Tropical Wet Forest
Rwanda Environmental Threats and Opportunities Assessment (ETOA)BACKGROUNDThis report provides a background on the state of the environment in Rwanda. The authorrs write this report to fulfil a legal requirement of the US, Foreign Assistance Act (FAA), which requires that a Tropical Forests and Biodiversity Analysis be conducted in conjunction with the development of new foreign assistance strategies and programs. The report is also intended to identify opportunities to better integrate USAID's portfolio across development sectors by suggesting linkages with economic growth, agriculture, democracy and governance, health, and education activities. Open access copy available |
Large-Scale Impoverishment of Amazonian Forests by Logging and FireBackgroundAmazonia typically uses deforestation rates to predict the effects on the carbon cycle and to measure the loss of forest in Brazil. The authors claim that these connections are limited. Research Goals & MethodsTo widen the scope, the authors aim to include other factors to be used in deforestation mapping. The two primary ones the article focuses on are wood mills and forest burning. Available with subscription or purchase |
Assessment of Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Phnom Tbeng Forest Based on Socio-Economic SurveysbackgroundSince the 1960s, Cambodia has lost over 20% of forest cover, with a decline from 13.2 million hectares to 10.4 million as a result of civil war, population growth, and migration patterns. This study seeks to understand the drivers of deforestation in Cambodia through the eyes of rural village residents in five different villages. Open access copy available |
Ecological Study of Kirisia Forest ReserveBackgroundIn order to inform a 2009 Conservation Enterprise Development Program, a preliminary ecological survey was carried out at the Kirisia Forest Reserve in Samburu District, Kenya. The survey was in response to an aerial survey conducted by the Wilderness Foundation UK that examined potential drivers of forest destruction. Open access copy available |
Les Forêts du Bassin du Congo: Etat des Forêts 2006 (Forests of the Congo Basin: State of the Forests 2006)The authors compiled an comprehensive report on the state of the forests in twelve forested landscapes of the Congo Basin region of Africa. They include a wide range of topics including conservation, human inhabitants of the forests, exploitation of forest resources, other threats to the forest, and priorities for restoration.
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Ecosystem Decay of Amazonian Forest Fragments: A 22-year InvestigationbackgroundThe authors discuss results from the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, a long-term study on rainforest fragmentation in Amazonia. The project, which was originally intended to assess the influence of fragmented areas on Amazonia biota, took place in Menus, Brazil. This report surveyed 340 publications and theses that were produced over the 22 years of the project. Open access copy available |
Identité et écologie des espèces forestières commerciales d'Afrique Centrale: le cas de Milicia spp. (Identity and ecology of Central African timber tree species: the case of Milicia spp.)The authors explore the literature on two native tree species of commercial value in central Africa:Milicia excelsa and Milicia regia. Known locally as iroko, the authors note that exploitation of the trees have led to a decrease in its abundance. Finally, the authors argue that because the species are recognized as having economic importance, more research is needed on the species' ecologies in order to sustainably manage them.
Open access copy available |
L’abattage sélectif: une pratique agricole ancestrale au service de la régénération forestière (Selective clearing: Forest regeneration through an ancestral agricultural practice)The author describes selective clearing of forests in crop fields. She notes the benefits of selective clearing such as increased speed of forest regeneration. Finally, the author contrasts the traditional agricultural practices of the Ntumu people to more destructive and widespread methods.
Open access copy available |
La gestion inclusive des forêts d’Afrique centrale: passer de la participation au partage des pouvoirs (Inclusive management of Central African forests: from participation to power sharing)The authors identify several gaps observed in forest management in the field in Central Africa. They call for increased inclusion in management to meet the needs of local communities.
Open access copy available |
Croissance et assimilation nette foliaire de jeunes plants de dix arbres de la forêt guyanaise, cultivés à cinq niveaux d'éclairementbackgroundThis study assesses the growth of ten species of tropical rainforest trees under 5 different light conditions. Conclusions & TakeawaysThe authors find that juveniles of most species did best in 25-45% sun light conditions and that the lowest light levels severely decrease growth across species.
Open access copy available |
