Utilization Of Forest Resources Research Articles

Indigenous Forest Knowledge (IFK) and Nature Reserve Workers’ Perceptions of IFK: A Case Study of Leigongshan National Nature Reserve, China

ABSTRACT Indigenous forest knowledge (IFK) plays an important role in the sustainable utilization and protection of forest resources as it affects the implementation of forest management. The Leigongshan National Nature Reserve (LNNR) is located in the southeastern region of Guizhou Province, China. The Reserve plays an important role in regional ecological protection. The Miao people who have lived in Leigongshan for generations have managed the forest resources in this area for more than 1000 years and developed a unique body of forest knowledge. Thus, the study of IFK in the LNNR can be used as a starting point to improve the regional development and management of forest resources. In this study, we investigated IFK in the LNNR by interviewing 315 Miao people across 26 Miao villages. A questionnaire survey of 66 nature reserve workers (NRWs) (excluding nongovernmental employees) in the LNNR was used to record their perceptions of Miao IFK (MIFK), and the factors contributing to these perceptions were analyzed. The results show the following. First, MIFK includes mainly three layers (material culture, spiritual culture, system culture) and 11 types (such as logging and agroforestry patterns). It has distinct ecological protection characteristics and a simple sustainable development concept. With the development and transformation of the economy and society, the material culture and spiritual culture layers of MIFK have tended to decline, while the system culture layers present the characteristics of an initial decline and rapid recovery. Second, most of the NRWs have a positive attitude toward MIFK. They believe that MIFK has a positive effect on the management of forest resources in the reserve, especially the customary laws at the village level. This attitude is closely related to the implementation of an “ecological forest ranger project” and a “community comanagement model” in the LNNR. Third, logistic regression analysis revealed that the major factors influencing NRWs’ perceptions were the level of awareness of forest knowledge, participation in activities, and education of the interviewees. Finally, in forestry management, forest workers should fully respect the value of IFK, and forest workers’ knowledge of IFK should be continuously improved through various measures to ensure the effectiveness of forest management and sustainable development.

De-colonizing conservation in a global world.

Humans form an integral part of most ecosystems on earth. To prevent habitat and species loss and destruction, social justice must, therefore, be at the core of conservation efforts. Traditional conservation education approaches focus on building knowledge, skills, and awareness amongst local communities with the hope of leading to behavior change resulting in the protection of species and ecosystems. The principal drivers of threats to these ecosystems, however, are often not the local people but rather the interests of industry, governments and consumers in distant places. To mitigate and abate the threats to ecosystems, conservation approaches must be both localized and decolonized, including on all the relevant stakeholders. This starts by ensuring that industry, government, and financing institutions have the skills and incentives to avoid harm to the people, wildlife, and ecosystems they exploit, and ensuring that local and indigenous communities are not only informed, but much more engaged in leading the activities that affect them or their land/resources. Essentially, it is the behavior of the global community that must change with respect to the consumption, utilization, and extraction of tropical forest resources and conservation targets must reflect this. Conservation can only be successful when the threats to ecosystems are adequately understood and local people are part of the design and leadership of conservation efforts. This commentary provides specific examples of how conservation education can focus on the drivers of threats, building expertize in the relevant audiences and partners.

Distribution and altitudinal patterns of carbon and nitrogen storage in various forest ecosystems in the central Yunnan Plateau, China

