Future of tropical forests, old

1
Future of tropical forests, old new Linking
Science, Markets, and People

• David Kaimowitz
• CIFOR

2
Research in the tropical landscaple

• Large compact primary forests (rapidly
  declining) Conservation Biology
• First rotation production forests (rapidly
  declining) Silviculture
• Fast-growing plantations (rapidly growing) Tree
  Breeding Management
• Secondary forest 2nd rotation production
  forests (rapidly growing) Limited research
• Deforested areas (rapidly growing) Limited
  research

3
Major forest users

• Industrial forestry research support
• Strict conservation research support
• Informal sector limited research support
• This is one reason the forestry research
  community has had difficulty addressing the
  poverty dimensions of forest use.

4
The private forestry sector in the tropical
landscape

• Large plantation companies strong research
  support
• Large wood processing companies strong research
  support
• Large Companies committed to best practice in
  natural forest management medium research
  support.
• Other companies that log natural forests
  limited research

5
Rapid changes in forest policies

• Forest tenure
• Decentralization
• Forest law enforcement
• Environmental service markets
• Developing country governments have few sources
  of solid objective scientific advice.
• Interest groups dominate the discussion.

6
Rapid changes in global markets

• Dramatic rise in Chinese forest product imports.
  India may follow.
• Dramatic rise in Brazilian beef and soybean
  exports.
• Rapid growth in urban forest product markets in
  Africa.
• Growing financial markets for pulp paper
  plantations in the tropics / sub-tropics.
• Limited research attention to these issus.

7
Conclusions

• Existing research efforts cover some land uses,
  groups, and issues adequately.
• Many crucial land uses, actors, and issues
  continue to get limited attention.
• In the current funding climate it is hard to get
  resources to address these issues.
• As a result, the debates remain poorly informed,
  key problems are getting worse we are missing
  out opportunities.