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VOLUME 18 – 2
Editorial 101
Janette Bulkan and John Palmer
Breaking the rings of forest corruption: some steps towards better forest governance based on case work in Guyana 103
V.P. Tewari and K. v Gadow
Modelling potential density limiting survival, mean stand density and basal ara growth for pure, even-aged Dalbergia sissoo stands in a hot arid region of India 133
Kindu Mekonnen, Gerhard Glatzel, Berhane Kidane, Mehari Alebachew, Kassahun Bekele and Mesfin Tsegaye
Processes, lessons and challenges from participatory tree species selection, planting and management research in the highland vertisol areas of central Ethiopia 151
Haile Yineger, Delenasaw Yewhalaw and Demel Teketay
Plants of Veterinary Importance In Southwestern Ethiopia: The Case of Gilgel Ghibe Area 165
Research Paper
A. Karthikeyan and M. Surya Prakash
Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Phosphobacterium and Azospirillum sp. on the successful establishment of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn. in bauxite mine spoils 183
S.A. Rahman , M.H. Imam ,S.W. Wachira , K.M.Farhana , B. Torres , D.M.H. Kabir
Land Use Patterns And The Scale Of Adoption Of Agroforestry In The Rural Landscapes Of Padma Floodplain In Bangladesh 193
Book Reviews
Forests, People and Power : The Political Ecology of Reform in South Asia. Edited by Oliver Sprinbgate-Baginski and Piers Blaikie 209
Hearing a different drummer: a new paradigm for the keepers of the forest by John Studley. International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), 3 Endsleigh Street, London WC1H 0DD 210
Commonwealth Forests: An overview of the Commo0nwealth's forest resources 211
Commonwealth Forestry Association
EDITORIAL
International Fellowships Available at the World Forest Institute
Portland, Oregon, USA
The World Forest Institute Fellowship Program brings forestry and natural resources professionals from around the world to work at the World Forest Institute for 6 to 12 months. Fellows conduct an independent research project developed in conjunction with his/her sponsor. Projects are typically either policy or marketing studies, and may be environmental, social or economic in focus. Activities involve information gathering through interviews, meeting with forestry organizations, and taking organized field trips. Fellows typically summarize their projects in a report and poster published by the WFI. A large component of the program involves traveling and visiting with professionals in the Pacific Northwest forest sector. Fellows visit forestlands, research sites, manufacturing facilities, and NGOs. Additionally, Fellows gain valuable cultural experience and English language skills. Project proposals are now being accepted, and a matching grant is available to cover up to half of the Fellowship fee. WFI is located in beautiful Portland, Oregon, a short drive to forests, mountains, beach, and desert. Oregon is the largest producer of forest products among the 50 US states. For more information visit http://wfi.worldforestry.org or contact Angie DiSalvo at adisalvo@worldforestry.org.
Angie DiSalvo
International Fellowship Program Manager
World Forest Institute, a program of the World Forestry Center
4033 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR 97221 USA
(503) 488-2137
ABSTRACTS
Janette Bulkan and John Palmer
Breaking the rings of forest corruption: some steps towards better forest governance based on case work in Guyana
Abstract
Corruption appears to be the major factor which prevents proper control of long-term forest harvesting concessions by government agencies in Guyana, South America. Corruption is easily affordable because of very low forest taxes and high profits on under-declared log exports. Three "rings of power" or social compacts mutually foster the prevalent illegalities.
1. In the highest level social compact, the State itself behaves as a criminal enterprise, allowing the available technical regulations for improving forest management to be ignored, or used selectively against those loggers who lack political influence.
2 Senior and junior forest officers keep out of each other's relations with loggers.
3 Small-scale loggers allocated non-commercial forest restore their income by over-quota and out-of-coupe felling, for which they pay off the junior government staff to forestall field inspections.
.
Steps towards solutions include:-
· the links between loggers and government staff could be broken by implementing the 1997 national policy and 2001 national forest plan (GFC1997, 2001) for strategic allocation of concessions, and matching the capacity of the loggers to concession size, location, duration and quality of forest;
· inter-sectoral action by many actors. The establishment of open forums for spreading information and debating contentious issues in a non-confrontational setting, under the auspices of civil society organisations which have demonstrated durability and effectiveness in securing positive responses from the Executive branch of government;
· an increase in the motivation for civil society to participate in such forums;
· the provision of openings for international NGOs to aid local NGOs, including harassment-free registration of civil associations;
· the strengthening of parliamentary democracy with the motivation and means to call the Executive to account.
All these suggestions run counter to the nexus between the three social compacts, which make it difficult for any one actor to break free of the consequences of regulatory capture.
V.P. Tewari and K. v Gadow
Modelling potential density limiting survival, mean stand density and basal ara growth for pure, even-aged Dalbergia sissoo stands in a hot arid region of India
Abstract
Growth modelling is an essential pre-requisite for evaluating the consequences of a particular management action on the future development of a forest ecosystem. Such growth models are not yet available for many indigenous tree species in India. Dalbergia sissoo is an important timber species found in India and growth models are required for its effective management in the region. This paper presents equations for estimating the potential stand density limiting tree survival and for modelling the mean stand density in pure even-aged stands of Dalbergia sissoo. Two different models were investigated for estimating mortality in stem numbers in the stands. This paper also compares seven different stand level models for projecting basal area development. The models tested belong to the path invariant algebraic difference form of a non-linear growth function. They can be used to predict future basal area as a function of stand variables like dominant height and stem number per hectare and are crucial for evaluating different silvicultural treatment options. The performance of the models was evaluated using different statistical criteria. The model proposed by Pienaar and Shiver performed best and hence this model is recommended for use in projecting basal area development in Dalbergia sissoo stands in the study area.
