**5. Conclusion**

114 Sustainable Forest Management – Case Studies

volume and basal area (Figure 8) are now available for each stand and together with other

 Local farmers showed interest in adopting forest management concepts in their properties, mainly through the implementation of agroforestry. However, there is still a general reluctance in engaging in forest management because of environmental law

 There is widespread occurrence of native bamboo species that are impeding the development of forest species and causing the degradation of forest communities. This pattern was observed in all different MUs and in the most extreme cases, it was found that the phenomenon is restricting any forest regeneration. Intense human effort is necessary for controlling these species with promising initial results using a brushcutter. On the other hand, economic use can be considered for the removals. There is an important stock of firewood previously underestimated and not being considered as a source of income: more than 47m3/ha of firewood and 2.5 m3/ha of

 A comprehensive monitoring program is being carried out aiming to assess the response of forest stands to different silvicultural prescriptions through the observation

relevant information will further support management planning in the area.

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

Other preliminary results include:

lumber were found in the inventory.

and/or measurement of permanent plots.

restrictions.

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 accountability for the protection of the natural resources.

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 found throughout the landscape.

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

Sustainable Forest Management in Rural Southern Brazil:

**6. Acknowledgements** 

**7. References** 

different levels of decision making – the international to the local.

Carlos Rosot, Osni Ruppel, Pablo Cruz, and Pilar Gallo.

No.4. pp. 5, ISSN 2075-556

Federativa do Brasil], Brasília

137–147, ISSN 1550-7424

Exploring Participatory Forest Management Planning 117

rationale (called REDD+). Currently, REDD++ is being conceptualized and includes agroforestry, following Word Agroforestry Centre [ICRAF] reasoning (Akinnifesi, 2010). The PES, REDD and ecosystem-based mitigation of greenhouse gases are all instruments of finance transfer between industrialized and developing countries in exchange for emission reductions associated with improvements in forest protection and management. However, commonly these international agreements get 'lost in translation' from the international and national level to forest landowners and communities. LapSFM is being built as a tool to help landowners in Southern Brazil, who are stewards of natural forest patches, be part of this new era, acknowledging that coherent public policies and legislation are necessary to link

This project was made possible through the cooperation of a number of agencies and institutions including: the Agricultural Research and Rural Extension Corporation of Santa Catarina (EPAGRI), Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR), Rural Extension Institute of Paraná (EMATER/PR), and Environmental Institute of Paraná (IAP). We would like to thank the following institutions for their kind financial support: Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Rottenburg University of Applied Forest Sciences, the Secretary of Science, Technology and Post-Secondary Education (SETI) of Paraná State, and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). Finally, we would like to thank our colleagues for their assistance in developing and carrying out the research described herein, including: Ana Hernando, Arnaldo de Oliveira Soares, Carlos Henrique Nauiack, Carlos Roberto Úrio, Evaldo Muñoz-Braz, Fernando Luis Dlugosz, Flavia Colla, Gabriel Berenhauser Leite, Lisâneas Albergoni, Luziane Franciscon, Nelson

Akinnifesi, F. (2010). Reducing emissions through agroforestry Research summary.

Brasil. (1965). Lei nº 4771, de 16 de setembro de 1965. Institui o novo Código Florestal. Diário

Brasil. (1994). Regulamenta os arts. 15, 19, 20 e 21 da lei 4.771, de 15/09/1965, que institui o

Brasil. (2006). Decreto nº 11428, 22 de dezembro de 2006. Dispõe sobre a utilização e

Brasil. (2008). Decreto nº 6514, de 22 de junho de 2008. Dispõe sobre as infrações e sanções

Brunson, M. W., & Huntsinger, L. (2008). Ranching as a conservation strategy: can old

Oficial [da República Federativa do Brasil], Brasília. pp. 9529

Diário Oficial [da República Federativa do Brasil], Brasília, pp. 1

República Federativa do Brasil], Brasília. 23/07/2008, pp. 1

Jotoafrika adapting to climate change in Africa. *World Agroforestry Centre* (ICRAF),

novo código florestal, e da outras providências. Diário Oficial [da República

proteção da vegetação native do Bioma Mata Atlântica, e dá outras providências.

administrativas ao meio ambiente, estabelece o processo administrativo federal para apuração destas infrações, e dá outras providências. Diário Oficial [da

ranchers save the new west? *Rangeland Ecol Manag*, Vol.61, No.2, (March 2008), pp.

system promotes a participatory approach through the engagement of landowners into the decision-making in order to combine land use interests with best practices. Furthermore, the system proposed integrates Local Ecological Knowledge – LEK – into the technical framework; as such, the result is a locally adapted management of natural resources. However, new approaches such as that outlined here face important challenges. Initially, it requires knowledge from different areas of expertise that is not always available, mainly in more isolated communities. Secondly, changing the top-down approach usually employed by technicians demands further training and willingness to share authority over decisionmaking. Thirdly, a turnover in mentality towards a group commitment for achieving common objectives might be a slow process; however, the introduction of co-operatives supported by adequate public financing and technical institutions is likely one of the best solutions for overcoming problems such as scale production. Finally, the most important contribution of this project is proposing solutions focused on enhancing economic prosperity tied to conservation.

By introducing production diversification, landowners can reduce their dependency on the price of globalized commodities that are mostly driven by policies at the national level focused on large-scale productions for international competition. In such situations, smallscale, unsubsidized agriculture (as subsidies and financing are generally designed for largescale business) has little chance of success. Managing the land in integrated systems of production that involve forests and agroforestry and allow for forest and non-forest wood products to be produced together with crops and livestock has the potential to lead to prosperity while protecting the natural resources.

The lapSFM system also re-introduces the forest component as an economic alternative for landowners. Current legislation that restricts land use together with antiquated ideas related to conservation and responsibility regarding natural resources has generated antagonism between farmers and forests. Although most forest fragments in Southern Brazil are found in small properties, the current legislation does not provide incentives for landowners to protect natural resources but rather only restricts land use and increases economic insecurity. As a consequence, while landowners are key elements in forest conservation, they solely carry the burden for maintaining land under protection. Altering this situation involves various strategies and includes changes in the legislation, public education and pro-active government policies. In the last few years, new public policies in Brazil have introduced programs for financing small-scale agriculture with clear beneficial consequences. Other policies such as the payment for environmental services (PES) have only recently started to be regulated and require further development and study. While PES has been used to promote reforestation and agroforestry, it is mostly used in the context of water protection. Many initiatives are now being implemented by states and municipalities and a National Policy of Environmental Services is being discussed in Congress. Ultimately such initiatives are helping to create a common ground on which relationships between landowners and forests can develop.

Other alternatives derived from international agreements such as REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) are important international policies and positive incentives relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries. In the second part of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change [UNFCCC] Conference in Copenhagen (2009), the importance of including the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries was recognized in its initial rationale (called REDD+). Currently, REDD++ is being conceptualized and includes agroforestry, following Word Agroforestry Centre [ICRAF] reasoning (Akinnifesi, 2010). The PES, REDD and ecosystem-based mitigation of greenhouse gases are all instruments of finance transfer between industrialized and developing countries in exchange for emission reductions associated with improvements in forest protection and management. However, commonly these international agreements get 'lost in translation' from the international and national level to forest landowners and communities. LapSFM is being built as a tool to help landowners in Southern Brazil, who are stewards of natural forest patches, be part of this new era, acknowledging that coherent public policies and legislation are necessary to link different levels of decision making – the international to the local.
