SUMMARY

The Silviculture Study Group (SSG) is dedicated solely to tropical species. The mission of the group is to address the issue of silvicultural practices in tropical North America. The Group keeps abreast of current developments in tropical silviculture, sponsors and designs international workshops, training exercises and study tours, produces NAFC publications and searches for opportunities for coordination and cooperation with other NAFC groups and other agencies. The latest accomplishments of the Group include a book on useful tropical species, an international workshop in Mexico and a joint meeting with the Genetics Resource NAFC Study Group. On-going projects include cooperation in a publication of a tropical tree seed manual, a list of tree species of North America, and demonstration areas of management of tropical forests in Mexico. The Group promotes joint meetings with other groups. Emerging issues include silviculture of multiple use species.

BRIEF REVIEW OF STUDY GROUP MANDATE, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The Silviculture Study Group was founded in 1978 and is dedicated solely to tropical species. A draft charter was prepared in 1994. The mission of the Group was defined as "to address the issue of silvicultural practices in tropical North America". To achieve this, the Group keeps abreast of current developments in tropical silviculture, sponsors and design international workshops, training exercises and study tours, produces NAFC publications and searches for opportunities for coordination and cooperation with other NAFC groups and other agencies.

MAIN ACTIVITIES AND PRODUCTS

Seventeenth annual meeting of the Group

The Group held its 17^th annual meeting in Merida, Mexico, on March 22^nd 1999 and held a joint meeting with the Forest Genetics Resource Study Group on the following day. During the annual meeting, it was decided that the Group will participate in the International Biology Workshop that is being organized by the Forest Genetics Resource Study Group and will hold a joint meeting with them for the second time in two years. The groups will convene again this summer during the Forest Biology Workshop.

The main product from the Group during the period preceding the meeting had been the book titled Useful Trees of The Tropical Region of North America which was published in March 1998. This book includes 20 monographs initially published separately. Copies of the book are available from the Chair of the Group or from Les Whitmore.

Proceedings of "Il Foro Internacional de los Aprovechamientos Forestales en Selvas y su Relaci�n con el Ambiente"

Mexico confirmed that the manuscript is now with the printer. The Alternate (Sosa) will inform the BOA of the expected date of publication.

Tropical Trees Seed Manual (TTSM)

The book being edited by Dr Jack Vozzo (USDA) has over one thousand pages and two parts. The first part includes nine chapters each written by different international authorities. The second part describes 175 tropical tree seed species. There are 62 contributing authors from 19 countries. A first copy of the book should be collated in the next few months. USDA Forest Service is expected to publish the book in English in 2001. The SSG Group has been supportive of the efforts and seeks a support of US$10,000 in the next fiscal year (2001-2002) to add and improve graphical elements of the publication.

Demonstration areas

INIFAP has initiated delimitation and inventory work in these two areas. Up to date, there are two areas (Escarcega, 1400 ha and San Felipe Bacalar, 8000 ha). The Group is seeking possibilities of cooperation with INIFAP and will report at the coming NAFC session. The Group also evaluates opportunities to cooperate with universities and institutes on work related to tropical species.

Coordination and extension to other groups

An email has been sent to the Canadian representatives of the other groups to find out about their next meeting. The date and venue of the other groups following August 2000 will be obtained from their representatives present at the next NAFC session in 2000. Options will be proposed to the SSG members at the next annual meeting. The Group will suggest that tentative dates be collected from the different groups at the next session of the Commission (Canada, June 2000) and that the information be distributed.

Mexico is seeking contacts to establish cooperation with the Latin American and Caribbean Forestry Commission and, in particular with Guatemala and Belize.

Project of monographs on trees with multiple use

The actions to be taken will be addressed at the next meeting in Merida (August 2000). The Group is in the process of obtaining the lists of species from similar projects (including some from CATIE in Costa Rica and the Commonwealth Agriculture Bureau (CABI)).

List of trees of North America

Considering that there existed no accessible lists of tree species of North America, it has been proposed that a list be published by the Group. The list will include scientific and vernacular names in English, Spanish and French as appropriate as well as a brief range description. The data set is complete for Canada and nearly complete for the United States. The Mexican data set is under review.

IDENTIFICATION OF RELEVANT EMERGING ISSUES AND STUDY GROUP RESPONSES

The emerging issues relevant to the SSG include:

• networking of the members and with groups relevant to cross-cutting issues (including genetics, pathology and entomology, fire and inventory),
• building the scientific and technical capacity to support the establishment of demonstration areas and to produce manuals and publications promoting sound tropical silviculture,
• as new technical issues, multiple use species used in urban forestry and agroforestry.

CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN COMPLETING TASKS

There is an opportunity for the Commission to:

• promote and facilitate inter-group meetings at the session meetings;
• promoting early advertizing of meetings over the web;
• promoting Groups' chairs communications by statements.

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PARTNERSHIPS

The Group is committed to increase its contact with other agencies involved in tropical silviculture, particularly in the tropical Americas.