The carbon (C) pool in forest ecosystems plays a long-term and sustained role in mitigating the impacts of global warming, and the sequestration of C is closely linked to the nitrogen (N) cycle. Accurate estimates C and N storage (SC, SN) of forest can improve our understanding of C and N cycles and help develop sustainable forest management policies in the content of climate change. In this study, the SC and SN of various forest ecosystems dominated respectively by Castanopsis carlesii and Lithocarpus mairei (EB), Pinus yunnanensis (PY), Pinus armandii (PA), Keteleeria evelyniana (KE), and Quercus semecarpifolia (QS) in the central Yunnan Plateau of China, were estimated on the basis of a field inventory to determine the distribution and altitudinal patterns of SC and SN among various forest ecosystems. The results showed that (1) the forest SC ranged from 179.58 ± 20.57 t hm−1 in QS to 365.89 ± 35.03 t hm−1 in EB. Soil, living biomass and litter contributed an average of 64.73%, 31.72% and 2.86% to forest SC, respectively; (2) the forest SN ranged from 4.47 ± 0.94 t ha−1 in PY to 8.91 ± 1.83 t ha−1 in PA. Soil, plants and litter contributed an average of 86.88%, 10.27% and 2.85% to forest SN, respectively; (3) the forest SC and SN decreased apparently with increasing altitude. The result demonstrates that changes in forest types can strongly affect the forest SC and SN. This study provides baseline information for forestland managers regarding forest resource utilization and C management.

Dynamics of soil reinforcement by roots in a regenerating coppice stand of Quercus serrata and effects on slope stability

Regeneration by sprouting in secondary forests is a necessary technique not only for the utilization of forest resources, but also for maintaining forest health by regrowth and avoiding slope instability caused by over-sized aboveground biomass. The strength of soil reinforcement by roots generally decreases during the tree death process in deforestation, such as clear-cutting, whereas root system strength temporarily decreases in trees that regenerate sprouting after cutting. However, quantitative evaluation of decreasing soil reinforcement by roots and slope stability has not been conducted during regeneration. In this study, we evaluated changes in the number of roots and root distribution up to 3 years after cutting in the regeneration process of Quercus serrata, a major dominant species of secondary forests in warm and cool temperate zones in Japan. We also estimated soil reinforcement by roots: additional cohesion from roots using the root bundle model, and slope stability based on a factor of safety by dividing the effect of the tree root system into vertical and horizontal cohesion with soil physical properties. After cutting at the height of approximately 0.2 m, the aboveground sprouting branches immediately regenerated, whereas the belowground root system gradually decayed. The additional cohesion from roots in trees before cutting was calculated as 34.6 kPa, whereas it decreased significantly to 21.7 kPa in living stumps 3 years after cutting. The value for the factor of safety with a saturated soil thickness of 0.7 m was calculated as 1.20 in soil under trees before cutting, whereas it decreased significantly to 1.11 in soil under living stumps in the 3 years after cutting. The safety factor's value to 0.99 in soil under dead stumps, which did not regenerate sprouts within 3 years after cutting. We concluded that the probability of slope failure was significantly greater in the dead stumps than in the living stumps and could vary depending on the dynamics of above- and below-ground parts, including fine roots.

PERSEPSI MASYARAKAT PETANI TERHADAP HUTAN DI DESA TUMANI SELATAN KECAMATAN MAESAAN KABUPATEN MINAHASA SELATAN PROPINSI SULAWESI UTARA (PERCEPTION OF FARMER COMMUNITY TOWARDS THE FOREST IN SOUTH TUMANI VILLAGE MAESAAN SUB-DISTRICT OF SOUTH MINAHASA DISTRICT NORTH SULAWESI PROVINCE)

South Tumani village is a village located in The District Maesaan South Minahasa Regency, the majority of the people work as farmers. South Tumani village has a limited production forest area of 500 hectares (Ha). Based on observations made by researchers showed that people's behavior in the utilization of forest resources that are not controlled can trigger forest destruction. The purpose of this research is to find out the perception of farmers' perception of forests in The Village of South Tumani Maesaan District. For three months from August to October 2020, the data types used were primary data and secondary data obtained from interviews using questionnaires. Sampling method is done purposive sampling (determined intentionally).In accordance with the results of research on farmers' perception of forests in South Tumani Village. (1) Farmers in South Tumani Village know about the existence of forests in the eastern part of Tumani village and the types of crops in the forest. (2) Farmers know that forest resources are useful and have utilized forest resources. (3) Farmers know about the impact of forest damage and how to protect forests. (4) People are hesitant about the rules of forest protection.

