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It is widely recognized that the world's current protected areas
are insufficient to sustain all their biological diversity. However,
it is unrealistic to assume that protected areas can be expanded
sufficiently, particularly in tropical developing countries. Semi-natural
resource production systems may be crucial for the conservation
of global biological biodiversity too. They often cover larger areas
than could ever be incorporated in protected areas and they sustain
many wild species, while producing goods and services.
Therefore, this research project aims to study the trade off between
biodiversity conservation and the extraction of forest products
(timber and non
timber). It pays attention to local perceptions on the exploitation
of forest products as well as on forest
conservation and also to customary law. We hope that the project
will generate information on how biodiversity-friendly practices
might affect extractive yield levels (timber and non timber) and
thus income obtained from harvesting in tropical forests. It will
also be important to find out who would pay the costs and get the
benefits from improved practices.
Several disciplines are involved in this project: anthropology,
sociology, plant ecology and taxonomy, general ecology and law.
Three PhD studies, on social forestry, on forest ecology and on
the impact of decentralisation on land law at the 'grass-root' level
respectively are part of the programme.
Information and insights from this research project will support
the Government of Indonesia as well as local governments in conservation
planning.
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