GOALS, ACTIVITIES AND ESTIMATED COSTS FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS

In addition to the ongoing activities described above, the following initiatives are being contemplated, and will be undertaken if sufficient funding is secured. Detailed proposals will be submitted to the BOA in the near future.

Study tours in Canada and Puerto Rico to support capacity building in demonstration areas

The estimated cost for two tours over two years is US$20,000.

TTSM

The required contribution to the book on tropical tree seeds is estimated at US$10 000.

ANNEX

CURRENT MEMBERSHIP OF THE SILVICULTURE STUDY GROUP

CANADA:

Dr. JACQUES TRENCIA (Chair)
Science Advisor, Canadian Forest Service
580 Booth Street
Ottawa, Ontario
KIA OE4
Tel: (613) 947 90.17
Fax: (613) 947.90.90
e-mail: [email protected]

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

Mr. JACOB LES WHITMORE
USDA-Forest Service
VMPR
P.O. Box 96090
Washington, D.C. 20090-6090
Tel: (202) 205.11.49
Fax: (202) 205.62.07

Dr. FRANK H. WADSWORTH
Investigador del Instituto Internacional de Dasonom�a Tropical
P.O. Box 25000
00928 R�o Piedras, Puerto Rico
Tel: (1787) 766 5335
Fax (1787) 766. 63.02

Ms. CARLEEN YOCUM (Secretary)
Asesora Forestal Regional/Caribe
Servicio Forestal de los Estados Unidos
Instituto Internacional de Dasonom�a Tropical
P.O. Box 25000
00928 R�o Piedras, Puerto Rico
Tel: (1787) 766.53.35
Fax: (1787) 766.63.02
E-mail: [email protected]

MEXICO:

Mr. FERN�NDO PATI�O VALERA
Director del Centro de Investigaci�n Regional Sureste
Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias (INIFAP)
Calle 51 No. 304 V. La Hacienda
97119 M�rida, Yucat�n
Tel: (991) 3.00.00
Fax: (991) 3.00.01
E-Mail: [email protected]

MR. ERIC R. A. D�AZ MALDONADO
Director de la Divisi�n Forestal del CIR-Sureste del INIFAP
Km. 25 Carretera M�rida-Motul
Mococha, Yucat�n
Tel: (991) 3.00.10

Biol. JAVIER CHAVELAS POLITO (*)
Direcci�n Estatal de Coordinaci�n y Vinculaci�n del INIFAP
Campo Experimental Forestal San Felipe Bacalar
Aptdo. Postal 182
77000 Chetumal, Q. Roo
Tel (983) 2.01.67
Fax: (983) 2.83.50

Ing. FRANCISCO JAVIER MUSALEM L�PEZ
Director de Aprovechamientos Forestales
Direcci�n General Forestal. SEMARNAP
Fort�n Andador 3 No. 21
Villa Coapa,
M�xico, D. F.
Tel (Private): (5) 594.60.11
Tel. (Office): (5) 658.66.20

Ing. RICARDO R�OS RODR�GUEZ
Jefe del Departamento de Desarrollo Sustentable
Direcci�n General Forestal. SEMARNAP
Av. Progreso No. 5
Col. del Carmen,
Deleg. Coyoac�n
04100 M�xico, D. F.
Tel: (5) 658.59.31
Fax: (5) 658.35.56

Mr. BALDEMAR ARTEAGA MART�NEZ
Director de la Divisi�n de Ciencias Forestales
Universidad Aut�noma Chapingo
Km 38.5 Carr. M�xico-Texcoco
56230 Chapingo, M�xico
Tel y fax: (595) 4.19.57
E-mail: [email protected]

Dr. HUGO R�MIREZ MALDONADO
Profesor de la Divisi�n de Ciencias Forestales
Universidad Aut�noma Chapingo
Km. 38.5 Carret. M�xico-Texcoco
56230 Chapingo, M�xico
Tel/fax: (595) 4.19.57
E-mail: [email protected]

Biol. JES�S DORANTES L�PEZ
Director General de Desarrollo Forestal
Gobierno del Estado de Veracruz
J.J. Herrera No. 6
Col. Centro
91000 Xalapa, Veracruz
Tel: (28) 12.23.03 y 18.45.60
Fax: (28) 12.23.03
E-mail: [email protected]

Ing. CARLOS HERN�NDEZ HERN�NDEZ
Subdelegado de Recursos Naturales, SEMARNAP Yucat�n
Calle 33 B X Reforma
Col. Garc�a Gineres
97000 M�rida, Yucat�n
Tel: (99) 25.26.24

Ing. ALBERTO JUL�AN ESCAMILLA NAVA
Subdelegado de Recursos Naturales, SEMARNAP Campeche
Marte No. 10
Valle del Sol
24090 Campeche, Campeche
Tel: (981) 1.23.31
Fax: (981)1.20.29/1.17.96

Ing. JUAN MANUEL FRAUSTO LEYVA
Asesor T�cnico del Programa de Acci�n Forestal Tropical
Av. Progreso No. 5
Col. del Carmen
Deleg. Coyoac�n
04100 M�xico, D. F.
Tel: (5) 658.31.12
Fax: (5) 658.63.24
E-Mail: [email protected]