Sustained use of arid lands
Arid and semi-arid lands: sustainable use and management in developing countries. R.D. Child et al. Morrilton, Arkansas, USA Winrock International. 1984. 205 pp.
The departure point for this book is the urgent need for responsible management of arid and semi-arid land resources - particularly in developing countries - which make up close to half of the earth's surface.
The first section reviews rangeland classifications and describes people, livestock and wildlife that compete for the use of these lands. It also discusses the relevant infrastructures - past, present and future - in developing countries. The second section looks at processes that can help to meet the long-term needs of people who depend on rangelands.
Preserving tropical timbers
Preservation of timber in the tropics. W.P.K. Findlay, ed. Dordrecht, Netherlands, Nijhoff/Junk. 1985. 273 pp. Price: US$49.50.
Unlike most synthetic materials, wood does not deteriorate through ageing alone. Its decay is brought about by the action of micro-organisms, of which fungi are generally the most important - although deterioration may also be initiated by bacteria.
Timbers vary greatly in their resistance to wood-rotting, fungi and to insect attack. Some of the paler woods, for example, last only a few years in contact with the ground if they are left in an untreated condition. Others, usually the darker, heavier woods, will resist decay for many decades under severe conditions.
Preservation of timber in the tropics analyses the natural durability of commercial timber species currently available in the tropics. It also describes the hazards to which they may be exposed and the means by which they can be protected.
An in-depth look at international timber trade
International forest products/race: resources and market opportunities. H. Edward Dickerhoof, ed. Madison, Wisconsin, USA, Forest Products Research Society. 1985. 176 pp. Price: US$16 (members) or $22 (non-members).
This volume contains the proceedings of a conference of the same title held in Arlington, Virginia, USA, from 7 to 9 November 1983; cooperating were the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, the National Forest Products Association, the USDA Cooperative State Research Service and the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.
FOREST PARK IN BUDAPEST putting trees in urban spaces (J. RENÉ/ERTI)
Part 1 includes seven papers concerning "Forest products trade and United States export outlook".
In Part 2, five papers are devoted to the topic "The changing resource situation and markets in Latin America".
Part 3 - "The changing forest resource situation and markets in Europe" - offers six papers, including one by Timothy J. Peck, FAO's Senior Forestry Officer for the Joint Economic Commission for Europe/FAO Agriculture and Timber Division ("Hardwood and softwood timber supplies from Western and Eastern Europe") and one by Theo Erfurth, FAO's Senior Forestry Officer for Trade and Marketing ("Trends in timber supplies from tropical regions").
Three papers are included in Part 4 on the topic "The changing forest resource situation and markets in the Far East".
Finally, six papers are presented in Part 5, "The changing timber situation in North America and prospects for greater trade".
Trees in urban spaces
Arbres et arbustes d'ornement des régions tempérées et méditerranéennes. R. Bossard and P. Cuisance. Paris, Technique et documentation - Lavoisier & J.B. Baillière. 1984.
Despite its apparently frivolous title, this handsome 600-page book is directed not at the dilettante gardener or house-plant collector but at professionals, experienced amateurs and horticulture students. It is as relevant to urban parks and gardens as it is to the creation or regeneration of forest stands.
Most of the trees and shrubs described here are native not to Europe but to North America, Central Asia, the Far East, Australia, New Zealand and the Andes. They are examined in terms of their ability to adapt to the climatic and soil conditions found in the temperate regions of Europe and around the Mediterranean.
The authors, in a long and detailed introduction, examine the role of trees and shrubs in urban enclosures and green spaces, in large parks and along avenues and boulevards. Although their emphasis on the value of mixing exotic with indigenous species may shock purists, they believe this adds variety and originality to the environment.
The various techniques for planting deciduous and non-deciduous hardwood trees, shrubs, and climbing plants (soil preparation, preparing striplings, root puddling) are briefly described, as are those for transplanting, undercutting and thinning. A separate chapter looks at how to obtain new varieties by hybridization, mutagenesis and in vitro culture.
There is an impressive nomenclature, covering nearly 700 genera, which gives the general characteristics, etymology, French and Latin (and, where appropriate, foreign) names, size and description of the flowers and fruit, and the time of flowering or fruiting. Next, the species are listed in alphabetical order with detailed information on cultivars, dates of introduction, growing requirements, and the type of soil to which they are best suited.
In addition to a large number of black-and-white and colour photographs, there is a guide to the selection of trees and shrubs according to their characteristics, requirements and uses, a list of the main authors and breeders for the plants described in the nomenclature and, finally, a glossary of botanical and horticultural terms.
Fay Banoun, Rome
Cold-weather eucalypts
Image by MONICA RAICHENZSTEIN
Colloque international sur les eucalyptus résistants au froid. Bordeaux, France, IUFRO. 1983.652 pp.
The seminar on cold-resistant eucalypts held by the International Union of Forestry Research Organizations (IUFRO) in Bordeaux from 26 to 30 September 1983 now appears almost prophetic. Nobody suspected then that in the winter of 1984/85, southern Europe, and particularly the Mediterranean region with its 1 million ha of eucalyptus plantations, would be hit by exceptionally severe weather with Arctic temperatures. Afterwards, the need to develop species that would grow even under exceptional climatic conditions became even more urgent.
The IUFRO seminar attracted more than 100 participants from 16 directly affected countries, and the 43 papers presented have been collected in this volume.
The first theme discussed was eucalyptus's place of origin - Australia. It was during the nineteenth century that the tree was first introduced on a large scale mainly in Europe - and the first failures date from that time as well, because eucalyptus was immediately found to be susceptible to cold. However, over the past 150 years, research and trials have increased our knowledge of the cold-resistance mechanisms of some species and enabled us to improve them.
Some papers in this book look at which species and places of origin would be best suited to Mediterranean, cool Atlantic, and warm Atlantic climates. Others highlight how the most serious enemy of eucalyptus is not drought but very sudden drops in temperature - to which, however, some species are resistant, especially E. dalrympleana, for industrial plantations, and E. gunnii, for protection purposes.
A large section of the book is devoted to genetic improvement strategies for eucalyptus. Species selection, provenance selection, hybridization and plant propagation are among the techniques currently recommended.
The last part of the collection looks at individual selection and cloning and shows how propagation by cuttings on an industrial scale has led to the development of a commercially viable forest-plant production technique allowing nursery production of selected individuals.
The seminar's recommendations highlight the need to multiply efforts and initiatives in the fields of genetics and nutrition so as to improve the ecological adaptation and resistance of the species introduced.
How to use sawdust
An overview of possible uses of sawdust. Compiled by G.J. Arends and S.S. Donkersloot. Published by Tool (Amsterdam), Centre for International Cooperation and Appropriate Technology (CICAT) (Delft), and the Office of Development Cooperation (CICA/CMP) (Eindhoven). 1985. 197 pp. Numerous drawings. Price: fl. 19.50.
Sawdust has generally been considered a useless by-product of wood processing and is usually dumped next to sawmills and simply burnt. Yet, as this book discusses, it is a potentially valuable natural resource in developing countries.
The book describes a number of possible applications of sawdust in developing countries - as a fuel, in chemical industries, as a building material and in agriculture. Also covered are possible ways of recycling it. In addition to discussing the application of recommended techniques in developing countries, the book gives recommendations for ways to use sawdust as profitably as possible.
