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Five Recommendations to Improve Tropical Silviculture

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Silviculture in the Tropics

Part of the book series: Tropical Forestry ((TROPICAL,volume 8))

Abstract

Ecological, technological, and socioeconomic aspects are the main pillars for sustainable forest management (SFM). Based on the suggestions of the authors of this book, and in accordance with these pillars and the main thematic elements of SFM, we identified five fields of actions to improve silviculture in the tropics. There is an increasing demand on timber and other forest products. As forest expansion is in strong competition with other aims of land use, intensification (1) aiming at higher output per area is a promising approach for overcoming this major problem, for example, by short-term rotation forestry, domestication, site improvement, and other measures. Diversification (2) as complementary strategy aims at providing additional products and services, reducing risks and contributing to sustainable management at the landscape level. Therefore, temporal and spatial scales for management (3) have to be adapted to both, needs of individual land owner (usually timber) and to collective needs of societies (protection, water, biodiversity, etc.). Better matching of operational units and ecological spatial scales (e.g., plant–site matching) is an important prerequisite for improving efficiency of silvicultural measures. SFM depends strongly on acceptance of all stakeholders involved. It is a common agreement in science and practice that participatory approaches (4) can contribute significantly to sustainability in this context. However, on the global scale participatory approaches are still in the stage of development. Finally, we illustrate how integration of silviculture and forest management (5) including all mentioned aspects can overcome frequently applied timber mining methods, and leads to a modern approach of silviculture in terms of adaptive ecosystem management.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Two prisoners are suspected to have committed a crime together. Each prisoner can reduce the individual punishment by confessing the crime: freedom instead of 5 years prison when the other prisoner refuses to give evidence, and 4 years each when the other prisoner confesses, too. The prisoner, who refuses to give evidence when the other prisoner confesses, will receive 5 years. Maximum reduction of collective punishment (2 years each) in turn can only be achieved when both of them refuse to give evidence. However, this decision includes the risk of being “betrayed” by the other prisoner.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Silviculture, Center of Life and Food Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, Hans Carl von Carlowitz Platz 2, 85354, Freising, Germany

    Sven Günter, Michael Weber, Bernd Stimm & Reinhard Mosandl

Authors
  1. Sven Günter
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  2. Michael Weber
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  3. Bernd Stimm
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  4. Reinhard Mosandl
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Correspondence to Sven Günter .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Technical University of Munich, Institute of Silviculture, Hans-Carl-von- Carlowitz-Platz 2, Freising, 85354, Germany

    Sven Günter

  2. Kronwinkler Str. 14, München, 81245, Germany

    Michael Weber

  3. Bierhäuslweg 20, Dietramszell, 83623, Germany

    Bernd Stimm

  4. Kirchblick 5, Loiching, 84180, Germany

    Reinhard Mosandl

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Günter, S., Weber, M., Stimm, B., Mosandl, R. (2011). Five Recommendations to Improve Tropical Silviculture. In: Günter, S., Weber, M., Stimm, B., Mosandl, R. (eds) Silviculture in the Tropics. Tropical Forestry, vol 8. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19986-8_34

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