Forest Management for Timber Production in the Tropics: case studies from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua

Transcription

1 Forest Management for Timber Production in the Tropics: case studies from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua Kathleen McGinley USDA Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestry Outline Global Forest Status and Change Reducing Deforestation and Degradation Sustainable Forest Management in the Tropics Case Studies Costa Rica Guatemala Nicaragua 1

2 Global Forest Status and Change Total Land Total Forest 2005 Forest Cover Change in Forest Area ha 000 ha % 000 ha % 000 ha % South America 1,753, , , , Africa 2,962, , , , Oceania 849, , Central America 51,073 22, North America 2,069, , n.s n.s. Caribbean 22,907 5, Europe 2,260,180 1,001, Asia 3,097, , , World 13,067,421 3,952, , , Global Forest Status and Change Avg. Annual Change in Forest Area Around the World % Annual Change C.Am., -1.2 Africa, S. Am, -0.5 Oceania, N. Am, 0 1 Region Europe, 0.07 Asia, 0.18 Crbn, 0.9 World, Source: FAO

3 Reducing Deforestation and Degradation Deforestation = combination of social, economic, political, biophysical, historical and other factors No single mechanism/policy can solve deforestation; a mix of policies and approaches is required e.g., strict preservation, land-use policy reform, promotion of timber plantations, regulation of forest use, market-based incentives for sustainable management and/or conservation Preservation/Protection: 2000: 12.4% of world s forests within IUCN classified (I- V) protected areas in 2000 (FAO 2001) 2005: 11.2% of world s forests in areas where conservation of biodiversity is primary forest function + 9.3% areas where soil and water conservation primary function Percent of Area Protected, IUCN categories I-V, 2003 Source: WRI

4 Reducing Deforestation and Degradation What about the other 80+%? + Timber, non-timber harvests; recreation; tourism; etc. Conversion, degradation, destruction Use It or Lose It Sustainable forest management (SFM) considered a creditable conservation goal for forests outside PA one of several tools in multi-faceted approaches to curbing deforestation in tropics SFM in the Tropics Operational/Environmental aspects: Pre-Harvest: tree inventory and mapping; planning roads and skidtrails; marking and protection of listed spp., seed trees, and future timber trees Harvest: directional felling; soil and water protections; winching; seasonal restrictions on hauling Post-Harvest: closure of secondary roads and skid trails; replanting Economic aspects: Minimization of wood waste in the forest and in the mill Record keeping and financial analysis Social aspects: Recognition of indigenous rights Community consultation Worker safety But, how close are actual forest practices to SFM in the tropics? Can policy push them closer to SFM? 4

5 Case studies of timber production and SFM from Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Nicaragua Context: Socioeconomic Statistics Total Population (2004) 14,000 Forest cover and percent 12,000 Forest protection 10,000 Forest ownership 8,000 Change in forest cover '000 People 6,000 12,295 4,000 persons/km^ Population Density (2004) ,000 4,253 5, Costa Rica Guatemala Nicaragua Costa Rica Guatemala Nicaragua Source: Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, Source: Earth Trends. WRI GDP per Capita (2004) Human Development Index (2004) 4, , , , US$ 2,500 2,000 4,349 HDI ,500 1,000 2, Costa Rica Guatemala Nicaragua Source: Worldbank, Costa Rica Guatemala Nicaragua Costa Rica Gautemala Nicaragua Source: UNDP

6 Context: Forest Statistics Total Forest Area (2005) Percent Forest of Total Land Area (2005) '000 ha 6,000 Forest cover and percent Forest protection Forest ownership Change in forest cover 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 3,938 5,189 % ,000 2, Costa Rica Guatemala Nicaragua Costa Rica Guatemala Nicaragua Total Forest Area per Capita (2005) 1.20 Avg Annual Change in Total Forest Area ha/person % Costa Rica Guatemala Nicaragua Costa Rica Guatemala Nicaragua Sources: FAO 2005, 2007 Case Study: Costa Rica 6

7 Case Study: Costa Rica Land Use and Forest Cover 99% forest cover through end of 1800s 1930s 1980s: conversion of forest to agriculture and grazing lands; harvest of timber 1990s: increases in economic alternatives; forests begin to recuperate on abandoned ag. lands Case Study: Costa Rica Changes in Forest Cover 7

