Non-timber forest products
La forêt de tapia, écosystème endémique de Madagascar: écologie, fonctions, causes de dégradation et de transformation (synthèse bibliographique)The authors give an overview of the tapia forest, an ecosystem endemic to the highlands of Madagascar, discussing it's eoclogy, function, and causes of degradation They also review the importance of sustainably managing the forest's timber and non-timber resources for use by native populations. The article concludes arguing that the tapia forest should be protected and sustainably managed at least in part by the local community (with the understanding that some exploitation of the forest is necessary to improve the lives of local people).
Open access copy available |
Ecological Implications of Harvesting Non-Timber Forest ProductsBackgroundThis article examines 70 case studies on the ecological effects of harvesting plant-species NTFPs in an attempt to draw broader conclusions for both forest resource management and future research. Open access copy available |
Multiple-Use Forest Management in the Humid Tropics: Opportunities and Challenges for Sustainable Forest ManagementbackgroundThis report documents three regional assessments that were carried out between 2009 and 2012 to identify and draw lessons from on-the-ground initiatives in multiple-use forest management (MFM) in the Amazon Basin, the Congo Basin and Southeast Asia. Open access copy available |
Domestication of Dacryodes edulis: State-of-the-artBackgroundThis article provides an overview of the work being done to domesticate Dactryodes edulis, a fruit tree widespread to the humid lowlands of Central Africa. It focuses on a program in Cameroon coordinated by ICRAF that is based on a participatory approach of domesitcating D. edulis. Open access copy available |
Philippine Resins, Gums, Seed Oils, and Essential OilsbackgroundThis bulletin is a compendium of plant species containing exudate or oils that might be commercially exploited. The book also describes the difficulty posed by high species-diversity for economically feasible resin/oil extraction. Open access copy available |
Manejo, uso y aprovechamiento de frutales nativos de la Amazonia Colombiana (Management and use of native fruit trees of the Colombian Amazon)Desde los mediados de la década de los 80’s, las especies frutales de la Cuenca Amazónica fueron identificadas como una alternativa productiva. Los autores presentan aspectos de la comercialización de especies frutales nativas de la Amazonia Colombiana, en el contexto mundial del mercado de productos exóticos (frescos y procesados) que ha crecido continuamente. Open access copy available |
Reforestation Strategies Amid Social Instability: Lessons from AfghanistanBackgroundThis study evaluates recent reforestation programs in Afghanistan in anticipation of larger scale programs needed to address watershed-scale degradation. Research Goals & MethodsIt surveys reforestation programs in rural upper watershed areas in Afghanistan in order to provide insight for similar problems in insecure regions elsewhere, especially where reforestation may help reverse degradation and assist with social stabilization efforts. Open access copy available |
Bwa Yo: Important Trees of HaitibackgroundThis book, published in 1996, presents important tree species in Haiti as part of a USAID effort to address environmental degradation in Haiti. The trees presented are mainly those in the agricultural landscape, providing food or fuel, although trees with cultural or ecological importance are also presented. Each tree profile provides information and photos including discussions of the species and common names, importance, taxonomy and botanical features, distribution and ecology, tree characteristics, utilization, propagation, and other findings (biomass studies, growth performance, tree improvement, seed research, and/or planting stock quality). Open access copy available |
Tree species diversity and vegetation structure in shade coffee farms in Veracruz, MexicoBackgroundWhile some studies have argued that shade coffee enables similar biodiversity to remnant forest fragments, others contest that the ecological functions of shade coffee can be assumed to be the same or that policies promoting shade coffee will also benefit remnant forest fragments. Not all taxa have been thoroughly studied in shade coffee. This study reports on tree species diversity and vegetation structure in shade coffee farms in Veracruz, Mexico. Open access copy available |
New Options for Land Rehabilitation and Landscape Ecology in Southeast Asia by "Rainforestation Farming"backgroundThe authors describe a methodology for reforestation called "Rainforestation Farming" developed in the Philippines in the 1990s to restore forest cover on degraded lands covered with Imperata cylindrica grass in the Visayas region Available with subscription or purchase |