Help needed for ICRAF agroforestry inventory
The International Council for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), based in Nairobi, has initiated a project to survey and document the predominant agroforestry practices and systems around the world. Special emphasis is being placed on agroforestry systems in developing countries.
ICRAF is soliciting the cooperation of all knowledgeable individuals and institutions in the project. Those who might have information to supply should contact Dr P.K.R. Nair, Coordinator, AF Systems Inventory Project, ICRAF, PO Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya. Cable: ICRAF; telephone: 29867 or 332859; telex: 22048.
The project involves a systematic inventory and cataloguing of existing agroforestry practices and systems around the world. Agroforestry is defined as "a collective name for land use systems and practices where woody perennials (trees, shrubs, palms, bamboos, etc.) are deliberately used on the same land-management unit as agricultural crops and/or animals, in either some form of spatial arrangement or in temporal sequence. In agroforestry systems there are both ecological and economical interactions between the different components".
A major share of the funding for the project is being supplied by the US Agency for International Development. Quantitative information is being gathered to evaluate the performance of the respective systems, assess their strengths and weaknesses, determine their applicability to new areas and identify research priorities to improve them.
Information from the survey will be entered into a computer - based agroforestry data bank, supplemented by a systems register and document file containing detailed information on the identified systems. Data will be stored at ICRAF's Nairobi headquarters and updated from time to time in a continuing effort to record global statistics and trends in agroforestry.
Major findings of the inventory will be disseminated through various publications, presenting system profiles, summary compilations and analytical reviews identifying areas for further research and potentials for extension of promising agroforestry systems.
New Malaysian reforestation programme
A new 15-year, US$ 218-million reforestation programme for Peninsular Malaysia has been announced by the Government's Primary Industries Ministry. As planned, the programme will cover more than 200000 hectares. The reforestation programme is one response to the continuing loss of forest cover in Malaysia. To reinforce this effort, the Government is also cutting back existing licensed logging operations and setting limits to industrial processing capacity.
REPLENISHING MALAYSIA'S FOREST RESOURCES a pilot plantation tests fast-growing industrial species
Preserving and cultivating ginseng
The large old-growth forests of Jilin province in the Changbai Mountain region of northeast China provide the natural habitat for ginseng, an almost fabled herb or root widely used for its medicinal properties since the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD). The conditions for ginseng's survival in these forests are highly particular: a soil rich in humus; a damp, but not waterlogged soil; and tree spacing just wide enough to permit the right amount of sunlight to shine through on the root and nurture its growth. In places where such conditions are not precisely met, such as in most smaller forests, only a valueless form of "baby ginseng" can be found.
Because of ginseng's medicinal value and its fair]y widespread popularity, there have been many attempts to grow it commercially. The first attempts in this direction failed. Since 1957, however, considerable progress in ginseng production has been made, largely by means of the research conducted at Jilin Province's Research Institute for Local Products. Ginseng production in the province, which accounts for more than half of China's total production has increased from about 60 tonnes/year in 1949 to more than 2165 t/yr today.
In the meantime, research continues into the medicinal applications of ginseng. One recent discovery is that ginseng increases blood circulation: this had led to the manufacture of cream, perfumed soap and toothpaste from ginseng.
Some researchers are even exploring the herb's potential in treating certain kinds of cancer.
From China Reconstructs. Beijing
March 1982
Intermediate technology in forestry
A 137-page report on intermediate technology in forestry based on a consultation held in India during September-October 1981 is now available. Participants from 15 Southeast Asia - Pacific countries attended the conference, which explored the potential of intermediate technology to balance forestry equipment and investment within prevailing social conditions.
WALKING TRACTOR AND TRAILER HAULING POLES IN CHINA small-size machines do less damage to the forest
Subjects covered by the 13 working papers and 13 country reports include:: technology in developing countries, forestry and employment, ergonomics and safety, portable charcoal kilns, and basic logging tools. Copies can be obtained by requesting Appropriate technology in forestry (FAO Forestry Paper 31), ISBN 92-5-101185-0, FAO Distribution and Sales Section, Via delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy. Price: US$ 5.60.
Ergonomics seminar in October
A seminar on Ergonomics Applied to Forestry will take place in Vienna and Ossiach, Austria, from 17 to 21 October 1983. It is being organized by the Government of Austria, in collaboration with the Joint FAO/ECE/ILO Committee on Forest Working Techniques and the International Union of Forestry Research Organizations (IUFRO). The Joint FAO/ECE/ILO Committee is a body of FAO, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the International Labour Organisation.
The seminar will deal with the latest research results in ergonomics - the study of efficiency of persons in their working environment. Topics considered will include forest accidents and accident prevention, occupational health and occupational health services in forestry. The focus will be on a number of topics in ergonomics applied to forestry in which progress has been made in recent years. The programme includes two-and-half days of study visits concentrating on ergonomics as applied to conventional logging with chain-saws and tractors and on ergonomics applied to cable logging.
CABLE LOGGING IN STEEP TERRAIN a method which minimizes stand and soil disturbance
The seminar is intended for teachers from forestry and forest worker training centres, specialists concerned with occupational safety and health, and forest managers.
For more information, contact either Mr A. Trzesniowski, Director, Forstliche Ausbildungsstätte, A-9570 Ossiach (Kärnten), Austria, or the Timber Section, ECE/FAO Agriculture and Timber Division, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland.
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PHOTO CREDITS Kochar, WHO, courtesy of Ambio; Boscardi, FAO; UN/FAO, Botts, FAO; Botts, FAO; Tortoli, FAO; Ipatenko, FAO; UN/FAO; Ambio; UN/UNEP, courtesy of Ambio; Calabri; Mattioli WFP; FAO; Poulsen; Botts; from p. 176 of Guide de terrain des ligneux sahéliens et soudano-guinéens; Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Rome; Jap. For. Serv.; Photogr. Archives of the Kon. Inst. v/d Tropen, Amsterdam; UN/FAO; Zhang; Hinteregger. |
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The only international forestry magazine |
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every issue in 3 languages |
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The only international forestry magazine |
FRUIT BEARING
FOREST TREES
Published by FAO with the assistance of the Swedish International Development Authority 1982.
This publication of technical notes is one of several designed to make available information needed to promote community and household - level forestry activities.
It has been prepared for FAO by the Faculté des sciences agronomiques de l'Etat, Gembloux, Belgium.
FAO FORESTRY PAPER 34
