anthropogenic climate change threatens both driftwood delivery and the preservation of archaeological wood remains.

Unseen for 43 years! A new occurrence of Glaucomys volans (Linnaeus, 1758) (Rodentia, Sciuridae) in Honduras

We report an occurrence of Glaucomys volans (Linnaeus, 1758) in Honduras after 43 years since its last verified record. The observation was in an area in which forestry and silvicultural activities are carried out for the sustainable exploitation of logging and timber of Pinus oocarpa in Las Lechuzas, department of Olancho (eastern Honduras). This record supports the initiation of new conservation activities in areas in which forestry is being implemented; population studies and the protection of their refuges are the priorities at its southernmost locality.

Analytical study of timber exploitation in Bikoro Territory (Province of Equateur, Democratic Republic of the Congo)

L’exploitation du bois est une activité économique, mais elle modifie le paysage naturel et perturbe la biodiversité. Le but de cette étude était d’identifier les essences d’arbres exploitées et d’examiner les perceptions des habitants de l’impact environnemental de cette exploitation. Des entretiens ont été menés dans huit villages du territoire de Bikoro. Les données ont été collectées de novembre 2020 à janvier 2021 en administrant des questionnaires aux habitants consentants. Au total 106 répondants ont participé à l’étude dont l’âge moyen était de 40 ans. 58% des répondants avaient un avis défavorable sur l’exploitation du bois car elle impliquée souvent la baisse et/ou la disparition des animaux et insectes alimentaires et la perturbation saisonnière. Mots clés: Bassin du Congo, exploitation forestière, bois d’œuvre, territoire de Bikoro, République démocratique du Congo

Management and protection of large old tree species in farmlands: Case of Milicia excelsa in southern Benin (West Africa)

Agroforestry systems are the last refuge habitats for many large old trees. This study assessed the management and the protection of Milicia excelsa (Iroko) trees in agricultural landscape of Dogbo district in southern Benin. A socio-economic survey with 288 respondents combined with an inventory of M. excelsa trees in agricultural lands were carried out. A total of 404 Iroko's trees were geolocated in 10 stands ranging in size from 102 to 1476 ha. The pair correlation function has been used to assess the spatial patterns of Iroko trees. The density of Iroko trees varies moderately from 1.69 ± 0.19 to 0.07 ± 0.02 stems/ha respectively in farmland and landscape with a spatial distribution ranging from gregarious to random - gregarious - random. The diametric structure of Iroko trees presents a bell-shaped appearance with a left asymmetry. The vertical structure shows a bell-like appearance centered on the modal class made up of individuals of height between 14 and 16 m. Timber exploitation (14%), rarefaction of the species and its attribute of sacred tree (98%) are the main motivations for protecting plants in agricultural lands. The medicinal use of the plant parts of Iroko is mainly based on the bark (33%) and leaves (24%). Except the socioeconomic conditions of farmers, the cultural foundations contribute the most to the preservation of M. excelsa in the agricultural lands. Thus, a participatory reforestation program integrating the endogenous values of local populations in the use of agroforestry systems as biological corridors could be successfully implemented. It would allow the preservation of large old trees from the increasing pressure on their populations in the future.

Isotopic Characterization of Cedrela to Verify Species and Regional Provenance of Bolivian Timber

With increasing concerns about sustainable exploitation of tropical timber, there is a need for developing independent tools to check their origin. We evaluated the potential of tree-ring stable isotopes for identifying four Cedrela species (C. balansae, C. fissilis, C. odorata, and C. saltensis) and for identifying geographic origin of C. fissilis and C. odorata, two of the most intensively exploited species. We studied differences in δ13C and δ18O of wood among 11 forest sites (163 trees). We quantified isotope composition of 10-year bulk samples, and for a subset we also evaluated isotopic annual fluctuations for the last 10 years. Although annual isotopic variability was not correlated to precipitation or elevation, we found a significant relationship between the 10-year bulk stable-isotope composition and average precipitation and elevation. However these relationships were not consistent across all sites. We also explored isotopic site and species differentiation using Kernel Discriminant Analyses. Site discrimination was low: 30% accuracy for C. odorata, and 40% for C. fissilis sites. However, species discrimination was 57.5% for C. odorata and 95.3% for C. fissilis. These results suggest that although δ13C and δ18O isotopic analyses hold potential to verify species identification, discrimination of geographical origin within a country may still be challenging.

