Towards an Analytical Framework for Defining Forest Degradation

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Towards an Analytical Framework for Defining
Forest Degradation
Preparatory CPF Meeting on Forest Degradation 20
March 2009, Rome

• Markku Simula
• FAO Consultant

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Degradation and Related Processes
Restoration
Forest (non-degraded)- primary- other
Degraded forest
Degradation process
Degraded forest land (non-forest)
Rehabilitation
Natural expansion
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Simplified Illustration of Human-induced Forest
Degradation
Old growth forest
Primary forest
Protection
Protection
Logging and management
Secondary forest
Restoration
Management
Management
Production/multiple-use forest- natural-
semi-natural- planted
Rehabilitation- reforestation- soil conservation
Natural expansion of forest
Illegal logging and encroachment
Natural expansion of forest
Degraded forest
Degraded forest land (deforested)- grassland-
other non- forest
Planned land-use conversion (deforestation)
Non-forest land
Afforestation
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Degradation Thresholds
100
Crown cover (example)
Undegraded forest
Original status
80
Restoration
Forest
Rehabilitation
Degraded forest
A/R
Non-forest
10
Time
5
Degree of Degradation
100
Crown cover (example)
Forest threshold
Degree of degradation
Non-degraded (undisturbed, little disturbed)
Slightly degraded forest
Moderatey degraded forest
Severely degraded forest
Deforested (degrated forest land)
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Options for Rationalisation of Definitions

• Decomposition
• Theoretical elimination
• trade-offs
• correlation
• SFM elements (CI framework)
• Clustering
• Composite indices (involves subjective weighting)

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Decomposition Factors of Forest Degradation (1/2)
TO BE COMPLETED
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Decomposition Factors of Forest Degradation (2/2)
TO BE COMPLETED
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Degradation and SFM Elements
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Assessment of Degradation

• Purpose of assessment
• Extent and quality of degradation
• Drivers and impacts of degradation
• Levels of assessment
• National
• Sub-national
• Landscape/watershed
• Forest management unit
• Stand
• Implications for (inter alia)
• Choice of inidicators
• Choice of assessment methodology

• Not to be considered
• Ecosystem level as
• functional entity

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Terms Associated with Degradation

• Forest
• Forest
• Forest type
• - Primary forest (old growth) - Secondary
  forest - Semi-natrural forest - Planted
  forest

• Carbon stock / flow
• Biomass
• Soil

• Biodiversity
• Habitat quality
• Fragmentation
• Connectivity
• Species diversity

• Processes
• Degradation
• Disturbance
• Improvement
• Restoration
• Rehabilitation (incl. A/R)

• Other
• Permanence
• Resilience/reversibility/ecolo-
• gical integrity
• Reference status
• Cause human induced/natural

• Degradation status
• Undegraded/undisturbed
• Degraded forest
• Degraded forest land (deforested land)

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Questions to the Participants

• What are we aiming at
• Harmonization through increased convergence and
  comparability between existing definitions
• Operationalization of various definitions for
  specific purposes
• More operational common definition
• Is the proposed analytical framework appropriate
• Which related terms need to be tackled
• Which rationalization approaches to be applied
• Decomposition
• SFM elements
• Other