Evaluating the Effects of Improving Forest Road Standards on Economic Value of Forest Products

Forest roads are the key infrastructures that provide access to forest areas for sustainable management, protection, and utilization of forest resources. In order to benefit from the important functions of forest roads, they should be built in with adequate technical road standards. The road network with low technical standards require more frequent major repairs to ensure continues access to forest resources. In addition, only small trucks with low load capacity can move on the low standard roads. Furthermore, the low road standards limit the truck speed that increases vehicle travel time. These negative effects increase the transportation costs which are an important part of the timber production costs in Turkey. Thus, improving the road standards and developing forest transportation planning should be evaluated together in the most appropriate way. Large logging trucks with high load capacity are generally preferred for efficient transportation of wood-based forest products. In Turkey, large logging trucks, however, cannot operate on the most of the forest roads because insufficient technical road standards (road width, curve radius, surface materials, road structures) limit the maneuverability of large logging trucks. In this study, the objective is to determine the effects of improving forest road standards on total net profit of forest products by using the NETWORK 2000 program, a heuristic approach for solving forest transportation problems. Three Forest Enterprise Chiefs (FECs) located in Mustafakemalpaşa Forest Enterprise Directorate (FED) in Bursa Forest Regional Directorate were selected as the study area. The digital data layers for forest road network was generated by using ArcGIS 10.4 software. In the solution process, firstly, the optimum routes that minimize the transportation cost and maximize the total net profit of forest products on existing forest road networks were investigated for a truck type (15 ton) currently used in the region. In the second case, forest transportation was planned for the high load capacity truck (29 ton) moving on the forest roads with improved standards. In the first case, the transportation costs and annual major repair costs were considered in the calculation of the net profit of forest products, while one time cost of road improvement activities (i.e. road improvement construction, road structure installation, road surface construction) and annual maintenance costs were considered along with transportation costs in the second case. In both cases, the costs of other forest operations (i.e. felling, logging, etc.) were not considered since it was assumed that they do not vary with the forest transportation alternatives. As a result of the transportation plan developed for high load capacity truck, the annual transportation cost decreased by 46.85% comparing to the local logging trucks with low load capacity. Using improved road standards, the total road costs computed for the time period of 30 years (i.e. the average expected life cycle of forest roads) were reduced by 4.64%. The total net profit of forest products transported by using a high load capacity truck was 473,340 Euro more than that of using low load capacity truck on the existing forest road network. Thus, improving road standards might result in some additional costs in the road construction stage, but total net profit of forest products increase since transportation costs along with maintenance and repair costs considerably decrease in the long term.

The role of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH Convention) in the protection of traditional forest-related knowledge (TFRK) of Amazonian indigenous peoples

ABSTRACT The growing value of forest resources has produced an increasing regulation of the use of forest resources in the national states of the Amazonian region. The new generation of forest norms have established a standardised system for the utilisation of forest resources based on two main aspects: the elaboration of forest management plans, and the granting of forest licences by the State’s authorities. However, this system has also increased the barriers for applying TFRK in indigenous lands because the current forest norms do not always consider their knowledge, their customary law, and their values. In view of this problem, this paper identifies the gaps and opportunities of the ICH Convention for protecting the TFRK of Amazonian indigenous peoples, considering the national legal frameworks of Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador and Peru. For doing this, firstly the connection between TFRK and intangible cultural heritage is shown. Secondly, the duties of the national States in relation to TFRK established by the ICH Convention are identified. Thirdly, it is discussed the form TFRK of Amazonian indigenous peoples is regulated in the national legal systems. Finally, it is analysed how the national norms that regulate TFRK of Amazonian indigenous peoples accommodate the ICH Convention.

Key Indicators and Social Acceptance for Bioenergy Production Potential as Part of the Green Economy Transition Process in Local Areas of Lapland.

