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7/1/1978 - Improved Utilization of Tropical Forests by Gary S. Hartshorn

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT WRITER S CONSENT INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS GSH IMPROVED UTILIZATION OF TROPICAL FORESTS Gary S Hartshorn Forest Man Fellow An international conference Improved Utilization Tropical Forests May Madison Wisconsin Co sponsored Forest Products Laboratory U S Forest Service Agency International Development U S Department State conference attracted registered participants Nearly participants outside United States coming tropical subtropical countries Curiously present Africa The primary conference objective provide international forum public presentation results AID supported search Forest Products Laboratory FPL technological suitability mixed tropical hardwoods reconstituted fiber products paper particleboard fiberboard linerboard Thirty papers presented seven sessions I The Tropical Forest Resource papers II Environment Silviculture papers III Harvesting Transportation Storage papers IV V Wood Fiber Reconstituted Products Research papers VI Industrial Plans Practice papers VII Investment Considerations papers VIIIo Summations papers Before continuing necessary clarification terminology apropos Foresters traditionally called conifers softwoods broad leaved trees angiosperms balsa mahogany hardwoods FPL initiated AID project mixed tropical hardwoods softwoods conifers excluded study Thus called tropical hardwoods tested FPL actually softer lighter Trees sampled three tropical countries Philippines Ghana Colombia A potential species preselected based specific gravity silica content extractives known important factors affecting paper quality The species Philippines Ghana Colombia specific gravity ranging range silica content The samples species chipped stored separately allowing FPL reconstituted fiber products variety mixes For country three mixes specific gravities preponderance heavy woods evenly distributed preponderance light woods Wood density first order segregate because Chudnoff FPL earlier found interesting correlation specific gravity GSH distribution Holdridge zones tropical America If specific gravities reasonably constant within gested Chudnoff patterns greatly facilitate improved utilization tropical forests As might expect international conference recon stituted fiber products mixed tropical hardwoods generally excellent quality Some products better those temperate hardwoods Of surprise being paper forester considerable number experimental commercial successes others making reconstituted fiber products especially paper mixed tropical hardwoods Research organizations CSIRO Australia Tropical Products Institute England Pulp Paper Research Institute Canada Centre Technique Forestier Tropical France signifi research mixed tropical hardwoods Even impressive success companies Paper Industries Corporation Philippines Carton Colombia making assortment produtts including paper mixed tropical hardwoods It quite obvious conference technologically feasibl virtually heterogeneous tropical forests reconstituted fiber products Thus species harvest concept which euphemism clear cutting tential revolutionizing utilization tropical forests Mome nearly complete utilization timber humid tropical forests could greatly reduce forest needed supply demand products On other clear cutting tropical forests could impoverish infertile tropical soils destroy pools tirpate species This international conference addressed these other aspects improved utilization tropical woods Session I The Tropical Forest Resource disappointing Pringle Forestry Department FAO overview information available onthe quantity tropical forests Some interesting points Pringle Brazil Indonesia Zaire account thirds tropical forests moist closed forest estimated occupy hectares which Latin America closed forest opposed woodland Latin America currently merchantable species combined other potentially commercial species Latin America total volume timber estimated presently mercial species accessible forests removed tropical forests Perhaps these igeneral estimates I skeptical ballpark FAO estimates closed forest distinguish between undisturbed forest selectively logged forest actual volume timber appreciably below normal The occasional misinterpretation shaded plantations cacao coffee forest makes areal estimates suspect Granted ecessity Pringle paper generalizing regional basis I leads broad generalizations simply valid looked larger scale Due integrity Amazon basin Latin America largest humid tropical forests doesn small countries El Salvador Costa Ric Panama The apparent inability FAO Forestry Department other international group monitor gross rates tropical forest utilization deforestation reforestation disconcerting makes question realistic estimates these increasingly rapid processes tropics Environmental considerations improved utilization tropical forests dealt papers In reviewing values tropical forest areas Poore stressed realize values forest balanced manner those which require forest untouched little modified selected allocated before those extensive modification transformation In emphasizing tropical countries carelessly sacrificing possibility future duction present Poore concluded proving their should those remove forest rather those retain Ewel characterized present exploitation tropical forests mining operation hands greedy technical capability utilize species could unprecedented destruction tropical forests Used wisely however could provide ogically beneficial silvicultural toolS which could maintain tropical forests highly productive diverse renewable ecosystems Ewel indicated nutrient through harvest times greater tropical temperate forests tioned ability nutrient tropical soils sustain their Productive capacity repetitive removal biomass The above mentioned papers environmental implications followed description Jari project Para Brazil Owned world richest Daniel Ludwig Jari million tares Amazon basin actively clear cutting burning native forest convert plantations Gmelina arborea Caribbean This example forest destruction Amazon stimu lated considerable comment preservationists audience Session moderator Wadsworth I consider statement conference He Jari experiment preservationist fails substantially delay other attempts clear Amazon forest successful means grown small areas which would greatly reduce pressure native tropical forests Time Briscoe description Jari project candid willingness discussion contrasted markedly cryptic presentation Weyerhaeuser operations Indonesia GSH As generally conferences fruitful aspect opportunity people exchange ideas viewpoints I found conference especially useful because international flavor which compensated above average number rather mediocre papers I should hasten point papers presented participants tropical countries generally excel It unfortunate conference improved utilization tropical forests broader perspective Renewable forest resources provide recon stituted products Presentation discussion several other potential improving utilization tropical forests would I received participants Aspects needing attention I urgency ability classification ensure rational renewable forest resources socio cultural interactions indigenous populations shifting culti vators multi forest resources silviculture suStainable production fuelwood alterna production organic compounds derived petroleum partial hydrolysis cattle fodder