15. Sustained, Multiple Use of Forest Resources 



The United States supports about half of the 

 world's forest research, and it has considerable 

 experience in the development of fast-growing species, 

 optimization of seeding and harvesting patterns, 

 utilization of secondary species, and extraction of 

 chemical substrates. It is in the early stages of 

 experimenting with "energy plantations." Femote 

 sensing via satellites offers new opportunities for 

 identifying forest resources, assessing the impact of 

 development activities, and detecting the onset and 

 early spread of forest diseases. 



Some of this research has related to developed 

 countries, and much more is known about temperate zone 

 forestry than about the special problems of tropical 

 forests. However, we believe that the United States 

 could make a major contribution to international 

 development by supporting a greatly enlarged research 

 effort in sustained, multiple use of forest resources 

 in developing countries. Central to this effort would 

 be the establishment or designation of two or three 

 first-class regional institutes in developing 

 countries, patterned after the international 

 agricultural research institutes and oriented toward 

 different ecological zones. These institutes could 

 support research in forest ecology, development and 

 testing of improved varieties, reforestation, 

 determination of sustainable yields, resistance to 

 insects and disease, and innovative use of forest 

 products. We also suggest that a strengthened array of 

 research and experiment stations in the developing 

 countries be integrally related to the regional 

 institutes to keep the regional staff attuned to 

 problems in the field and to help train the specialists 

 that are sorely needed. In addition, we recommend that 

 the United States support the newly created 

 International Council for Fesearch on Agroforestry, 

 which is designed to fulfill such functions as 

 information exchange, identification of research gaps, 

 and encouragement of research funding. 



This scientific thrust must be accompanied by 

 improved forest planning and policy in developing 

 countries. Forest exploitation is increasing rapidly 

 in many of these countries in response to pressures for 

 export earnings, building materials, fuel, and forage, 

 as well as to make way for habitation and farming. 

 Such exploitation seldom reflects optimal use either in 

 the near term or over the lengthy time cycle needed for 

 truly sustainable forest management. Unsound 

 harvesting practices often degrade the productivity of 

 the land, destroy wildlife habitats, and invite erosion 

 which destroys adjacent farmland and aggravates 



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