Keywords: growth modelling, limiting line, path invariant difference form, basal area equations
Kindu Mekonnen, Gerhard Glatzel, Berhane Kidane, Mehari Alebachew, Kassahun Bekele and Mesfin Tsegaye
Processes, lessons and challenges from participatory tree species selection, planting and management research in the highland vertisol areas of central Ethiopia
Abstract
Various organizations have delivered millions of tree seedlings to Ethiopian highland farmers to counteract crises due to shortages of wood and animal feed, soil erosion and fertility problems. However, the desired results have not been achieved, as most efforts have lacked proper methodologies, follow-up and farmers’ participation. Participatory tree species selection, planting and management research was conducted from 2002 to 2006 in the Dendi district (central Ethiopia) to document processes, lessons and challenges that would assist the development of guidelines for the dissemination of multi-purpose tree and shrub species . The article describes and discusses the processes for participatory site selection, tree species selection, the formation of a TREE research group, the delivery of practical training courses and the organization of experience sharing and rewarding forums. Lessons and challenges that are important for replicating the participatory tree research work to similar areas are stressed. The conclusions from this research are:
· the capacity of farmers for planting and managing trees crops can be enhanced if they are involved in problem identification and in the selection of species;
· in this study, free livestock grazing in the commons is hampering tree planting and establishment.;
· appropriate participatory techniques and skills in facilitation help researchers to learn from farmers and vice versa;
· success in tree planting and in disseminating the results of participatory research entails continuous follow-up, the organization of experience sharing forums and the documentation of both the process and lessons learnt.
Key words: awareness creation Forums, dissemination, farmer research groups, free open grazing, stakeholders
Haile Yineger, Delenasaw Yewhalaw and Demel Teketay
Plants of Veterinary Importance In Southwestern Ethiopia: The Case of Gilgel Ghibe Area
Abstract
An ethnobotanical study was conducted on ethnoveterinary medicinal plants used by people living in southwestern Ethiopia. Semi-structured interviews and observations were employed to collect data on medicinal and other uses of plants. Traditional medicine practitioners of the study area reported the use of twenty nine medicinal plant species of veterinary importance to treat 16 livestock ailments. The majority of these species were collected from the wild and used fresh for ethnoveterinary remedies. Most of the medicinal species were sought for their leaves (59%), followed by roots (16%) and twigs (12%). Deforestation and recurrent drought were the most cited threats to the medicinal plants of the area. The local traditional medicine practitioners engage in little or no conservation, causing concern over the sustainable use of these resources. Moreover, the system to transfer indigenous knowledge from generation to generation is slow and restricted. Hence, indigenous knowledge is being eroded and there is a need to document the information before it is lost. Investigation of the phytochemical and biological properties claimed for these medicinal plant resources is needed.
Key words: ethnobotany, ethnomedicine, ethnoveterinary remedies, indigenous knowledge, livestock ailments, medicinal plants, traditional medicine
Research Papers
A. Karthikeyan and M. Surya Prakash
Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Phosphobacterium and Azospirillum sp. on the successful establishment of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn. in bauxite mine spoils
Abstract
Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn seedlings were inoculated with the cultured arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi Glomus aggregatum Schenck & Smith emend. Koske, and the beneficial microbes Phosphobacterium and Azospirillum sp. individually and in combinations in the nursery . Mined out wastes of bauxite, called bauxite mine spoils, were collected and used as a potting medium to grow E. camaldulensis seedlings for three months in the nursery. The AM fungal and other beneficial microbial inoculations improved the seedling quality in terms of total biomass and growth. The improved seedlings were transplanted on to bauxite mine spoils and the growth and survival of seedlings were monitored for two years. In these field conditions, the inoculated seedlings of E. camaldulensis showed 95% survival and significantly higher growth than the control seedlings. From this study it was deduced that E. camaldulensis inoculated with beneficial microbes is a suitable tree species for the rehabilitation of bauxite mine spoils, and is cost effective and environment friendly
Key words: afforestation, bio inoculants, Nigeria, nursery work, site amelioration
S.A. Rahman , M.H. Imam ,S.W. Wachira , K.M.Farhana , B. Torres , D.M.H. Kabir
Land Use Patterns And The Scale Of Adoption Of Agroforestry In The Rural Landscapes Of Padma Floodplain In Bangladesh
Abstract
This research was conducted in six typical villages of Northern Bangladesh. A sample of 170 farmers was selected. Research indicates that the farmers practising agroforestry own small farms and the income of agroforestry helps them to reduce their poverty, and maintain their socio-economic needs and sustain their livelihoods. Agroforestry is not a new concept in the study area. The people have been practicing agroforestry traditionally in the form of home gardens, hedgerows and alley cropping. Homestead agroforestry is an age old practice. Alley cropping and hedgerow agroforestry systems are comparatively new. Yet alley cropping is now most popular and is widely accepted in the study area because of its socio-economic advantages and environmental sustainability.
Key words: alley cropping, boundary planting, hedgerows, indigenous knowledge, socio-economic benefits,.