Natural Forest Management

Background and Objective

International rule systems and German political commitments in the forest sector form the background of our activities. In details these are

• The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), 
• the non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests (NLBI),
• the four global objectives for forest conservation and the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs),
• Results of the CBD and objectives for the climate protection of the IPCC  (REDD, SFM) under the Kyoto Protocol

These commitments require advice for policy makers. We contribute with research results on a scientific basis.

Approach

We develop approaches for the optimization of forest management practices and models for different land-use options with links to market economics. Furthermore we integrate climate protection goals in our approach which contain aspects of income and food security as well as macroeconomics.

Data and Methods

We analyse which effects subsistence, communal and concessional utilization of forests have. We identify weak points which challenge for improvement and develop solutions for an improved sustainable forest management practice of natural forests. We apply empiric methods of interviews and surveys as well as forest inventories and stand analyses.

Results

We could demonstrate that it is economically advantageous for a concessionaire to apply low impact harvest methods in tropical lowland forests. Prerequisite is a careful forest inventory with determination of tree coordinates. On this basis optimized skid roads can be planned. We detected a loss of value when no grading of the harvested timber is applied before it is sold. Furthermore we identified a great potential for adding value in the processing chain of wood as approx. 50 % of the processed material is wasted.

When analysing communal forestry we identified positive impacts on forests. Communal-made regulations contribute to the conservation of forests and alleviate the consequences of previous forest degradation. Private forest home-gardens can bridge gaps when scarcity in timber supply occurs. The subsistence utilization of forests plays an important role for local populations with low income possibilities in remote areas. Nevertheless due to a missing market access the contribution to the household income from the trade of timber products is low.

The overall results of the project can be found in a comprehensive publication: Michael Köhl, Thomas Schneider, Prem Neupane, Jutta Lax, Jutta Poker (2014): Approaches for the Improvement of the Economic Sustainability of Natural Forest Management in the Tropics - including REDD+ Mechanism. Published by Institute for World Forestry/Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute (Editors). Berlin: Rhombos. 352 S.

Further results: Publications, Policy Brief, Ph.D. Theses, M.Sc. and B.Sc. Theses

The project was jointly organized by the University of Hamburg and the former Thünen Institute for World Forestry (Head: Prof. Dr. Michael Köhl).