The aim of this article was to create key indicators for measuring the implementation potential of the green economy transition at a local level in a northernmost, natural biomass-rich environment. The case area to test the set of indicators was the village of Saija in Lapland. The work presented in this article is based on a communicative cooperative research and development project. The selection process for the appropriate indicators is based on a conceptual framework for developing local sustainability indicators and the thematic framework follows the key dimensions of the green economy (ecosystem resilience, resource efficiency and social equity). When selecting the local-level indicators, a strong emphasis was placed on the special characteristics of the local area and the availability and validity of the data. Layman villagers and data policy relevance (in this case green economy) were also taken into consideration. The key indicators developed as a result included: the increment of growing forest stock in relation to the drain on growing forest stock, the village population, the bioenergy consumption share, the utilization share of side streams, the bioenergy production potential, capital outflow, demographic dependency ratio, the ratio between employed and working age residents and the number of forest owners in relation to area households. The key indicators are targeted for use in supporting local decision-making and monitoring and assessing development activities and their effectiveness in the process of the green economy transition. The indicators measure the most critical factors for green economy transition in a local area and identify the most optimal development opportunities when moving towards green growth. In the measurement of the transition potential of the green economy, it was found that the case area’s imported fossil energy consumption could be substituted with self-sufficient bioenergy production utilizing the area’s own raw materials. There is extensive potential for the utilization of manure (an agricultural side stream) and forest resources (forestry side streams) at the local level, especially since forests account for 98% of Lapland’s land area. In support of the change from fossil-based energy consumption towards bioenergy production, plans for a biogas plant were examined for self-sufficient bioenergy production and this appeared to be the initial key process in the path of the green economy transformation in the case village of Saija.

Pattern of Forest Resource Utilization in Some Villages of Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India

The Garhwal Himalaya, located in the Himalayan Biodiversity Hotpot, is facing a tremendous pressure especially in human habitation localities where majority of the inhabitants are dependent on the natural resources for their daily needs. The forest resource use patterns vary from one place to another depending upon the livelihood status of inhabitant of particular area. The present study deals the forest resource use pattern in five villages namely Ghidrasu, Daang, Kathur, Khon and Thapli situated in the fringe of a reserve forest of Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India. The average fodder consumption was found 1136.13±148.44 kg/ family/ month that ranged 1047.62–1334.56 kg/ family/ month. The average fuelwood consumption/ household/ month varied from 451.04 to 560.74 kg (average 486.30±43.90 kg). The average LPG consumption varied from 13.59 to 14.26 kg/ household/ month (average 13.85±0.25 kg) in the area. The total importance value (TIV) analysis revealed that Aesculus indica, Euonymus pendulus, Lyonia ovalifolia, Myrica esculenta, Pinus roxburghii, Prunus cerasoides, Quercus oblongata, Rhododendron arboreum and Swida macrophylla were the tree species of higher socioeconomic values hence needs especial concern and priority in conservation and management related activities.

Assessing Governance Status: Learning from Community Forest User Groups, Nepal


 
 
 Community forestry practices have proven to be successful in forest resource conservation and utilization in Nepal. Nevertheless, inclusive decision-making processes and equitable benefit-sharing among each household pose significant challenges to the Community Forestry Users Groups (CFUGs). The four key elements of good governance: Participation, Transparency, Accountability, and Predictability, each with their four own local indicators, were employed to measure the governance status in two CFUGs: Bosan and Hattiban Mahila in Kathmandu district. We collected data through a questionnaire survey (n=95), focus group discussions, and key informant surveys. The results showed that the general status of governance in Bosan CFUG was 'Good' (43 out of a total attainable score of 64), whereas that of Hattiban Mahila CFUG was 'Medium'(32 out of a total attainable score of 64). Scores for Transparency, Accountability, and Predictability in Bosan CFUG managed by men and women alike were found to be higher than those of Hattiban Mahila CFUG, which was managed mostly by women. Both the CFUGs received the same score for good governance element: Participation. This study helps policymakers to formulate effective programs for CFUGs members to improve the governance system in such forestry user groups.
 
