Characterization of Rural Organizations in a Forest-Based Economy: A Socio-Institutional Approach

We used a socio-institutional approach to characterize rural organizations in forest-based communities in North West Tunisia. This approach builds on the imperatives of a social system, the conservation of rural capital, and the role of social capital. The resulting model was used to characterize rural organizations based on key socio-institutional attributes. The paper used a Participatory Rural Appraisal (focus groups mainly) to conduct in-depth analysis in nine forest communities. Results reveal the following : 1) in Development Committees there is a strong belief in state intervention and moderate natural capital appropriation, weak conflict management, weak capacity to sanction, and low trust in the organization; 2) in active Agricultural Development Groups there exists a strong potential for conflict management, trust in the organization, and natural capital appropriation, but a lower level of degradation responsibility and capacity to sanction; and 3) in the Inactive Agricultural Development Groups there is the strongest perception of state intervention and overall weak performances in terms of conflict management, trust in organization, and degradation responsibility. These features indicate the organization’s attributes for sustainable local development and specifically for common forest resources management.

Assessment of Occupational Satisfaction on Performance among Employees of a Forest Resources Management Institution in Nigeria

An organization usually sees an average worker as the source of quality and productivity gains. The study examined the impact of occupational satisfaction on performance among employees of a Forest Resources Management institution in Nigeria using a structured questionnaire for data collection. The data analysis from the study revealed that employee’s level of education enhanced job satisfaction. Furthermore, chi-square results showed that there was no significant relationship (p>0.05) between personal characteristics and their satisfaction level. In addition, correlation results showed that there was a significant relationship between job satisfaction and employee performance. Thus, the study recommends that organizations should intensify efforts in the area of non-financial rewards as a means of influencing greater performance from the employees as well as getting more employee commitment to the organization. Keywords: Assessment, Employee Performance, Occupational Satisfaction, Organization

Foreign Migrants Trespassing in Sabah Forest Reserves: A Legal Discourse

According to Sabah Forestry Enactment 1968, Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah is given the power to reserves forests for various purposes including commercial, protection, domestic and others. Sabah Forestry Department is entrusted with proper and efficient planning, and implementation of State forest resources management (SFM) to comply with the sustainable forest principles. It achieves to manage forest resources towards sustainable and profitable forest governance. However, Sabah forest reserves were threatened by illegal trespassing by foreign migrants to possess forest produce unlawfully and to occupy State land illegally. This article aims to expose the causes of the invasion of forest reserves by foreign migrants, the offences committed by foreign migrant activities in the forest reserves, violation of specific legislation such as the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Forest Enactment 1968. The qualitative legal research methodology was used to understand the issues at hand, the existing applicable laws and the legal implications for such illegal activities in these forest reserves. Secondary data found in the legislation, journals, annual report, and law publication were collected, reviewed, analysed, and discussed to understand its legal implications better. Thus, efforts to expose these illegal activities by foreign migrants is essential to ensure Sabah Forest Reserves can continuously be maintained and not destroyed at the hand of illegal foreign trespassers. Employers should also be made responsible for their involvement in trafficked or smuggled illegal migrants as workers and simultaneously, conduct illegal activities to deceit the State Forestry efforts and developmental planning in Sabah.

AERIAL SURVEYS IN THE STUDY OF ANIMAL POPULATIONS AND RANGE CONDITIONS

For the past decade, low altitude aerial surveys have been used for counting large mammals, especially wildlife, over extensive areas of land in East Africa. The facilities and methods suitable in East African conditions are not directly applicable to West Africa because of the dense savanna wood land vegetation, which limits the visibility of the animals, and the Harmattan dust, which makes accurate navigation difficult. The Department of Forest Resources Management, University of Ibadan, has been engaged in a pioneering project of censusing large mammals from the air in Lake Kainji National Park. A high wing, single engine, four seater aircraft was used to overfly the 4,000 sq. km. reserve. The aircraft cruised at 159 kph at a height of 120 meters. Large mammals were counted and the vegetation types and range conditions were also recorded. This rapid and relatively low cost technique could suitably be applied to the study of free ranging cattle in the savanna areas of Nigeria. Such a survey would yield information on the total number of animals, their distribution patterns and their habitat utilization.

