FOREST INFORMATION UPDATE 30 JULY 1999

GENERAL

Contributions for this week's FIU come from Tina Etherington, Bill Feidt, Tom Hammett, Rogers Malimbwi, Kerry McKay, Isabella Nobili, Wayde Rathbone, August Temu, and Gary Waggoner. Thanks for sharing folks!
 

OFF-FOREST TREE RESOURCES OUTCOME OF A WORKSHOP HELD AT ARUSHA, TANZANIA 12-16 JULY, 1999. The workshop attracted 62 scientists and stakeholders from 25 countries around the world. It was sponsored by Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA, Tanzania), International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), The African Academy of Sciences (AAS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) and the International Foundation for Science (IFS). The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Global Environmental Facility (GEF) were represented. Workshop participants discussed the topic under four main themes: a) tree resources inventory and monitoring; b) biodiversity and ecology; c) resource management, products and services and d) socio-economic aspects and institutional arrangements. To strengthen the discussions, participants spent one full day studying Chagga home gardens system on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro. This highly complex and mature multi-strata agroforestry system demonstrates a highly intensive land use system that can be economically and ecologically sustainable. Under each of the themes mentioned above, participants made observations and recommendations. The following key observations and recommendations were summarized from the thematic presentations.

Observations

  1. Information on tree resources outside forests (TROFs) is not being collected and included in national inventories of forest resources. Yet this resource makes a significant contribution to the welfare of communities.
  2. TROFs fall in several sectors - land-use systems (especially agriculture, range, wildlife resources) have not been defined properly. In most countries, there is no policy addressing their management and/or inclusion in the national economy.
  3. The ecological functions and services of TROFs have not been documented in a systematic manner.
  4. There is little understanding and documentation of the complex issues associated with the development and management of TROFs. The objectives of establishing and/or maintaining the TROFs, as well as the types of goods and services they offer need to be better understood.
  5. There is a huge potential to improve the welfare of poor communities through improved development and management of TROFs.
  6. Key players in TROFs work in isolated projects with very limited collaboration and information exchange.
  7. TROFs are complementary to forest resources in both products and functions.

Recommendations

  1. Establish a forum for the exchange of information on TROFs, ICRAF, FAO and IUFRO requested to act on this, and to develop a database on organizations and projects with focus on TROFs. Also to establish a web site for this.
  2. Synthesize available information on TROFs and share information widely - Sokoine University of Agriculture and other universities were challenged to take this up through postgraduate thesis research.
  3. Develop clear definitions of TROFs, including methods, to measure and monitor the resources (FAO and IUFRO challenged to head the initiative).
  4. Undertake research on policy and institutional arrangements, that can safeguard the benefits of TROFs and make appropriate recommendations to concerned governments (Research institutions to tackle this). There is a need to establish noddes within land-use ministries to coordinate the TROF resource management.
  5. Establish a mechanism for enhancing awareness of the importance and value of TROFs to all stakeholders (all concerned) e.g., internet discussion. Network stakeholders, group and newsletter/publications
  6. Provide the environment for traditional trees tenure and management practices to evolve into scientific management of TROFs.
  7. Manuals on inventory, monitoring and management of TROFs are needed (FAO and others).

An edited proceedings of the workshop will be published. A provisional working party of 21 scientists was formed to advance work on TROFs. This team will form the first IUFRO working party on TROFs, and will be represented at the IUFRO World Congress in Malaysia in the year 2000. For additional information, contact: Dr. A. B. Temu, Leader, Capacity and Institutional Strengthening, International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, P.O. Box 30677 Nairobi, Kenya Fax 254-2-521001; Tel 254-2-521450 email: a.temu@cgiar.org Internet: http://www.cgiar.org/icraf

PUBLICATIONS

BOLFOR. 1998. Memorias del Simposio Internacional sobre Posibilidades de Manejo Forestal Sostenible en America Tropical. 15-20 de Julio de 1997. Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. 363 p. Proyecto de Manejo Forestal Sostenible (BOLFOR), Cuarto Anillo, Av. 2 de Agosto, Casilla # 6204, Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Fax: +591-3-480854. Tel: +591-3-480766. Email: bolfor@bibosi.scz.entelnet.bo.

Brito, J. C.; Crespo, E.G.; Paulo, O.S. 1999. Modelling wildlife distributions: Logistic Multiple Regression vs Overlap Analysis. Ecography 22 (3): 251-260. Abstract at: http://www.oikos.ekol.lu.se/Eco.22.3.abstract/brito2339.html

You may receive the USDA Forest Service "Analysis Notes" - a biannually newsletter - electronically by contacting Joyce Thompson at jthompson/wo_ftcol@fs.fed.us or through the URL at http://www.fs.fed.us/institute/

Announcing the TANZANIA JOURNAL OF FORESTRY AND NATURE CONSERVATION. On the eve of the third millennium the Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation of the Sokoine University of Agriculture will inaugurate the first volume of the Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation. The Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation will be published twice a year. Annual Subscription rates: 50 USD including posting and handling. For information on submitting articles and for subscribing, contact: The Editor-in-Chief, Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. BOX 3009 CHUO KIKUU, MOROGORO, TANZANIA. Tel. & Fax: 255-056-4648. E-mail:forestry@suanet.ac.tz

MEETINGS

12-13 August 1999. Growing Forest Products in Your Community. Wytheville Community College, Wytheville, Virginia, USA. This course is designed to assist communities in increasing forest products industry recruitment. Growing Forest Products in Your Community offers an opportunity to gain information on industry resources, meet key industry contacts and learn economic development strategies for business development. This two-day program will involve forest industry representative presentations, panel discussions and resource material sharing. Participants will tour nearby sites of both primary and secondary wood products manufacturers. The fee for the course is $60 and covers registration, instructional materials, coffee breaks, lunch on Thursday, transportation for the industry tour, and a reception on Thursday evening. You may register on-line at http://www.conted.vt.edu/forestry/community.htm or contact the conference registrar at Tel: +1-540-231-5182 to ensure space availability.

