Forestry in a global context

251 Pages·2013·2.022 MB·English

by  Sands, R. (Eds.)

Forestry in a Global Context
2nd Edition

Forestry in a Global Context
2nd Edition
Edited by
Roger Sands
School of Forestry
University of Canterbury
New Zealand
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A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library, London, UK.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Forestry in a global context / editor: Roger Sands. -- 2nd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-78064-156-0 (hbk) -- ISBN 978-1-78064-158-4 (pbk) 1. Forests
and forestry. I. Sands, Roger.
SD131.S26 2013
634.9--dc23
2013025179
ISBN-13: 978 1 78064 156 0 (HB)
978 1 78064 158 4 (PB)
Commissioning editor: Rachel Cutts
Editorial assistant: Emma McCann
Production editor: Simon Hill
Typeset by SPi, Pondicherry, India.
Printed and bound by Guttenberg Press, Malta.
Contents
Contributors vii
Preface ix
Acknowledgements xi
1 A History of Human Interaction with Forests 1
R. Sands
2 Forests of the World 37
R. Sands
3 The Environmental Value of Forests 55
R. Sands, D.A. Norton and C.J. Weston
4 Wood and Paper Products 77
P.N. McFarlane and R. Sands
5 Bioenergy, Innovative Biomaterials, Non-Wood Forest Products 98
P.N. McFarlane and R. Sands
6 Forest Dynamics in the Tropics 119
K.F. Wiersum
7 Sustainable Forest Management 133
J.L. Innes
8 Forestry and Climate Change 149
E.G. Mason and B.R. Manley
9 Plantations for Wood Production with Environmental Care 158
E.K.S. Nambiar and R. Sands
10 Social Forestry 185
K.F. Wiersum and R. Sands
11 International Forest Policy 218
K.F. Wiersum and B.J.M. Arts
Index 233
v

Contributors
Bas J.M. Arts, Forest and Nature Conservation Policy Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA
Wageningen, the Netherlands. E-mail: [email protected]
John L. Innes, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2004–2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC
V6T 1Z4, Canada. E-mail: [email protected]
Paul N. McFarlane, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2926 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC
V6T 1Z4, Canada. E-mail: [email protected]
Bruce R. Manley, School of Forestry, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. E-mail: bruce.
[email protected]
Euan G. Mason, School of Forestry, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. E-mail: euan.
[email protected]
E.K. Sadanandan Nambiar, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
E-mail: [email protected]
David A. Norton, School of Forestry, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. E-mail: david.
[email protected]
Roger Sands, School of Forestry, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. E-mail: raesands@
bigpond.com
Christopher J. Weston, Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science, University of Melbourne, School of
Forestry, Creswick, Victoria, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]
K. Freerk Wiersum, Forest and Nature Conservation Policy Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47,
6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands. E-mail: [email protected]
vii

Preface
Much has happened in the world of forestry in the 8 years since publication of the first edition. The area of
planted forests has greatly increased and its contribution to world roundwood production is probably greater
than one half the world total and increasing. Perhaps also the rate of deforestation, although still alarming, is
decreasing. Forest certification was relatively small with an uncertain future at the time of the first edition.
Now it is well established with a certain future, particularly in temperate forests and in plantations. The use
of wood and other lignocellulosic materials to make liquid biofuels is entering commercial viability. There are
exciting new engineered wood products. The probability that the world is warming, and largely at the hands
of humans, has become even more likely and the role of forest management in either exacerbating or amelio-
rating this has become more obvious and immediate. Global response to accepting and dealing with global
climate change has been spectacularly unsuccessful and disappointing. Despite this, initiatives such as REDD +
have the potential to arrest the rate of tropical deforestation and degradation. Some tropical countries appear
to be developing their way out of uncontrolled deforestation. However, much of the tropical developing
world, particularly in Africa, is mired in poverty and with associated high levels of deforestation.
Regrettably, sustainable forest management is an ideal rather than a reality in many parts of the world,
particularly in tropical forests. It is not difficult to highlight some shocking examples of forest degradation.
Even so, there is still cause to be cautiously optimistic about the future. The developed world is growing
forests faster than they are cutting them. The amount of forest in protected areas is increasing. There is
greater emphasis on forest management for non-timber values. Scientific management is becoming increas-
ingly sophisticated and has delivered real gains. The conservation movement has grown in strength and has
greatly influenced forest management. The progress towards sustainable forest management is hampered by
socio-economic factors rather than inadequate technology. The continual bickering between parties with
alternative points of view on how to look after our forests has not helped.
This book is intended to inform students interested in the interaction between ecology, economy and soci-
ety. It should also be useful to professionals interested not only in forest management but land management
issues in general. Hopefully it will go some way towards dispelling some myths about the role of forests and
forest management in society. For example, although counterintuitive to many, industrial timber production
is, for the most part, negatively rather than positively correlated with both deforestation and greenhouse gas
emissions from forest-related activities. Also, wood has very strong environmental credentials as both a
construction material and a fuel.
ix