The Contribution of Community Forestry on Livelihood Improvement and Environmental Protection in Cameroon

The sustainable management of community forests in Cameroon is a success story for the achievement of Community-Based natural Resources Management (CBNRM). This approach empowers local communities to take the lead on natural resources management, giving them a sense of responsibility and ownership. This study was carried out in three community forest (Woteva, Bakingili and Bimbia-Bonadikombo community forests) in Fako Division, South West Region of Cameroon. The aim of this research was to verify the contribution of community forestry to the wellbeing of the local population, and how it enhances the conservation of biodiversity. In this study, 135 (45.8%) of the 295 respondents were from Bimbia-Bonadikombo, 109 (36.9%) from Bakingili and 51 (17.3%) from Woteva. From this total, 155 (52.5%) were female and the rest (140 or 47.5%) were male. 89.4% of the population use the forests for fuelwood collection, 25.7% for timber exploitation, 40% for farming, and 41.3% for non-timber forest products (NTFPs) harvesting. Interestingly, only 17.9% of the respondents reported an increase in community members income under community forestry, 53.9% perceived no change especially as not everyone in the community is committed to community forestry. However, an improved adoption of sustainable exploitation practices was noted, and this can be explained by the numerous sensitization and training workshops and field demonstration carried out by the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife through the Programme for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources-Southwest (PSMNR-SW), as well as Mount Cameroon prunus africana Association (MOCAP).

Insecurity, Informal Trade and Timber Trafficking in the Gambia/Casamance Borderlands

ABSTRACT The Gambia’s long frontier with Casamance, southern Senegal, has historically been porous allowing informal cross-border trade to flourish. With context from colonial times, the paper examines the post-independence period, during which flows of agricultural and forest products mainly from Casamance into The Gambia have continued, while processed foods and manufactured goods have been traded in the other direction. Certain flows have become pathological since the Casamance rebellion began in 1982, with natural resources being traded by both Senegalese government and separatist forces, and arms trafficked to the latter partly through Gambian channels. With the conflict now of low intensity though not resolved, continued illegal timber exploitation in Casamance driven mainly by international actors is becoming more environmentally destructive and locally divisive. The paper argues that informal cross-border trade has long been bound up with insecurity at local, national, transnational and international levels, and that contemporary dynamics show some historical continuities.

Impact of Timber Logging on Neighbouring Stands in a Forest of the South Western Cameroon

During conventional logging operations, there is always some damage to nearby stands. This study therefore assessed the damage caused after logging operations to surrounding stands in a Forest Management Unit (FMU) in south western Cameroon after logging operations. The damages assessed were snapped branches/trunks and uprooted trees. A total of 304 trees with a diameter ≥ 30 cm were cut and a total of 770 neighbouring harvestable and future trees were affected. It was observed that 375 of the neighbouring stand had their trunks snapped, 312 had their branches snapped, and 15 were uprooted. It was noted that 80% of the trees affected were those with diameters between 30 - 50 cm, which were called future trees for the next harvest, while the least damage was on protected/seed trees. Lophira alata caused the highest stand damage due to its abundance and large size, while Distemonanthus benthamianus caused the least domino damage. Damage to future trees negatively affects future concession holders as these trees are supposed to mature before the next harvest, hence the yield will be greatly reduced. Sustainable timber exploitation will greatly reduce residual damage as care will be taken to ensure falling timber causes less damage to the surrounding stand.