8 Case Study: Costa Rica Changes in Forest Cover Forest cover : 1940: 70%; 1960: 55%; 1980: 26% Forest cover 2005: 47% forested 99.5% natural forest, <0.5% plantation +0.1% avg annual change Case Study: Costa Rica Forest Cover

9 Case Study: Costa Rica Laws and Policies Affecting Forests Subsidies for agriculture and cattle production throughout 1960s - 70s 1969: 1 st Forest Law promoted reforestation 1980s: 2 nd Forest Law - regulation of NFM; promotion (incentives) of reforestation increased (as cattle prices and exports decreased) 1990: 3 rd Forest Law prohibited forest conversion; required forest management plans; created incentives for NFM Case Study: Costa Rica Laws and Policies Affecting Forests 1996: 4th Forest Law conservation, protection, and administration of natural forests according to the principles of appropriate and sustainable use, are essential functions and priorities of the State Maintains prohibition of forest land use change; prohibits replacement of natural forest with plantations Creates Environmental Services Payments Program (protection, reforestation, natural forest management, agroforestry) Includes regulations and standards of natural forest management Riparian Buffers; Harvest Limits on Slopes; Limits on road network and density; Minimum harvestable dbh by species Requires recognition of indigenous rights; community consultation and participation Requires consideration of financial costs and benefits of operations Includes regulations for the harvest of trees in pasture areas on private lands with forests that are less than two hectares in size, or areas where trees are present that are forest remnants harvest of trees from these land categories must be carried out with an authorized harvest permit 9

10 Case Study: Costa Rica timber production realities 2005: 47% forest cover, forests are increasing +0.1%/yr Forest ownership 24.3% of total forest area in PA (0.57M ha); 75% on private land (1.8M ha); timber harvest only permitted on private land Forests on private land avg. private forest < 100ha, typically < 50 ha highly fragmented and located within mixed land use systems forestry rarely main source of income where NFM is authorized, generally in compliance Costs of timber management small forests + rigorous reg.s + lack of capacity = high costs no incentives; PES for NFM cancelled in 2003 Changes in timber production: NFM: ,000 m 3, ,362 m 3, ,000 m 3, ,651 m 3 harvested plantations not replanted trees in pasture permits => clandestine conversion of natural forests Forest protection: natural forest area increasing under increased protection through PES 530,000ha from protected areas are protected (illegal logging, conversion are controlled) Demand for wood continues to increase where will it come from? Case Study: Guatemala 10

11 Case Study: Guatemala land use and forest cover predominately forested through early 20th century 1940s and 50s: forest fragmentation and conversion to agriculture and grazing lands began in West moving East and North by 1980s < 50% forest cover 1990: 43% forested : -1.3%/yr forest loss (-800,000ha) 2005: 36% forested (3.9M ha) 97% natural, 3% planted Case Study: Guatemala Forest Cover

12 Case Study: Guatemala Laws and Policies Affecting Forests st Forest Law: created state forest agency nd Forest Law: regulated timber harvest in national forests and industrial harvests 1950s -1980s: Iterative forest laws established forest agency, forest reserves, incentives and timber taxes Agrarian Colonization policies Case Study: Guatemala Laws and Policies Affecting Forests in Protected Areas 1989: Protected Areas Law Establishes PA system, e.g. Maya Biosphere Reserve Allows harvest, hunting, collection in designated areas of PAs with authorized permits Establishes long-term forest concessions in MBR Available to communities and industry Third-party certification of forest management required Regulations for NFM in forest concessions Riparian Buffers; Harvest limits on slopes; Minimum harvestable dbh Requirements for worker safety, conflict resolution, community consultation Financial analysis required as part of management plan 12

13 Case Study: Guatemala Laws and Policies Affecting Forests in Protected Areas Case Study: Guatemala Laws and Policies Affecting Forests Outside PAs 1996: 5 th Forest Law for forests outside protected areas Prohibits forest conversion on private land without authorization Establishes incentives for NFM, Reforestation, Protection Regulations for NFM in private forests Riparian Buffers; Minimum harvestable dbh by species; No harvest limits on slopes No requirements for social aspects of NFM 5 yr insurance policy on regeneration post-harvest required 13

