Abstract
The tropical forest is decreasing at a rate of 16.9 million hectares per year and forest land is converted to agricultural land, pasture and plantation. Decrease and degradation of the tropical forest affects not only the production of timber but also the global environment. Environmental changes must be initiated by forest harvesting. The felled trees are all large emergents with wide crowns, and when they fall they destroy a considerable amount of the forest's standing trees. Many seedlings are destroyed after harvesting because the tractor trail is constructed at the center of seedling distribution. Severe variations of changes in soil properties are caused by the removal or the deposition of topsoil by a tractor. Carbon and nitrogen loss from topsoil are estimated about 19.1 and 0.05 ton/ha respectively. Seedings and saplings before harvesting can not be expected to grow and alternate dominant individuals. However, tropical rain forest plays a key role in maintaining the global carbon balance. Rehabilitation of logged over forest or afforestation of degraded land must be applied using adequate silvicultural treatments.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ballard, R. and Gessel, S.P. eds. 1982. IUFRO symposium on forest site and continuous productivity. USDA Forest Service, PNW-163, Portland, Oregon.
Forestry Agency and ITTO 1991. Beyond the guidelines—An action program for sutsainable management of tropical forests. ITTO Technical Series, 7, Yokohama.
Jordan, C.F. 1985. Nutrient cycling in tropical forest ecosystems. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester.
Kira, T. 1991. A new beginning in monitoring tropical forests.In The United Nations University ed., Global Environmental Forum, Tokyo, pp. 47–51.
Kobayashi, S. 1988. Research report for the maintenance and effective used of forest resources in Negara Brunei Darussalam. Forest Research Note in Brunei Darussalam11: 1–175.
Kobayshi, S., Ochiai, Y., Rosli, J. andRosli, A.W. 1989. Interim report on the utilization of peat resources in Brunei Darussalam. Forest Research Note in Brunei Darussalam31: 1–37.
Kobayashi, S. 1989. Peat swamp forest, tropical heath forest and mixedDipterocarp forest related to forestry in Brunei Darussalam. Nettai Ringyou11: 17–23. (in Japanese).
Kobayashi, S. 1990. The enrichment of the secondary forest in tropical moist region. Kenkyu Journal13: 12–22. (in Japanese).
Lamb, D. 1990. Exploiting the tropical rain forest. Man and The Biosphere Series, UNESCO, Paris.
Nihon Ringyo Chousakai 1989. Midori no booklet 1, Tokyo. (in Japanes)
Niiyama, K., Rosli, J. andKobayashi, S. 1989. Classification of understory vegetation types in the proposed plantation area related to silviculture planning. Forest Research Note in Brunei Darussalam7: 1–61.
Ochiai, Y. 1990. Silvicultural study onDipterocarp species in Negara Brunei Darussalam. Forest Research Note in Brunei Darussalam48: 1–61.
Raven, P.H. 1991. Global change and sustainability: what are the issues?In The United Nations University ed., Global Environmental Forum, Tokyo, pp. 17–27.
Stone, E.L. ed. 1984. Forest soils and treatment impacts. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.
Tariouchi, H., Alimanar, M., Faizul, A., Rosli, J. andKobayashi, S. 1989. Structure and biomass of secondary forests after selective cutting in mixedDipterocarp forests, Brunei Darussalam. Forest Research Note in Brunei Darussalam6: 1–35.
Thang, H.C. 1986. Selective management system-concept and practice. Forest Management Unit, Forestry Department, Malaysia.
Tsutsumi, T. ed. 1989. Forest Ecology. Asakurashoten, Tokyo. (in Japanese).
Uchijima, Z. 1991. Monitoring tropical forests.In The United Nations University ed., Global Environmental Forum, Tokyo, pp 52–56.
U.S.A. 1981. The global 2000 report to the President. Ienohikari, Tokyo. (Itsumi, K. and Tachibana, K. ed. and trans.)
USP, IBAMA andUSEPA 1990. Tropical forestry response options to global climate change. IPCC, AFOS, Washington D.C.
Weidelt, H.J. andBanaag, V.S. 1982. Aspects of management and silviculture of PhilippineDipterocarp forest. Deutsche Geselluschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit, Eschborn.
Whitmore, T.C. 1984. Tropical rain forests of the Far East, 2ed. Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kobayashi, S. Effects of harvesting impacts and rehabilitation of tropical rain forest. J. Plant Res. 107, 99–106 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02344536
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02344536