25 August 1999. Practical steps for developing conservation easements. Statesville, North Carolina, USA. Registration fee $95 USD. Contact: Jennifer Barnes, North Carolina State University, Forestry Education Outreach Program, Campus Box 8003, Raleigh, NC 27695-8003 USA. Tel: +1-919-515-3184. Fax: +1-919-515-6883. URL: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/forest/feop/

9-23 September 1999. 27th International Forestry Students' Symposium. Germany. Official motto: "Forest History - the link to our future" Panel discussion on certification on September 17th, Freiburg, Germany. <inobili@penta.agrip.unipd.it> till August 28, later sprang@gmx.net Webpage www.ifsa.net

28-30 September 1999. (reminder)  1999 Midwest Forest Mensurationists 33rd Annual Meeting. Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. Contact: Dr. David J. Smith, Ontario Forest Research Inst., 1235 Queen St. E., Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario P6A 2E5, Canada. Tel: +1-705-946-2981 x 118. Fax: +1-705-946-2030. Email: smithda@gov.on.ca or Carla Coconcelli, Forest Dynamics Consulting, PO Box 22066, Cambrian Mall Postal Outlet, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario P6b 6H4, Canada. URL: http://www.snr.missouri.edu/mmm/index.htm.  

8 Ocotber 1999. Decision Trees: understanding individual & collective and policy decisions on forestry in northern & southern countries. Organiser: Edinburgh Centre for Tropical Forests, Pentlands Science Park. Location: Moredun Institute, Pentlands Science Park , Edinburgh. Duration: One day, times to be confirmed. The workshop's focus is on household, community and planner's decision making in relation to forestry, with parallels being drawn between economic & social assessments in temperate and tropical situations. Price: £20 or £5 for students, includes buffet lunch Contact: Kerry McKay, Marketing & Admin Assistant, Edinburgh Centre for Tropical Forests, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Edinburgh, EH26 OPH, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 131 440 0400. Tel: +44 (0) 131 440 4141. Email: kerry-mckay@ectf-ed.org.uk. URL: www.nmw.ac.uk/ectf/

2-4 November 1999. Views from the ridgetop: Considerations for planning at the landscape level. Vancouver, Washington, USA. Contact: USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, P.O. Box 3890, Portland, OR 97208-3890 USA. Tel: +1-503-808-2599. Fax: +1-503-808-2130. URL: http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/

2-4 November 1999. BioGeo99: Applications of Geospatial Technology to Biological Sciences. Cajundome, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA. The symposium, coordinated by the USGS National Wetlands Research Center, will focus on current applications of geospatial technologies that enhance scientific research and management of biological resources and will provide a forum for exchange of information and ideas. BioGeo99 is sponsored by the USGS Biological Resources Division. All USGS and other agency personnel who are involved in using geospatial technology for biological science applications are invited to present talks, posters, or demonstrations on topics related to their activities. For details contact: USL Continuing Education, Attn. Monique Stutes, University of Southwestern Louisiana, P.O. Box 42411, Lafayette, LA 70504-2411 USA. Tel: +1- 318-482-6344 or Frank D'Erchia (email: frank_derchia@usgs.gov), USGS Biological Resources Division, Central Regional Office, Denver Federal Center, P.O. Box 25046, Bldg. 20, Mail Stop 300 Denver, CO 80225-0046 USA. Tel: +1-303-236-2730, ext. 246.

3-5 November 1999. Advanced variable probability sampling. Corvallis, Oregon, USA. Contact: College of Forestry, Outreach Education Office, Oregon State University, 202 Peavy Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331-5707 USA. Tel: +1-541-737-2329. Fax: +1-541-737-4966. URL: http://www.cof.orst.edu/cof/estended/conferen/

21-23 March 2000. Mapping and orthophotos from Aerial Photography. Corvallis, Oregon, USA. Contact: College of Forestry, Outreach Education Office, Oregon State University, 202 Peavy Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331-5707 USA. Tel: +1-541-737-2329. Fax: +1-541-737-4966. URL: http://www.cof.orst.edu/cof/estended/conferen/

LINKS

Want to do an urban tree inventory? See http://www.lib.uconn.edu/CANR/ces/forest/fact8.htm for instructions

Urban forestry glossary - http://www.lpb.org/programs/forest/glossary.html

Treemans dictionary - See: http://www.arborists.com/dictionary/terms1.htm

Environmental links - http://www.envirolink.org/

Timber web - http://www.timberweb.com/

FAO has just redone their Non-wood forest products site. Check it out at: http://www.fao.org/FORESTRY/NWFP/NONWOOD.HTM. FAO welcome any suggestions or comments your readers may have. Kindly contact Ms. Laura Russo (laura.russo@fao.org) or Non-Wood News (non-wood-news@fao.org).

 

 

As always, please share as appropriate and if you have some meetings to announce, new publications or favorite links, please send them to me for the next FIU. Thanks, Gyde

--
H. Gyde Lund
Forest Information Services
8221 Thornwood Ct.
Manassas, VA 20110-4627 USA
Voice: +1-703-368-7219
Fax: +1-703-257-1419
Email: gklund@worldnet.att.net
URL: http://home.att.net/~gklund

Join the Global Association of On-line Foresters (GAOF).
See: http://www.foresters.org