14 Case Study: Guatemala timber production realities in PAs Public forests: Nearly 2.4M ha of forest in PA system (55% forest area) 1.6M ha of forest in the Maya Biosphere Reserve over ½ M ha forest leased to 12 community, 2 industrial concessions: range from 7,039ha to 83,500ha in size Authorized harvests: ,000 m 3 ; ,000 m 3 Community concessions: non-resident, native resident, nonnative resident 2008: 11 concessions FSC certified (=480,000 ha) Investments in MBR: $330M from invested in SFM; nearly $1B in community and regional development Pressures on PAs: limited resources, illegal logging and settlements, narcotrafficking, fuelwood collection Case Study: Guatemala timber production realities outside PAs Private forest ownership 2M ha; 40% of total forest area, 14% territory Forest size average forest 45ha; highly fragmented; mixed land use systems; forestry rarely main source of income; lack of capacity Trends in NFM on private land fairly constant production from , average about 385,000 m 3 /yr (335, ,000 m 3 /yr) steady increase in productive (and protected) forests submitted to incentives program (60,000ha) Pressures for conversion continue and fluctuate with ag., cattle prices 14

15 Case Study: Nicaragua Case Study: Nicaragua land use and forest cover Nearly completely forested through early 20 th century 1990 approximately 75% forested : lost 1.35M ha (~ 30%) West: conversion of forests to agriculture and grazing lands East: degradation of forests from uncontrolled logging by (mostly) foreign co.s; shifting agriculture Change: -1.6%/yr , -1.3% : 43% forested (5,2M ha) 99% natural, 1% planted 15

16 Case Study: Nicaragua land use and forest cover Case Study: Nicaragua Laws and Policies Affecting Forests 1905: Forest Protection Law protections in riparian zones Mid-1900s: reforestation incentives; creation of forest agency 1976: Law on Rational Forest Use regulation of forest extractions documentation of wood transportation and sales 1993: Forest regulations NFM planning, reduced impacts, species limits 16

17 Case Study: Nicaragua Laws and Policies Affecting Forests 2003: 1 st Forest Law Prohibits forest conversion on private land without authorization Establishes incentives for NFM, reforestation, protection Regulations for NFM in forests >50ha riparian buffers; slope and diameter limits recognition of indigenous rights clear title required for harvest authorization Regulations for NFM in forests <50ha no management plan required species and number of trees and mitigation measures must be presented for permit Case Study: Nicaragua forest realities 2005: 43% forest cover, forests are decreasing 1.3%/yr Forests are significant source of fuelwood 2005: 5.9 M m 3 fuelwood vs. <200,000 m 3 (legal) timber products Forest ownership 35.6% in PAs (majority with inhabitants, susceptible to land use change) remainder held by private owners and indigenous communities (most without clear Forest size boundaries and land title) West: conifer; <100ha, history of owner management East: broadleaf; (untitled) indigenous lands with vast expanses of broadleaf forest; some private land <100ha; history of foreign management, lmtd owner capacity Forest production Even where authorized, found to be noncompliant Limited resources for oversight and enforcement of laws West: illegal logging (125,000 m 3 /yr); East: abusive/illegal logging (shifting agriculture) 2006: Official Ban on Logging Banned six key timber species throughout country Banned all harvests within 15km of PA, and 10km of borders Banned export of unprocessed wood products uncertainty in forest production sector 17

18 Sustainable Forest Management in Costa Rica, Guatemala, & Nicaragua Range of management practices illegal to certified Costa Rica: in general, authorized harvest meets govt standards; clandestine conversion of forests through legal loophole Guatemala: in general, authorized harvest meets govt standards in PA and O-PA In PA, nearly ½ M ha of certified natural forest; illegal logging and settlement O- PA, production levels stable; conversion to agriculture and grazing lands Nicaragua: abuses in authorized productive forests; illegal logging (conversion, shifting agriculture) Range of policy approaches Regulations promote sound operations and ecological aspects, as well as some social and economic aspects Costs of enforcement increase with increasing rigor of regulations Costs of compliance increase with increasing rigor, decreasing forest size Incentives, Envl Services payments, Tech Assistance facilitate NFM Prohibition of forest conversion (not always effective or enforceable) questions? 18

19 Discussion What are the pros and cons of tropical forest management for timber production in the case study countries? In other parts of the world? Are there alternatives to timber production that contribute to tropical forest conservation? Can they compete with agriculture or cattle production? What is necessary for their creation and implementation? 19