Tree growth and mortality of 42 timber species in central Africa

Tree growth and mortality are two central processes in mixed and structurally complex moist tropical forests, yet accurate estimates of the variables needed to model them remain sparse and scattered. It is thus still difficult to predict forest evolution at a local scale and build reliable management plans. To help fill this gap, for 1–7 years we annually monitored 21,180 trees belonging to 42 species exploited for timber production in Central Africa. We made new species-specific estimates of diameter increments and mortality rates, and investigated how tree growth varied with tree size and logging history. We compared our results with the legal values of diameter increments, mortality rates, and minimum cutting diameters used to build forest management plans in Cameroon. Diameter increment was found to vary with tree size for most of the species studied. The relationships between diameter increment and tree size were mostly humpback-shaped. The trees with diameters close to or lower than the reference minimum cutting diameter generally grew faster than the average. We also found that tree growth could slow for 1–2 years after timber exploitation and was then spurred for at least 5 years. The tree growth response to logging was nevertheless species-specific. This study provides new estimates of tree diameter increments and mortality rates that could help make more accurate forest projections and draw up sustainable management plans in Africa.

First evaluation of the use of assisted natural regeneration by central african farmers to restore their landscapes

On the outskirts of the city of Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, fuelwood production, slash-and-burn agriculture and artisanal timber exploitation are causing deforestation and forest ecosystem degradation.Within the framework of the REDD+ Component of the South-West Regional Development Project, the implementation of Assisted Natural Regeneration during weeding (ANRw) in the slash-and-burn system was proposed and set up by 23 volunteer farmers on 24 fields with an average area of 0.22 ha in two villages (Boteke and Salanga).The objective of the study was to characterise the floristic structure of the juvenile woody vegetation resulting from ANRw in these two villages. More specifically, it aimed to: 1) describe the methods used to inform and raise awareness amongst farmers who volunteer to practise ANRw; 2) identify the main species conserved by the farmers; 3) identify the reasons or factors that motivated farmers to choose these species; 4) identify the biological and ecological characteristics of these species; and 5) evaluate the height growth of young trees preserved by ANRw over a 14-month period.The third inventory of the 24 plots (volunteers' fields) gave 1,668 woody plants preserved by ANR on 5.35 ha (312 trees ha−1), divided into 42 genera, 47 species and 23 families.These results show that ANRw is a simple technique to implement and can help maintain trees in fields in areas where pressure on the forest is high. In the supported villages, communities have shown an interest in applying this technique to reintroduce trees in the fields. This technique should be popularised in other places to improve the sustainable management of anthropized forest landscapes. In addition, volunteers who have tested ANRw say they are willing to continue practicing it. However, despite this genuine initial enthusiasm, this restoration drive will need to be monitored and supported due to the current context of extreme poverty and economic, social and political instability.

Assessment of Timber Resource Exploitation in Shasha Forest Reserve, Osun State, Nigeria: Implication for Sustainable Forestry

Records on rate of timber exploitation are very essential for sustainable forestry. They help in managing the forest sustainably. Therefore, the study collected and analysed data on rate of timber exploitation in Shasha forest reserve in Osun state. Logs arranged and set to be taken out of the forest were identified and measured every Monday between December, 2017 and June, 2018 for twenty-eight (28) weeks. The species and families of logs encountered were identified. A total of 13,944 logs were assessed. Fifteen (15) families belonging to twenty-one (21) species of logs were identified. Result revealed that Sterculiaceae family with five species was the most exploited. Ricinodendron heudelotti has the highest number of exploited logs with overall frequency of 27.71%. Ricinodendron heudelotti had the highest basal area and volume with values of 18018776.71cm² and 113289.36cm³ respectively. The study concludes that the population of Ricinodendron heudelotii tree was high in Shasha forest which made it available for extraction at high rate. The study recommends strict monitoring and enforcement of sustainable forestry laws with regular inventory and up-to-date inventory of timber exploitation rate from the reserve.