**4.3 Case study 2 – A large rural property in a small farmers mosaic**

In this case study, the "core" area chosen for implementing a lapSFM is the Caçador Forest Reserve, a 1,000-hectare Forest Reserve (not a conservation unit) which belongs to the Brazilian Corporation of Agricultural Research (Embrapa) and is located in the Araucaria Forest region (25°32'29.64"S 50°33'44.58"W; Figure 3). Although the area was selectively exploited in the past, the Reserve has received no silvicultural interventions for the last 20 years as it was treated as a protected area (Kurasz, 2005). It is recognized as one of most well conserved forest remnants of Araucaria Forest and two of the most valuable timber species in the south can be found in the Reserve: *Araucaria angustifolia* (Araucariaceae), and *Ocotea porosa* (Lauraceae). Land tenure in the surrounding region consists almost exclusively of small farms and forest companies (Figure 5). Successive three-year research projects focusing on monitoring the Forest Reserve have been in-place since 2002 by Embrapa and other research and academic institutions. A significant amount of data has been collected over the years.

Following the Roadmap outlined above, the goal of this study is to develop a management plan, following Rosot et al. (2006). The first phase of the Roadmap, which includes land use planning/zoning in collaboration with local stakeholders has been completed. Currently we are in the midst of rolling out phase 2 by developing the forest management plan and associated monitoring activities. All MUs (described above) are represented in the Forest Reserve and therefore provides an excellent case study to examine the diverse forest types currently seen in Southern Brazil. The availability of data was a determining factor for the selection of the study area, as various studies have been conducted in the property and in its surrounding regions in the last ten years. A Geographic Information System (GIS) served as a basis for the territorial planning of the Reserve (Kurasz, 2005), which used mainly legal

Sustainable Forest Management in Rural Southern Brazil:

constraints of management.

collected for the species identification.

subdivided, thus generating two or more different stands (Figure 7).

Exploring Participatory Forest Management Planning 113

different MUs or non-contiguous polygons belonging to the same MU constituted different stands. When a stand was crossed by rivers, roads or other physical obstacles, it was

Fig. 6. Management Units and Zones, including Areas of Permanent Preservation (riparian zones), Areas of Restricted Use (like the Legal Forest Reserve), at Caçador Forest Reserve. Silvicultural Treatments to be applied in each stand are composed of general silvicultural regimes for the respective type of vegetation, plus the special features that require the management of each stand based on its current situation. Site-specific silviculture is defined by the needs identified during the definition of management units and the objectives and

Although the Roadmap suggests that forest inventories should be carried out after MUs are defined, an inventory for Caçador Forest Reserve was already available due to previous research in the region. The existing survey aimed to assess the species composition and structure of the forest. During the survey a stratified random sampling was applied, considering 13 different strata which combined different slope and aspect classes. In addition, seventy-two temporary sample plots of 500 m2 (64 plots) and 250 m2 (8 plots) were distributed proportionally to the strata areas. In order to evaluate the composition, the horizontal and vertical structure of the forest, plant samples were

One of the preliminary outcomes of the integration of MUs with the inventory was to further define stands within the forest using a dynamic correlation in the GIS. One aspect of the analysis was a verification of the defined stands and an analysis of existing stock within each stand. As as a result, average timber stock and increment rates in terms of diameter,

and environmental criteria – along with the expectations of the community – to define specific zones. These criteria led us to define Areas of Permanent Preservation (riparian vegetation), Areas of Restricted Use (like the Legal Forest Reserve) and unrestricted zones (Figure 6).

Fig. 5. Typical small farm property surrounding the Caçador Forest Reserve. Note the combination of different crops (tomatoes, cabbage) with hay for livestock and Degraded Forest MU3 with use limited to NWFP in the background.

The proposed zoning cannot be considered definitive, but it addresses legal and environmental constraints that must be considered when planning management activities and assigning uses to the area. Once the zones were mapped, landowners from the vicinity were invited to take part in the field checking and validation process.

The next phase involves the development of the forest management plan for the whole area, according to the previously defined zones. As a first step the area was divided into homogeneous management units (forest sub-typologies) by means of on-screen photo interpretation of Ikonos imagery and incorporating the information provided by the vegetation layer and the zoning layer available in GIS. The management units (MUs) represent groups of stands based on forest physiognomy for which the same type of silviculture could be applied (see above for detailed descriptions of MUs) (Figure 6). The initial and general objective is the recovery and improvement of the forest in terms of species composition and structure and to ensure the maintenance or rehabilitation of natural processes of plant succession.

