Kesesuaian ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) dengan Norma ASEAN

Haze pollution is one of the challenges that ASEAN has faced from several decades. Indonesia, as the country that hold most of the tropical forestry in the region, occasionally had forest fire that caused by either climate change or man-made deforestation. Forest fire that occurred in Indonesia consequences at thick haze in neighboring countries Malaysia and Singapore skies, which madeboth countries securitize as it was threatening the lives of their people. Thus, in order to tackle the problem, on 2002, ASEAN released an environmental protocol named ASEAN Agreement of Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP). However, the questions raises whether the enviromental protocol fit to the ASEAN Way. This paper argues that AATHP is not violating any of ASEAN norms and value, as it is not a fully legally binding protocol. Constructivism approach will be used as a tool to analyse how AATHP comply to ASEAN way.

Wave Propagation Technology in Non-destructive assays for Wood Qualifying in Tropical Amazon

Non-destructive tests use techniques which allow a body to be evaluated without changing its physical, mechanical and dimensional features and without compromising its future use. Impulse tomography analysis is a non-destructive method which allows a piece of wood to be analyzed by passing mechanical waves through it, allowing researchers to evaluate its qualities in advance and detect the presence of defects. This research reports the assessment of the efficiency of impulse tomography as a technique for identifying defects and the in situ evaluation of tree wood from Amazonian timber species. The data were collected at INPA's Tropical Forestry Experimental Station (ZF-2), located at BR 174, Manaus/AM, in a plot 1 (one) hectare in size, where 7 species were chosen at random. For evaluation, the ARBOTOM pulse tomograph at DAP (diameter at breast height) was used to rapidly capture cross sectional images of the wood. Next, the trees were cut to evaluate cross sections of the wood by eye and samples were taken to determine the density of the wood. The results enabled researchers to detect the presence of distinct zones in the wood by varying the mechanical wave speed indicated by various colour zones revealed in the X-ray. These colour differences are attributable to variations in density related to the different wood substances in the tree. It was found that the wood density and mechanical wave velocity correlated with R² 0.647. The dynamic elastic modulus of the species studied was satisfactory, showing a good degree of resistance. Impulse tomography technique provides complete information and can assist forest managers to make a decision about tree felling that is guided by the assessment of the internal quality of the wood.

Concluding Remarks: Moving Forward on Scientific Knowledge and Management Approaches to Tropical Forests in the Anthropocene Epoch

The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestry (the Institute) celebrates its 75th Anniversary with the publication of this Special Issue of Forests. This Issue is based on presentations delivered in a symposium held in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2014. It augments a quarter century of scientific knowledge and capitalizes on a unique set of synergies chartered by a strategy based on shared stewardship, innovative transdisciplinary collaborations, and breakthroughs in science and technology. The manuscripts contained here present advancements in our approach to the development of policies for effective governance and stewardship, long-term focus for the understanding of ecosystem processes and functions, novelties given attention to cross-boundary collaborative approaches to science, and proposed alternative institutional visions in the Anthropocene. As the Institute continues to collaboratively explore new frontiers in science, we recognize advances in forestry, atmospheric sciences, modeling, hydrology, plant physiology, and microbial ecology as core to the understanding of tropical forests in the Anthropocene.

Introduction to the Special Issue on Tropical Forests: Management and Ecology in the Anthropocene

This Special Issue of Forests is based on papers presented at the 75th anniversary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestry as well as other papers relevant to the topic of the Special Issue. The Institute is but one leg of a conservation relay among cultures and institutions that began in Puerto Rico a millennium ago. The Institute began operations in 1939 and celebrated its 75th anniversary on May, 2014. Over its 75 years of operation, the Institute has focused its research on tropical forests, with the scope of the research expanding over the years. An analysis of the lines of research of the Institute showed that over its history about 69 lines of research have been established and that of the original 17 lines of research between 1939 and 1949, all but one remained active in 2014. This history and continuity of the research program has allowed the Institute to observe ecological phenomena over decades, including the evolving forest structure and functioning on degraded land restoration experiments that began before the formal establishment of the Institute and are now over 80 years old.

Salvaging Wood from Fallen Trees after Hurricanes Irma and Maria

The USDA Caribbean Climate Hub and the State and Private Forestry Program of the International Institute of Tropical Forestry of the US Forest Service, held a workshop on November 21, 2017 where more than 80 people gathered to identify the opportunities and resources necessary to take advantage of the wood from fallen trees in Puerto Rico after hurricanes Irma and Maria. Due to the economic and cultural value of tropical timber species, economic activities can be created from the available posthurricane plant waste. Millions of fallen trees and branches can be processed to produce compost, mulch, coal and biofuels, or raw material for artisans and construction. There is also economic value in the handling of wood materials, the sale of tools and equipment for transporting and processing, and the sale of valuable wood products. In addition, many wood products store carbon indefinitely, mitigating the increase of CO² in the atmosphere. The main need identified during the discussion was the need to act quickly to avoid the burning and disposal of wood materials in landfills across the country.