This case study allows students to explore the role that cocoa agroforests may play in conserving tree species diversity. The exercise considers the overall question of ‘Can cocoa agroforests be important for conserving native tree species and if so what measures need to be taken to ensure they persist?’ The...

This video presents the changes related to the new forest code in Brazil and the ways this affects the family farmers life. The video tells how farmers found in degraded areas the opportunity for agroforestry and restoration, specially when in permanent preservation areas and legal reserves (the video is...

The role and value of plant gums and resins in Africa cannot be over-emphasised. The resources are found in hot and dry regions, where they are valuable in various ways. In countries bordering the Sahara, the plants have proved useful as windbreaks and shelter belts against desert encroachment and hence...

Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) play an important role in the daily lives and overall well being of the Bhutanese people especially among the rural farming community; for instance they are a major source of off farm income, food, medicine, fodder, fiber, and also used for local construction materials. Many of...

In recent decades there has been growing interest in the contribution of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) livelihood strategies to rural development and poverty alleviation. However, the potential of NTFPs to contribute to development remained limited and open to doubt. The study objectives were to: (i) analyze the role of...

Duncan McCue explains how the Martu people of Australia have long used controlled burns to help with hunting, a practice that also helps the environment. This story was produced with the support of the Bill Lane Centre for American West.

In some forest, controlled fire can be used in order to facilitate the regeneration of forests. In this case, the logging residue and the humus layer of a regenerative felling site may be burned. But this require high caution. The technique is well explained in this video.

Fire is Mother Nature’s original form of management. When used carefully, it can help land managers control a variety of different habitats. This week, we’re in Alabama burning a mid-rotation pine stand to not only help the pines, but also improve the turkey hunting with the season just opening up. The...

This report presents a cost–benefit analysis of three forestry interventions aimed at producing a sustainable supply of woodfuel and reducing land degradation and deforestation in the vicinity of three refugee camps (Mtendeli, Nduta and Nyarugusu) in the Kigoma region, United Republic of Tanzania. The proposed forestry interventions are: forest rehabilitation;...

The Republic of Costa Rica is a Central American country largely covered by tropical forest that exhibits high biodiversity. The country has made many efforts to conserve its forests and biodiversity, although in most cases forest and agricultural resources have been independently assessed. Nevertheless, the interdependence of forest, biodiversity and...