The next step was to split the Forest Reserve into stands based on the intersection of MUs and the zones defined on the territory planning. Neighboring polygons belonging to

and environmental criteria – along with the expectations of the community – to define specific zones. These criteria led us to define Areas of Permanent Preservation (riparian vegetation), Areas of Restricted Use (like the Legal Forest Reserve) and unrestricted zones

Fig. 5. Typical small farm property surrounding the Caçador Forest Reserve. Note the combination of different crops (tomatoes, cabbage) with hay for livestock and Degraded

The proposed zoning cannot be considered definitive, but it addresses legal and environmental constraints that must be considered when planning management activities and assigning uses to the area. Once the zones were mapped, landowners from the vicinity

The next phase involves the development of the forest management plan for the whole area, according to the previously defined zones. As a first step the area was divided into homogeneous management units (forest sub-typologies) by means of on-screen photo interpretation of Ikonos imagery and incorporating the information provided by the vegetation layer and the zoning layer available in GIS. The management units (MUs) represent groups of stands based on forest physiognomy for which the same type of silviculture could be applied (see above for detailed descriptions of MUs) (Figure 6). The initial and general objective is the recovery and improvement of the forest in terms of species composition and structure and to ensure the maintenance or rehabilitation of natural

The next step was to split the Forest Reserve into stands based on the intersection of MUs and the zones defined on the territory planning. Neighboring polygons belonging to

Forest MU3 with use limited to NWFP in the background.

processes of plant succession.

were invited to take part in the field checking and validation process.

(Figure 6).

different MUs or non-contiguous polygons belonging to the same MU constituted different stands. When a stand was crossed by rivers, roads or other physical obstacles, it was subdivided, thus generating two or more different stands (Figure 7).

Fig. 6. Management Units and Zones, including Areas of Permanent Preservation (riparian zones), Areas of Restricted Use (like the Legal Forest Reserve), at Caçador Forest Reserve.

Silvicultural Treatments to be applied in each stand are composed of general silvicultural regimes for the respective type of vegetation, plus the special features that require the management of each stand based on its current situation. Site-specific silviculture is defined by the needs identified during the definition of management units and the objectives and constraints of management.

Although the Roadmap suggests that forest inventories should be carried out after MUs are defined, an inventory for Caçador Forest Reserve was already available due to previous research in the region. The existing survey aimed to assess the species composition and structure of the forest. During the survey a stratified random sampling was applied, considering 13 different strata which combined different slope and aspect classes. In addition, seventy-two temporary sample plots of 500 m2 (64 plots) and 250 m2 (8 plots) were distributed proportionally to the strata areas. In order to evaluate the composition, the horizontal and vertical structure of the forest, plant samples were collected for the species identification.

One of the preliminary outcomes of the integration of MUs with the inventory was to further define stands within the forest using a dynamic correlation in the GIS. One aspect of the analysis was a verification of the defined stands and an analysis of existing stock within each stand. As as a result, average timber stock and increment rates in terms of diameter,

Sustainable Forest Management in Rural Southern Brazil:

Fig. 8. Basal area (G) classes for the Caçador Forest Reserve

accountability for the protection of the natural resources.

found throughout the landscape.

**5. Conclusion** 

Exploring Participatory Forest Management Planning 115

In this paper we explored some of the legal, social and environmental issues related to the reduction of the forests in Southern Brazil and propose the implementation of a "locally adapted participatory sustainable forest management" system focusing on reducing both rural poverty and deforestation. Thus, two of the three main components of sustainability, the environmental and social aspects are being taking into account in the lapSFM roadmap. The economical aspect – the third component of sustainability – still needs to be fully developed in order to establish a complete framework for integrated natural resources management. However, in this chapter we discussed some of the problems that influence the economic environment that characterise rural properties (especially small ones) while introducing technical solutions for the management of natural resources. Finally, we aimed at shedding light on the discussion related to the current environmental legislation that we believe should be improved in order to achieve a more practical and homogenous

We discussed two case studies of participatory forest management in Southern Brazil through a Roadmap, built to customize practical solutions related to land use and participatory SFM, considering a landscape approach for both small and large properties. The intent was to provide a basis for changes in environmental policy to better reflect the enhancement of SFM in line with agroforestry, forest and non-wood forest resources use

We addressed initially the lack of technical foundation for an integrated natural resources management (especially regarding forested areas) by introducing the lapSFM system. This

volume and basal area (Figure 8) are now available for each stand and together with other relevant information will further support management planning in the area.

Fig. 7. Example of stand division at Caçador Forest Reserve.

Other preliminary results include:


Fig. 8. Basal area (G) classes for the Caçador Forest Reserve
