Classification System for Monitoring Historic Changes in Forest and Non-Forest Woody Vegetation—A Basis for Management

Forest and non-forest vegetation fulfils many non-productive and productive functions. A good understanding of the trajectories and drivers of the woody vegetation change is necessary for the relevant management. Recently, the number of studies devoted to monitoring forest cover changes has increased. However, these works do not fully distinguish between different categories of forest and non-forest woody vegetation. The main aim of the study was to propose a classification system for monitoring historic changes of woody vegetation in the landscape. The period of the last 150 years was mapped through three time-lines (1842, 1953 and 2011). Data were obtained by interpreting historic maps (Stable Cadastral map of 1842) and historical (1953) and current orthophoto (2011) using ArcGIS tools. The classification was applied on the example of Sokolov region (57 km2) located in western Bohemia. The result of the research is a proposal for classifying woody vegetation stands into four categories based on the structural and localisation criteria: (1) Line adjacent woodlands, (2) Landscape woodlands, (3) Settlement woodlands, and (4) Compact woodlands. Information on the woody vegetation development using the proposed classification system is important for understanding the patterns, pressures, and driving forces that led to the formation of the present-day forest and non-forest woody vegetation in the landscape. The results can also be applied as a basis for future forest management practice as they can be used in other different fields, e.g. history, archaeology etc.

Governance of forest conservation and co-benefits for Bangladesh under changing climate

We focused on key aspects of forest governance for biodiver- sity conservation in implementing new climate change policies. The national forest institutions must be adaptive to identify the existing pitfalls of prior conservation policies to take advantage of new climate change policies. Strengthening roles and technical capacity of national institutions for systematic biodiversity monitoring and carbon stock assessment is required in developing and least developed countries. Community participation needs careful analysis to ensure equitable ac- cess of particular social groups to local decision-making processes and to sustain optional livelihoods. The livelihood options around forest reserves or protected areas must be taken into account to enhance forest-based adaptation.

福建省林改后林业科技服务发展探讨

以福建省为例,分析林改后林业科技服务创新发展模式、共性特征以及所面临的问题,并从培育服务主体、整合服务资源、优化服务环境、创新服务机制等4个方面对林改后以服务林农为核心的林业科技服务发展进行了探讨。

REDD+ benefit sharing under models tested by pilot projects in Tanzania:Inputs towards developing national benefit-sharing mechanism models

This paper presents results of the assessment on benefit sharing and payment mechanisms tested by six non-governmental organizations(NGOs)-piloted Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation(REDD+) initiatives in Tanzania.Results from the assessment indicate that models applied by most of the REDD+ pilot projects have provided most of decisions for the distribution of benefits to the communities through village general assemblies.Based on requirements of the tested models,national benefit-sharing mechanism models are proposed.Major attributes to be considered in the development of national benefit-sharing models should include:(i) ensuring that the existing government structure is not excluded to ensure sustainability;(ii) village general assembly is involved in determining the distribution of the benefits accrued;and(iii) transparency in handling the carbon finance is ensured.Models that are proposed for the national REDD+ benefit sharing apply to two forest management systems,namely Joint Forest Management(JFM) and Community Based Forest Management(CBFM).The paper recommends testing of the two proposed models to determine whether they could be useful in sharing benefits resulting from REDD+ in Tanzania.

Promoting Reform of Chinese Forest Sector Legislation:Some observations from Analysis and Comparison of a Sample of Forest Laws

The paper introduces and outlines the outcome of the analysis and comparison of a sample of forest sector laws from 12 countries. The selection of both the key-topics for the analysis, and the sample of laws was done in response to concrete requests by the State Forestry Administration of the P.R. China. The analysis, prepared over a period of five months, produced country case-studies and a final report, and concluded with a workshop hosted by the Chinese Academy of Forestry in late November 2006. The findings consistently indicate that forest sector laws, of necessity, closely reflect a given country’s historical development, socio-political reality, and governance system. Consequently, there exists no blue-print for, or “model-approach” to forest sector legislation. In reviewing the effective Chinese forest sector laws, examples from third countries should be considered only with due caution, in respect of clear-cut & consistent Chinese forest policy objectives, and only after careful consideration of their applicability and transferability in the Chinese political as well as social context. The comparison of a sample of forest sector laws nevertheless enables the identification of several basic approaches to promoting sustainable forest management by public as well as non-public stakeholders, as well as a number of reform trends (particularly in regard to the restructuring of public sector administrations). On this basis, generalised conclusions are drawn and recommendations made for the forthcoming review of Chinese forest sector laws.