 

Sustentabilidad ambiental de las concesiones forestales en el departamento Huánuco, Perú

El aprovechamiento sustentable de los recursos forestales consiste en utilizarlos para generar riqueza, mejorando indicadores sociales y evitando el desequilibrio ambiental. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la sustentabilidad ambiental de las concesiones forestales en el departamento Huánuco, Perú, mediante el análisis multicriterio basado en el uso de indicadores. Se construyeron indicadores que incluyen la diversidad de macrofauna edáfica evaluada hasta 30 cm de profundidad, como evidencia del estado de conservación y mantenimiento del suelo. Los indicadores fueron estandarizados mediante escala de 0 a 4.0, siendo 4.0 el mayor valor de sustentabilidad; posteriormente, fueron ponderados multiplicando la escala por un coeficiente, según su importancia respecto a la sustentabilidad. Una concesión forestal es ambientalmente sustentable, si el índice de sustentabilidad ambiental (ISA) es ≥ 2.0. La encuesta elaborada se aplicó a titulares y trabajadores de las concesiones forestales. Para conocer si el ISA en 60% de concesiones forestales supera el valor 2.0, se empleó la prueba estadística no paramétrica chi cuadrada; también se realizó entre indicadores, la correlación de Pearson con un 95% de confiabilidad. La prueba chi cuadrada confirma que las concesiones forestales con aprovechamiento forestal manual (60% del total), son ambientalmente sustentables (X2 = 0.056, p-valor = 0.814). Se registró fuerte correlación positiva estadísticamente significativa (r = 0.970, p-valor < 0.05) entre los indicadores “conservación y mantenimiento del recurso suelo” y “conservación de flora silvestre”. El aprovechamiento forestal manual mantiene armonía con el entorno natural, y aunque el aprovechamiento forestal mecanizado sea de impacto reducido, genera daños al ecosistema.

Land Use Changes and Impacts on Livelihoods of the Communities Adjacent to Mt Elgon Forest Ecosystem

Forests play a critical role in providing essential goods and services to forest adjacent communities. There is, however, insufficient information on how land uses affect the availability and use of forest products and services by forest adjacent communities. This study analysed the impacts of land use changes on the livelihoods of Mt Elgon forests adjacent communities. Land use changes were assessed for the period 1977-2019 segmented into four time periods corresponding to remote sensing data obtained for the years 1977, 1986, 1999 and 2019. Household surveys were conducted using structured questionnaires administered to 387 respondents. The questionnaires assessed how changes in land uses has impacted livelihoods. Analysis of data revealed that between 1977 and 2019, the size of land under natural forest has declined by 18%, bamboo declined by 15% while grasslands declined by 13%. On the contrary, the size of land under mixed farming and fallow increased by 30% and 27% respectively. Majority of the households (91%) were affirmative that they obtained products from Mt Elgon forest pointing to the importance of the forest to the communities living adjacent to the forest. Households closer to the forest were more reliant on the forest than those that lived farther away. The use of forest resources has been declining from 1970s with herbal medicine, game meat and wild fruits experiencing the highest decline of 28%, 27% and 24% respectively. The high dependency of the forest-adjacent communities on the Mt. Elgon forests call for enhanced conservation of the forest ecosystem and sustainable utilization of forest resources.

Development opportunities, forest use transition, and farmers' income differentiation: The impacts of Giant panda reserves in China

This paper examines the impact of the natural conservation policy in China's giant panda reserves on forest resource utilization and its economic consequences. Different support policies have created different development opportunities for local communities and farmers, which have led to changes in forest use by farmers and their forest-related livelihoods. The empirical results indicate that the use of forest resources by communities and farmers is changing from traditional consumptive uses, such as timber harvest and the collection of nontimber products, to nonconsumptive uses such as ecotourism, forest farming and forest guard. While the share of farmers who are dependent on forests has generally been similar (30% -39%), farmers who are engaged in different types of forest-related activities have shown significant income differentiation. With more participation in eco-tourism, farmers are more likely to become a wealthy group with high income and high assets, whereas engaging in forest farming and logging and NTFP gathering is not conducive to increasing farmers' current incomes. The income inequality among the farmers in the study area is more serious than in other regions. Promoting equal opportunities through diversification and the wide participation of poor groups should be one of the directions for community development in the giant panda reserves.

