Dossier

Tropical Forests – Use as Protection

Richard Fischer, Sven Günter | 29.06.2022

WF Institute of Forestry

Each year 13 million hectares of forest are lost, mainly in the tropics. Demands on the remaining forests are increasing, as they constitute a basis for rural livelihoods, as they are an economic resource for industry and biodiversity hot spots. Slash and burn management and subsequent land use forms are often economically more attractive than preservation, at least in the short run. However, an abstention from forest resources and products does not necessarily contribute to the conservation of tropical forests. Sustainable forest management and controlled use can be a basis for safeguarding tropical forests. Only valued resources will be sustained in the long run.

Eine unbefestigte Straße mitten im Tropenwald, rechts und links liegen am Rand Baumstämme

In collaboration with local partners we are analyzing land use forms and their ecological context in the most important tropical regions. This allows land use pressure to be demonstrated for specific areas. In countries with high proportions of primary forests like in Suriname, wood and timber industries are an important economic factor. Improved management methods can help to increase the added value and to reduce exploitation of primary forests. Sustainable management methods need to be applied to logged areas in order to reduce pressure on remaining forests.

Studies in Madagascar and Nepal show the strong dependence of the rural population on forests. In Madagascar, 82% of the surveyed farmers indicate that they are directly dependent on the surrounding forest. Especially the poorest households obtain a substantial share of their livelihoods from slash and burn. Surveys in Nepal have shown that compensation payments in the orders of magnitude that are currently being discussed and implemented globally, are not sufficient to avoid the direct dependence of the population on the forests. Monetary compensation alone is not appropriate as long as no livelihood alternatives are provided outside the forests. In Ecuador, we are developing silvicultural methods for the reforestation of degraded pastures.

Economic aspects

In our work we have the closely integrated aspects of natural forests, cultural landscapes and industrial land uses. In many cases, forest areas are converted to create, for example, surfaces for industrial meat production or oil palm plantations. Economic calculations of these so-called opportunity costs, on the one hand, can show where sustainable forest management is an economically viable alternative to such land uses. On the other hand, it is possible to calculate the volume of compensation payments also needed to make forest conservation financially attractive.

Besides optimizing different management systems, we simulate the effect of financial incentives, regulations and political instruments on forest conservation in tropical landscapes. Different legal frameworks, needs of local communities and our research results are the basis for national and international policy advice for the preservation and sustainable use of the world's most complex ecosystems.

Landscape with pasture, field and forest — The close interlocking of pasture, arable land and forest can optimise use

Tropical forest with felled trees — Primary forest use remains a reality and a hot potato. Sustainable use only succeeds under stable political and institutional conditions. In many countries, it is still not possible to stop illegal logging.

Fire-cleared primeval forest area — Slash-and-burn and shifting cultivation quickly lead to degradation of the land as the pressure of use increases.

View into a plantation — Plantations can help to reduce the pressure of use on the remaining primary forest areas

View into a conference room — Successful planning and coordination can only be achieved with the participation of all stakeholders.

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Comment

Sustainable management of tropical forests

Is the economic exploitation of tropical forests acceptable? Yes, says Richard Fischer, scientist of the Thünen Institute of International Forestry and Forest Economics. If the exploitation follows sustainable principles.

Projects

Forest dependency and livelihoods

People conducting subsistence oriented livelihood strategies are usually dependent on forest resources. Why do they use the forest resource more or less intensive? How can they overcome this forest dependency?

Poverty and deforestation

What influences deforestation and forest degradation in poor tropical countries? Our research interest is focussed on rural areas with subsistence-oriented populations, where poverty goes along with deforestation and forest degradation.

Natural Forest Management

The conservation of tropical forests is of international concern, to which also Germany is committed. To reduce the pace of tropical forest destruction we analyse approaches for a sustainable utilization of remaining natural forests and their rehabilitation – among other countries - in Vietnam, Nepal and Suriname.

Sustainable Buffer Zone Management of Forests in Ghana

More than 13 million hectares of tropical forests are destroyed every year. In Ghana we analyse approaches for a sustainable utilization of remaining natural forests. We deliberately involve the local population on one hand for the protection of the forests, on the other hand to provide sources of income for the people.

Sustainable Forest Plantations in Ghana

There is a huge international market demand for tropical timber. It mainly origins from natural forests which are endangered in their survival. Timber production in forest plantations could reduce the pressure from natural forests and simultaneously can contribute to future supply on the tropical timber market.

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