The role of biodiversity concerns in regional and nationwide forest management plans of Japan -Do forest plans promote conservation?

Sustainable forest management is important for advancing sustainable societal development. Effective communication plays a major role in how goals and objectives are achieved. This study aims to assess how sustainability is considered by people who develop forest management plans (or forest plans in short). We employed the snowball sample technique to locate the study’s respondents. In addition, an open-ended questionnaire and a mix method data collection (phone and email) and analysis (qualitative and quantitative) were found to be adequate methods to survey forest planners who have been involved in the development, implementation, evaluation, and/or revision of forest plans in the United States. Our approach helped us to understand their perceptions of and means of incorporating sustainability concerns in forest plans. A total of 55 surveys were completed by forest planners physically located in 26 of the 50 states in the country. Results suggested that planners generally placed environmental sustainability concerns over social and economic sustainability concerns. A variety of key terms were central to forest planners’ attempts to communicate sustainability, from which most were associated with philosophical and temporal principles that would then be associated with concrete actions and the human dimension. Nevertheless, respondents also acknowledged difficulties and misunderstandings in describing how forest sustainability should be demonstrated within a forest plan. Topics such as restoration, carbon sequestration, and resilience were infrequently associated with sustainability and sustainable forest management. Finally, we found that the respondents were divided on whether the language used in forest plans to demonstrate sustainability could be improved.

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The Contested Role of Management Plans in Improving Forest Conditions in Nepal's Community Forests

International Forestry Review ◽

10.1505/146554819825863799 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 37-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

S. Baral ◽

H. Meilby ◽

B.B. Khanal Chhetri

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Forest Cover ◽

Community Forestry ◽

Community Forests ◽

Management Plans ◽

User Groups ◽

Community Forest User Groups ◽

Forest Legislation ◽

Forest Conditions

Nepal's forest legislation requires community forest user groups to prepare inventory based management plans. Several studies have observed positive changes in forest cover after the establishment of community forestry; however, the role of management plans in bringing about such change is less examined. Based on a case study of nine community forests in the mid-hills of Nepal, this paper discusses the role of plans in changing the forest conditions. The study assessed changes in forest conditions, observed forest management activities, conducted household surveys, and interviewed forest bureaucrats. Image analysis showed improvement in forest conditions after the introduction of inventory based planning; however, improvements cannot be attributed to the plans, as the prescriptions in these were not used in practice. Instead, it emerged that a culture emphasizing forest conservation, changes in demography and increased remittance incomes together with increasing bureaucratic requirements contributed to the improved forest conditions. The role of the plan remains contested since it largely serves as a basis for controlling communities and, hence, preparation of such plans appears as an empty ritual with little connection with actual forest management.

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Stocks of Carbon in Logs and Timber Products from Forest Management in the Southwestern Amazon

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11101113 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 1113

Author(s):

Flora Magdaline Benitez Romero ◽

Laércio Antônio Gonçalves Jacovine ◽

Sabina Cerruto Ribeiro ◽

José Ambrosio Ferreira Neto ◽

Lucas Ferrante ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Carbon Stock ◽

Wood Products ◽

Total Carbon ◽

Yield Coefficient ◽

Amazon Forest ◽

Management Plans ◽

Timber Products ◽

Dipteryx Odorata

Amazon forest management plans have a variety of effects on carbon emissions, both positive and negative. All of these effects need to be quantified to assess the role of this land use in climate change. Here, we contribute to this effort by evaluating the carbon stocks in logs and timber products from an area under forest management in the southeastern portion of Acre State, Brazil. One hundred and thirty-six trees of 12 species had DBH ranging from 50.9 cm to 149.9 cm. Basic wood density ranged from 0.3 cm−3 to 0.8 g cm−3 with an average of 0.6 g cm−3. The logs had a total volume of 925.2 m3, biomass of 564 Mg, and carbon stock of 484.2 MgC. The average volumetric yield coefficient (VYC) was 52.3% and the carbon yield coefficient (CYC) was 53.2% for logs of the 12 species. The sawn-wood products had a total volume of 484.2 m3, biomass of 302.6 Mg, and carbon stock of 149.9 MgC. Contributions of the different species to the total carbon stored in sawn-wood products ranged from 2.2% to 21.0%. Means and standard deviations for carbon transferred to sawn-wood products per-species from the 1252.8-ha harvested area ranged from 0.4 ± 1.1 MgC to 2.9 ± 0.4 MgC, with the largest percentages of the total carbon stored in wood products being from Dipteryx odorata (21.0%), Apuleia leiocarpa (18.7%), and Eschweilera grandiflora (11.7%). A total of 44,783 pieces of sawn lumber (such as rafters, planks, boards, battens, beams, and small beams) was obtained from logs derived from these trees. Lumber production was highest for boards (54.6% of volume, 47.4% of carbon) and lowest for small beams (1.9% of volume, 2.3% of carbon). The conversion factor for transforming log volume into carbon stored in sawn-wood products was 16.2%. Our results also show that species that retain low amounts of carbon should be allowed to remain in the forest, thereby avoiding low sawmill yield (and consequent generation of waste) and allowing these trees to continue fulfilling environmental functions.

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A GIS-BASED DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANS IN TURKEY

Environmental Engineering and Management Journal ◽

10.30638/eemj.2010.124 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 929-937 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Fatih Sivrikaya ◽

Emin Zeki Baskent ◽

Ugur Sevik ◽

Caner Akgul ◽

Ali Ihsan Kadiogullari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Support ◽

Forest Management ◽

Decision Support System ◽

Support System ◽

Management Plans

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Forest fuel management for wildfire prevention in Spain: a quantitative SWOT analysis

International Journal of Wildland Fire ◽

10.1071/wf12203 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 373 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Eva Marino ◽

Carmen Hernando ◽

Rosa Planelles ◽

Javier Madrigal ◽

Mercedes Guijarro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Prescribed Burning ◽

Swot Analysis ◽

Sustainable Forest Management ◽

Fire Suppression ◽

Fuel Management ◽

Mediterranean Countries ◽

Forest Fuel ◽

Management Plans ◽

Additional Funding

Spain is one of the Mediterranean countries most severely affected by wildfires during the last 30 years, despite enhanced fire suppression efforts. At present, forest area is increasing more in Spain than in any other European country, and also has one of the highest densities of fire ignitions. However, forest management plans have been developed for only 13% of Spanish forest areas. The objective of the present study was to assess the role of forest fuel management for wildfire prevention in Spain. Different fuel management techniques, including mechanical treatments, prescribed burning and controlled grazing, were considered. A quantitative SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis was performed, based on a thorough documentation review and on the opinions of forest fire experts. Results enabled the identification of obstacles that hinder the implementation of effective fuel management, and suggested strategic recommendations to overcome them. New opportunities related to rural development activities (e.g. promotion of ‘FIRESMART’ products) would be highly relevant in fire-prone forest areas. These opportunities should provide additional funding for sustainable forest management and could foster fuel management activities that would directly involve and benefit rural populations.

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