Forest Resources Management and Sustainability: The Specific Case of European Union Countries

Forest land provides several environmental services and goods with significant implications for different socioeconomic and environmental dimensions. Forestry and its management are determinant activities for sustainable development, specifically in the current context of urgent mitigation of climate change. In this perspective, one objective of this research was to survey the main insights from the literature about the forest and management dimensions put together, highlighting the contributions of these activities to mitigate climate change. Another objective was to explore indicators related to forest management (land, employment, output, and net emissions) in order to obtain a forest sustainability index through factor analysis. As main insights from this study, we can quote that the literature survey pinpoints the most relevant factors framing forest management: soil characteristics, ecology, ecosystems, biodiversity, deforestation, climate change, socioeconomic frameworks, local knowledge, public policies, institutional context, and new technologies. Forest indicators reveal a strong relationship between forest land, employment and output, and a weaker relation with net emissions. We concluded that there is a need for stakeholders to explore and improve the interlinkage with climate change impact, specifically with regard to improving the relationships of forestry greenhouse gas emissions impacts with forest size and output.

Application of Remote Sensing Technology in Forest Resources Investigation

<p>The continuous development of remote sensing technology further provides an effective guarantee for the development of forest resources management, and the scientific application of remote sensing technology can continuously improve the level of forest resources investigation. Based on this, this article explores the specific application methods of remote sensing technology combined with the development of forest first-class and second-class investigation.</p>

Analyse comparative de la soutenabilité des méthodes d’exploitation de Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kalkman en vigueur au Cameroun : incidence biologique et socio-économique

Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kalkman est une plante de haute valeur médicinale qui connait de forte pression d’exploitation au Mont Cameroun. Dans le cadre d’une récolte durable des écorces, deux méthodes d’exploitation (2/4 et 4/8 opposées) ont été recommandées par l’Agence National de Développement des Forêts (ANAFOR) qui est l’autorité scientifique CITES du Cameroun. Cette étude porte sur l’analyse de la soutenabilité biologique et économique de ces méthodes de récolte en vigueur Cameroun. Un inventaire d’exploitation au taux de sondage de 100% dans une parcelle de 100 ha en fin de première rotation (cycle de 5 années), a servi à la collecte des données sur l’état de santé des arbres (mort, vivant, dépérissant), la mesure des diamètres à hauteur de poitrine et le dénombrement de la population d’arbre. Au total 170 arbres ont été dénombrés, ce qui correspond à 1,7 tiges/ha. Dans cet échantillon on compte 84 arbres (54%) exploités à la méthode 4/8. Ce groupe comprend 23 arbres dépérissant (27,40%), 7 arbres morts (8,30%) et 54 arbres vivants (64,30%). Tandis que sur un effectif de 86 arbres (56%) exploités par la méthode 2/4 on a observé 12 arbres dépérissant (14%), aucun arbre mort et 74 arbres vivants (86%). Ces informations montrent que la méthode d’écorçage (4/8) est plus compromettante sur la croissance des populations d’arbre. Elle est également économiquement la moins rentable avec des pertes de 1650 $US comparée à la méthode 2/4 (660 $). La méthode 2/4 a un faible impact sur la santé des arbres, elle peut être améliorée et adoptée comme méthode de récolte durable qui garantit une cicatrisation rapide de l’écorce des arbres et des revenues importants.Mots clés : Plante médicinale, méthode de récolte durable, régénération, aménagement des ressources forestières, Mont Cameroun. English Title: Comparative analysis of the sustainability of prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kalkman harvesting techniques used in Cameroon: biologic and socioeconomic incidence Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kalkman is a medicinal plant with a high socioeconomic value which is facing serious bark harvesting pressure in Mount Cameroon. To ensure sustainable exploitation, two norms (2/4 and 4/8 opposites) was prescribed by the National Forestry Agency (ANAFOR) which is the CITES scientific authority in Cameroon. This study analyzes the biologic and economic sustainability of these harvesting practices. Data collection consisted of trees inventory, measurement of trees diameter and appreciation of tree vitality within a 100 ha plot at the end of the first rotation (five years later after bark harvesting). The sample comprise 170 trees (corresponding to 1.7 trees/ha) amongst which 84 trees (54%) were harvested using 4/8 technic. In this group, 23 (27.40%) trees were found in bad health, 7 (8.30%) trees dead, 54 trees alive (64.30%) and the annual diameter increment was 0.42±0.37 cm while in a group of 86 trees (56%) harvested with 2/4 technic, observation shown: 12 trees (14%) in bad health, 74 trees alive (86%) and annual diameter increment of 0.44±0.36 cm. This statistic shows that, 4/8 technic has a negative impact on trees population and is less benefit with losses estimated at 1650 $US comparing to 660 $US (2/4 technic). The 2/4 technic can be improved and adopted as a suitable harvesting method; since it ensures a fast diameter recovery, low impact on trees population and generate more income.Keywords: Medicinal plant, sustainable harvesting techniques, regeneration, forest resources management, Mount Cameroon.