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Books


Boreal forest modelling
European markets for tropical timbers
An important new text on watershed management
Environment and tropical forestry

Boreal forest modelling

A systems analysis of the global boreal forest. H.H Shugart, R. Leemans 8 G.B. Bonan, eds. 1992. Cambridge, UK, Cambridge Univ. Press.

A systems analysis of the global boreal forest

This book, developed by an international panel of ecologists, provides a synthesis of the important patterns and processes that occur in boreal forests and reviews the principal mechanisms that control the forests' pastern in space and time as a basis for the first global-scale computer model of a biome's dynamics. Its intent is to facilitate projection of changes in the boreal forest over time-scales ranging from decades to millennia, as well as changes in the global extent of this type of forest.

In 1985, a panel of experts met in Stockholm to outline the physical and ecological functions that would need to be developed in a computer model capable of simulating the dynamics of the world's boreal forests. After the meeting, two of the participants took responsibility for developing a boreal zone simulator, emphasizing physical dynamics, and another concentrating on biological aspects.

A second meeting was held in 1987 at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Laxenburg, Austria, at which progress on the two pieces of a unified boreal forest simulator was reviewed and a number of modelling approaches considered. The participants also decided that the basic simulator was sufficiently developed to warrant publication.

A third meeting was held in Sopron, Hungary, in 1989. A product of that meeting, A systems analysis of the global boreal forest presents computer models developed to simulate boreal forest dynamics. There are six different but interwoven models of boreal forest - related phenomena in the book. For example, the population models for forests presented in Chapter 13 provide insights into the dynamic responses of the more biological but less analysable simulation models (Chapters 15, 16 and 17). The landscape - level models for forest fires, paludification and forest harvest all require an underlying knowledge of expected forest dynamics that may be obtained from other models. However, the biological and physical models of forest dynamics (Chapters 15 and 16) are sufficiently allied that they have been merged to create a panboreal forest simulation, named the BOFORS. Using this model, the authors claim to be able to "project dynamic change in response to specified environmental conditions for an arbitrary location anywhere in the boreal forest zone". Listings of the computer program for the BOFORS model are available from the Science and Technology Library, University of Virginia.

A diversity of interests and opinions is apparent in the papers contributed to this work. As the authors point out, research tends to lead to more questions rather than to tidy answers. Similarly, this first documentation of dynamic models for boreal forest simulation should lead to further discussion and study.

S. Dembner

European markets for tropical timbers

High-value markets for tropical sawnwood, plywood and veneer in the European Community. R.J. Cooper. 1991. Rome, FAO.

At present, tropical timbers are largely marketed as a commodity in competition with basic utility timbers from other sources of supply. It is apparent that current developments in the demand and supply of timber are leading to increased competition between suppliers. This, in turn, is forcing suppliers to increase the quality of their product, delivery and service. For enterprises to remain viable, the cost implications of these quality increases must be balanced by increases in production efficiency and/or increases in the prices received for finished products.

Tropical timber suppliers seem to have few means of decreasing operational costs and are therefore exposed to the impact of tightening competition more than some other suppliers. One promising alternative solution would seem to be to identify markets that could absorb the higher costs of tropical timbers more readily than the extremely competitive utility timber market, at the same time taking full advantage of the special characteristics that tropical timbers have to offer.

A particular opportunity lies in the area of high-value end - uses. Many tropical timbers, because of their special characteristics, are particularly suited to speciality markets, which are also the highest - value markets. This study, carried out under FAO's Forest Products Marketing Programme, aims at defining the high-value end-uses for tropical timbers and assessing their prospects in the European Economic Community (EEC).

The report is divided into two main sections. The first provides a description of the total market for primary tropical timber products in the EEC. It includes a definition of high - value end-uses for the purpose of the study as well as identifying and quantifying high - value end-uses for tropical timber and describing the key characteristics of priority markets for tropical hardwoods. The second portion of the study provides detailed descriptions of the markets in each of the 12 EEC member countries and indicates the end-uses that merit further detailed studies.

This work should be of particular value to marketing managers of mechanical forest industries in tropical countries. It presents new perspectives on and suggests new opportunities in the European timber market. Moreover, it highlights the importance of well-targeted marketing as an integral part of forest resource conservation and utilization.

