A Critique on
Long-term impacts of logging in a tropical rain Forest – a simulation study
By:
RAHMAWATY
Author: A. Huth, T. Ditzer Journal: Forest Ecology and Management 142 2001 33-51
I. Title of the Study •
As a researcher, the title provided by the authors has the element of simplicity, brevity, specificity and subject matter focused. The reader can easily determine what the
study is all about and what it tries to investigate
Long-term impacts of logging – a simulation study
, where? In
a tropical rain forest
; Brief title but it would be better if the author mention the specific location to make more informative.
• The keywords used such as “
Long-term impacts of logging in a tropical rain forest
”. The title gives the implicit meaning that the logging in tropical rain forest Malaysia using
the selection system, so the reader can easily understand that the concern of the research study is related to silviculture. Clearly indicate that the subject matter is in the
field of silviculture.
II. Rationale, Background and Objectives of the Study 2.1. Rationale of the Study:
• Logging operations in tropical forests often have severe impacts on the forests. Though only a
small portion of trees is harvested, a large portion of the forest may be impacted.
The authors looked into the
Long-term impacts of logging
using the selection system
in a tropical rain forest Malaysia, with a simulation study
,
using model FORMIX 3 simulation models for growth of tropical forest.
The authors
will use the FORMIX3 model for investigating the long-term impact of different logging cycles.
2.2. Background of the Study:
• According the authors,
the logging cycle is an important factor which strongly influences the maintenance of the forest. Too short logging cycles which ignore the natural regeneration
capability of the forest degrades it further from one logging operation to the next.
•
The complexity of tropical forest ecosystems on the one hand and the long time scales on which harvesting influences the growth of the forest on the other hand renders experimental
approaches for studying the impacts of repeated logging events extremely difficult.
•
By simulating logging scenarios with models, the impact of logging strategies can be analyzed and assessed for their sustainability.
Rahmawaty : Technology Journal Report on Selection System-A Critique on Long term Impacts…, 2006
USU Repository © 2006
• Forest growth models normally focus on the trees in the forest. Thus, these models allow
analysis if how the future forest structure will be modified by management, but they tell us little about other aspects of the ecosystem animal populations, hydrological functions, soil
conservation, and biodiversity. However, these aspects are more or less related to forest structure. Thus, several implications of timber harvesting on rain forest can be analyzed with
such models.
• FORMIX3 Huth et al., 1997, 1998 is a model for the simulation of the growth of tropical forest
stands with a size of 1 ha. To apply the model to a given forest stand, the user must provide stem number distributions for the different species groups. Tree species must be grouped into
functional groups according to their potential height and light demands. The model includes tree growth, mortality, regeneration, and competition as main processes.
2.3. Objectives of the Study :