Discussion on the Problems Existing in the Protection and Utilization of Forest Resources

Discussion on the Problems Existing in the Protection and Utilization of Forest Resources

The social-economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic: implications for potential forest degradation

This article presents an analysis of the potential forest damage that occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic in rural communities on the Forest Management Unit (FMUs). It focused on forest utilization and deforestation before and during the epidemic. Base on The data on online surveys using Google form instruments, Zoom meetings, and in-depth telephone interviews with the informants. The data of the research were analyzed descriptively using the mind mapping method. The data analysis shows that social and economic impacts potentially enhance the threat of forest resource utilization–increasing pressure on the forest due to the increase in forest product demand. Even though the government made efforts to minimize forest degradation and prevent illegal logging, the communities didn't follow the policy because there were no alternative solutions. The timber logging is carried out into a threat to forest degradation when it's not immediately prevented. The FMU needs to improve access to rural living near the forest to increase their forest income. These solutions are crucial for reducing illegal logging activities and forest degradation in the pandemic.

Effects of chicken farming on soil organic carbon fractions and fungal communities in a Lei bamboo (Phyllostachys praecox) forest in subtropical China

Bamboo-chicken farming (BCF) is a traditional model of forestry in China that increases the rate of utilization of forest resources and the economic benefits associated with forestland use. However, little is known about the effects of BCF on soil carbon sequestration and sustainable forestland use. In this study, BCF effects on soil nutrient content, organic carbon fractions, and fungal communities were analyzed in a Lei bamboo (Phyllostachys praecox) forest. The data from five treatments (5, 15, 25, and 35 m from a hen house and the control, i.e., no chicken presence) were analyzed and compared. The results showed that BCF significantly increased (p < 0.05) soil pH, soil organic carbon, alkali-hydrolysable N, available K, and available P. However, there was no significant difference in soil organic carbon among treatments, indicating that high grazing density led to high carbon loss. The changes in the proportions of soil active organic carbon pools easily oxidized organic carbon, dissolved organic carbon, and microbial biomass carbon accounted for 7.62%–11.85%, 0.23%–0.33%, and 0.31%–0.56% of the total soil organic carbon, respectively. Easily oxidized organic carbon may be a sensitive indicator of changes in soil organic matter caused by different grazing densities. Passive organic carbon Ca-SOC and Fe/Al-SOC accounted for 1.24%–1.98% and 33.91%–37.52% of the total soil organic carbon, respectively. High Fe/Al-SOC values were associated with high grazing density, thereby implying that such condition could improve carbon sequestration in the long term. Fungal community structure and abundance varied with grazing density. Changes in fungal community composition were closely related to organic carbon fractions and soil chemical properties. Higher grazing density reduced fungal species diversity and increased the relative abundances of fungal taxa such as Ascomycota and Mortierellomycota for carbon cycling, and of saprophytes such as Fusarium. This might in turn affect soil carbon sequestration and health. Overall, our results suggest that changes in fungal community structure and soil nutrient status caused by chicken farming alters ecosystem functions; from low to high density, the increasing trend of some soil available nutrients (alkali-hydrolysable N, available K, and available P) and relative abundance of fungal taxa for soil carbon cycling, and the decreasing trend of fungal richness (Chao 1 index) may reflect a high risk of carbon and nutrient loss and a reduction of biodiversity in the BCF system.

ANALYSIS OF LIVELIHOOD BENEFITS DERIVED FROM FOREST RESOURCES UTILIZATION AMONG FARMING POPULACE IN KOGI AND NIGER STATES, NIGERIA

The study analysed of livelihood benefits derived from forest resources utilization among farming populace in Kogi and Niger States, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling techniques was used to select 326 of rural populace. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and interview scheduled and analyzed using descriptive statistics (percentage, frequency and mean). The result revealed 87.1% of the rural farmers had increment in the procurement of the food items while 77.3% improvement in expenditure on cultural ceremonies. Moreover, truck N47, 852 and car N56, 763 were the most working and household assets acquired by rural populace in the last season. It was recommended that farming populace should engage in the use of forest resources in order to enhance their livelihood. Also, farming populace should utilize forest resources in order to acquire more household assets.

