development
economic
and conservation
of
resources
The economic development
of the countries of the South
is often achieved partly through
conversion of tropical rainforests
into areas for agriculture (pasture,
food crops and plantations)
or mining. Is this development
compatible with conservation
of the forest environment?
While deforestation appears already to
have destroyed 60% of the tropical forests,
an alliance between the issues involved
by development and those associated
with forest environmental conservation, as part of an
innovation management system, has become a major
research challenge.
With the support of scientists, sustainable
development strategies which aim to reconcile
exploitation of resources and preservation
of tropical rainforests are now becoming more
diverse: implementation of a wood certification
system, promotion of reasoned sustainable logging,
agroforestry, crop cultivation under vegetation cover,
the development of sustainable sectors for ligneous
and non-ligneous forest products (resin, fruit, game
and so on).
Conversion
of forest areas into
extensive pasture
in the Amazon.
Decentralising forest management
In Madagascar, scientists are studying ways of setting up
a system of sustained management and viable utilisation
of forest resources with local communities. This project aims
in particular to develop commercial channels for value-added
products such as construction timber, charcoal,
raffia or essential oils.
Drying resin collected
from an Indonesian agroforest.
Preparation
of raffia fibres
(Raphia farinifera)
in Madagascar.
Did you know? Certain kinds of wood in the
tropical forest are certified under a labelling system.
The labels displayed for consumers ensure that the forests
of origin of the products are managed under a sustainable system:
marking the desired species and trees, regulated felling,
restrictions on loading and unloading tracks and sites •
Reconciling commercial
operations and forest conservation:
a
challenge
for research
21
MINISTÈRE
DES
AFFAIRES ÉTRANGÈRES
ET EUROPÉENNES
FTH/en - 2011