L.. Lintu

An important new text on watershed management

Hydrology and the management of watersheds. K.N. Brooks, P.F Folliott. H.M. Gregersen 6 J.L. Thames. 1991, Ames, Iowa, USA, Iowa State Univ. Press.

Environment and tropical forestry

This book provides fundamental information and practical methodology needed to solve hydrologic problems on watersheds and to understand and develop watershed management programmes. It is divided into four parts: hydrologic processes and land use; erosion, sedimentation, water quality and land use; watershed management and planning; and special topics, including snow hydrology, watershed considerations for engineering applications, water harvesting hydrologic methods and statistical methods. Parts one and two are basic elements of courses on forest hydrology, range hydrology or watershed management, as taught in many forestry and natural resource management programmes. Part three, dealing with watershed management planning, implementation and evaluation, emphasizes multidisciplinary aspects, including social and economic factors.

The presentation of the book is clear and attractive. Each chapter contains an introduction to the concepts contained therein and a list of definitions. The book is supported by many figures and illustrations as well as a complete index and list of references.

The authors" names are among the most respected in the field and will be familiar to most technicians and managers concerned with watershed management.

Apart from being a university level textbook, it will also be a useful reader and reference tool for administrators, planners, managers and technicians, especially those with practical experience but limited formal training in forest hydrology and watershed management.

Currently, Hydrology and the management of watersheds is available in English only, but a Spanish edition is planned.

T. Michaelsen

Environment and tropical forestry

Tropical forestry: Third World priorities versus Western concerns. N. Pyatt & J. Williams, eds. 1991. Bangor, School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of North Wales

Tropical forestry: Third World priorities versus Western concerns

This small book contains the proceedings of the 1990 International Student Forestry Symposium, held at the University of North Wales, Bangor. The overall aim of the symposium was to examine the apparent conflicts of interest between demands on tropical forests to provide for the immediate local needs of local people, and Western concerns about deforestation and conservation. The first specific objective was to assess the latest evidence of the severity of tropical deforestation and its causes. Next, a forward look was taken at the issues to be addressed in tackling deforestation. Particular emphasis was placed on involving local populations in decision-making and on the need for appropriate forestry education and strong bridges between international and national organizations.

The book contains 11 papers, covering a broad range of challenges facing tropical forestry. The first two papers, respectively by J.P. Lanly of FAO and J. Palmer of Tropical Forestry and Computing, Ltd. examine the status of the world's forests, the relative importance of tropical and non tropical forests, and the basic causes of deforestation in the tropics. D. Harding of the School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University College of North Wales, and A. Nik of the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia analyse current research on the hydrological impacts of land - use changes and land management activities in the tropics.

J.C. Hetherington and B. Mohd, also from the School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University College of North Wales, consider problems and prospects related to financial investment in the dipterocarp forests of peninsular Malaysia. The importance of proper planning, marketing and strategies, human resources and research are also discussed. A. Mgeni, of Sokoine University of Agriculture in the United Republic of Tanzania, discusses the interrelated pathways of natural forest management and plantation forestry in the tropics.

The following two papers, respectively by M. Sanogo of SOS Sahel in Mali and G. Shepherd of the Overseas Development Institute, London, consider the importance of trees outside gazetted forest areas.

G. Dutki of CARE International in Uganda and P. Dearden of the Agricultural Education and Training Unit of Wolverhampton Polytechnic, UK, examine two of the challenges facing forestry training and education. In his paper, using himself as an example, Dutki considers the continuing process of education needed to enable foresters to cope with a rapidly changing situation. P. Dearden, on the other hand, looks at a training programme in India that is designed to enable agricultural teachers to integrate basic forestry principles into their curriculum.

S. Bristow of SOS Sahel, London, looks at the major players on the world forestry development scene and stresses the need to strengthen communication and collaboration among the public, pressure groups and professional foresters.

In the final paper, N. Byron of the Australian National University's Centre for Forestry in Rural Development, in Canberra, takes a hard look at international development assistance in forestry.

Overall, Tropical forestry: Third World priorities versus Western concerns includes a large amount of factual information and provides valuable background reading for students and those with a professional or general interest in tropical forestry, rural development and the international timber trade.

Orders for copies should be directed to J. Williams, School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University College of North Wales, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Wales LL57 2UW, UK.


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