PENGUKURAN TINGGI DAN DIAMETER TANAMAN MERANTI MERAH (Shorea pauciflora C.F. Gaertn) DI KEBUN RAYA UNMUL SAMARINDA (KRUS)

Forest is a natural resource that can be renewed and utilized. Utilization of forest resources must pay attention to the principle of being beneficial and providing sustainable results for humans. Forests must be maintained in order to get these benefits. The purpose of this study was to determine the height and diameter of the Red Meranti tree (Shorea pauciflora C.F. Gaertn) at the age of 13 at the Botanical Garden Unmul Samarinda (KRUS). The expected results of this study are to provide information on the height and diameter growth of red meranti (Shorea pauciflora.C.F.Gaertn). This research was conducted at the Kebun Raya Unmul Samarinda (KRUS) for 2 months, namely July - August 2020. Sampling was done with simple random sampling, on red meranti plants 13 years old with a spacing of 6 x 6 m as much as 50 trees. Measuring Diameter using Phiband and Height using a clinometer and a 4 m long pole tool. The results obtained were processed with simple statistics and analyzed using descriptive methods. Based on the results of the processing and data analysis carried out, it can be concluded that the diameter growth of the red meranti plant aged 13 years in the Botanical Garden of Unmul Samarinda (KRUS) did not vary (relatively uniform) with an average diameter of 13.42 cm, where the plant with a diameter large grow on the edge of the area and small ones are in the middle of the area. Meanwhile, the height growth of red meranti plants did not show any variation (relatively uniform) with an average height of 11.59 m. To get optimal results, both in height and diameter, plant maintenance activities are needed, especially cleaning existing weeds.

Forest and concepts of food security

This review explores the concepts of food security and the part forest plays in ensuring that there is adequate access to food at all times. It considers the four pillars in food security and their concurrent relationship which when attained, ensures a food secured household and nation. It identified the forest and forest resources as an important contributor to achieving sustainable food security through direct and indirect roles and linked the pillars of food security through a conceptual framework. It concluded by placing emphasis on the roles of government and other supporting bodies in improving policies on food security and the utilization of forest resources and also create awareness on the importance of forest to a sustainable food secured nation.&#x0D; Keywords: Food Security, Forest, Forest Resources, Sustainable

Avances y perspectivas en la modelación aplicada a la planeación forestal en México

En el ámbito forestal existe una larga historia en la parametrización y uso de modelos para cuantificar y predecir el crecimiento y rendimiento de las masas forestales, como un requisito fundamental para optimizar la aplicación de la silvicultura y el manejo forestal sustentable. La situación en México en el uso y generación de modelos ha avanzado de manera importante en los últimos años, lo que ha resultado en la constante generación de herramientas biométricas para la implementación de sistemas de planeación y ejecución de programas de manejo forestal. Sin embargo, aún existe la necesidad apremiante de generar herramientas biométricas para optimizar los procesos de planeación y aprovechamiento de los recursos forestales. Actualmente, se tiene un acervo importante de modelos para fines diversos, desde modelos de volumen, modelos de ahusamiento, sistemas compatibles ahusamiento-volumen, modelos de altura-diámetro, de clasificación de la productividad de terrenos forestales, de biomasa, carbono y contenido nutrimental de ecosistemas, de control de la densidad, de totalidad del rodal, de distribución diamétrica y de árbol individual. Dado el entorno dinámico que implica modelar procesos fisiológicos relacionados con el crecimiento forestal que involucran variables biológicamente más realistas, aún queda mucho por hacer en la modelación forestal. Sin embargo, se han dado pasos importantes en el establecimiento de sitios permanentes para la medición periódica del crecimiento y cambios estructurales de los rodales forestales, y aunado a la formación de especialistas en biometría y diseminados a lo largo del país, hacen que para un futuro cercano se pronostiquen avances importantes en esta área.