In 1995, the Government of Cameroon enacted an innovative policy to decentralize the management of its forests, and promote greater participation by local communities and indigenous groups. The purpose of the policy was to improve community livelihoods through increased access to, and benefits from, greater and m ore system atic use of a diverse range of forest resources besides tim ber. Since introductio n of this policy, m echanism s proposed and used in comm unit y forests, added no value either to indigenous practices s eeking to build local capacity or to the natural asset base in long-term forest management for multiple objectives. In order to support government policy and develop an agroforestry strategy for protected areas in which communities can adapt the management of non-wood forest products (NWFPs) to their livelihoods, the World Agroforestry Centre em barked on a low-cost, process-driven assessment and monitoring system for non-wood forest products. The process is built on indigenous knowledge, capacities, and practices that em power local users in resource accountability. It solicits very wide local participation and facilitates integration of scientific and local knowledge and methods. This paper presents that methodology, its development, structure, application, some sam ple results, perspectives an d draw-back s | P Mbile, 'Community-based stock assessment and monitoring system (CB-SAMS) for non-wood forest products in community forests in Cameroon: a methodological guide', In: Chamberlain, J.L. (ed.). 2007. Non-timber forest products: traditional products and technologies. Proceedings of the IUFRO Division 5 Research Group 5.11 technical sessions, Brisane, Australia 8-13 August 2005, pp.8-31, 2007

The focus of this book is on genetic and physical mapping, positioning, cloning, monitoring of desirable genes by molecular breeding and the most recent advances in genomics. Forest trees cover one third of the global land surface, constitute many ecosystems and play a pivotal role in the world economy. Despite their importance in the economy, ecology and environment, genetic analysis and breeding efforts have lagged behind. Presented here are chapters on Populus trees, pines, Fagaceae trees, eucalypts, spruces, Douglas fir and black walnut, and a first-ever detailed review of Cryptomeria japonica. Innovative strategies to address the inherent problems of genome analysis of tree species are thoroughly discussed.

Improved quantification and monitoring of biophysical and biochemical attributes is required to predict the response of ecosystems to climate change and acquire deeper understanding of the carbon cycle. Remote sensing is widely viewed as a time- and cost-efficient way to proceed with large-scale monitoring of vegetation parameters. For over thirty years, use has been made of broadband sensors such as Landsat TM/ETM+. The advent of hyperspectral remote sensing or imaging spectrometry enlarged the number of available bands within the visible, near-infrared (NIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR). Hyperspectrally detectable variables associated with 1eaf chlorophyll content, phenological state and vegetation stress such as the spectral shift of the red-edge (670-780 nm) slope and its inflection point termed the red-edge position (REP), are not accessible with broadband sensors. State of the art indices and analytical techniques applied for broad-band remote sensing are not always suitable for information extraction from high dimensional hyperspectral data. This study aimed to develop new hyperspectral indices and propose innovative ways for empirically estimating biochemical and biophysical parameters from hyperspectral data.The red edge position is estimated using the first derivative of the spectral curve. Existing curve fitting approaches localise the REP while assuming a derivative curve with a single peak. The proposed linear extrapolation method localises the red edge position while explicitly considering two peaks in the derivative curve. The major contribution of this study is that the linear extrapolation method allows optimised estimates of 1eaf chlorophyll or nitrogen content while minimising the confounding effects of background and the structure of leaves and canopy. By minimising these canopy effects, the linear extrapolation may be useful for detecting early physiological stresses associated with changes in 1eaf chlorophyll/nitrogen levels. The linear extrapolation method also shows high potential for discriminating tree and shrub species at both the leafand canopy scales. Lastly, it could be used as a more stable predictor for monitoring green grass biomass in the Majella National park, Italy compared with two-band vegetation indices. The method is simple to implement, but sensitive to spectral noise. Spectral smoothing is recommended when noise is a problem.The study also highlights the utility of partial least squares (PLS) regression based on airborne hyperspectral imagery (HyMap) for estimating grass biomass and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest mean diameter-at-breast height (DBH) in the Majella National Park, Italy. PLS regression produced lower prediction errors for grass biomass and beech forest mean DBH compared with univariate regression involving vegetation indices such as NDVI. NDVI may be simple to implement but could be lacking in terms of exploiting the information content inherent in several narrow bands.In a nutshell, this study makes a contribution in the domain of information extraction from hyperspectral data for estimating vegetation parameters such as 1eaf chlorophyll/nitrogen concentration, grass biomass and forest structural parameter using empirical models. Other studies are focused on developing physically based methods given the lack of robustness and portability of empirical models for varying environmental conditions. However, empirical models that are less sensitive to environmental conditions such as models based on the linear extrapolation REP could be used to support the development of physically based models, particularly to estimate the values of the model parameters, or to refine the underlying concepts on which the model is constructed. The future of hyperspectral remote sensing could hinge or enhancing the link between empirical and physically based approaches.

Termites are termed ecosystem engineers for their plausible roles in decomposition processes, nutrient cycling, pedological alteration, and gas fluxes regulations. Soil reconditioning and regeneration of ecosystem functions, following conversion of natural forests for agriculture are found to be fated by the presence of the functional subsets of termites maintained at the localities. Besides, pest infestations are found to be the results of intensifications and reduction in soil diversity. The rates of recovery as well as infestations are indefinitely variable - evidence of the highly patchiness of communities in the natural world. In this paper, we share our experiences in an effort to model successional termite community structure and spatio-temporal variations through snapshots of historical and intensification gradients in oil palm agroecosystems. The modeling of termite spatio-temporal patterns involved an integration of ecological methods into plantation practices with advanced ecological community, spatial and temporal analysis using three sampling schemes. Valuable information generated from the sampling schemes with possibilities of future advances were as follows: 1) from rapid diversity assessments, variable community changes along oil palm intensification gradients has been identified, which facilitated in the modeling of the successional termite community responses to conversions; 2) through monthly monitoring the termite occurrences on wood baited sampling plots, the annual rhythm has been plotted and future outbreaks predicted; and 3) by explicit mapping of termite infestation in an area-wide scale, termite infestation hotspots has been delineated, for monitoring of infestation extents and assessments of the rates of infestation. With the advanced local spatial diversity distribution assessment, there is a possibility for rates of biogeochemical processes that termite mediate to be quantified. These preliminary results set a methodological framework for modeling of the termite communities not only along various agroecosystems but also forest gradients, in space and time. Nevertheless, a standardized assessment is thoroughly warranted nationally for broad application and area-wide evaluation of this matter. Such spatio-temporal modeling could be an innovative tool in the management and conservation of termite communities at local and area-wide industrial and commodities agroecosystems. Conservation in space and time is expected to be an endeavored approach for termite as well as other soil biota management, hence ecosystem stability and sustainability of agroecosystems within the next century.

La fragmentación del hábitat es una de las principales amenazas para la integridad de los ecosistemas. En este estudio se evaluó el efecto de la fragmentación sobre la estructura de la vegetación en poblaciones de la especie arbórea Legrandia concinna en el centro-sur de Chile. Se describió el patrón de ocupación de las poblaciones de Legrandia en fragmentos remanentes de bosques nativos y se evaluaron las relaciones entre índices de paisaje y variables de estructura de la vegetación. Los índices de paisaje (área, índice de proximidad media, forma y distancia al borde de fragmentos) fueron aplicados a mapas de cobertura forestal generados a partir de una imagen satelital Landsat ETM+ del año 2001. Los resultados mostraron una alta predominancia de fragmentos de reducido tamaño, altos niveles de aislamiento y formas regulares. El patrón de ocupación de las poblaciones de Legrandia sugiere que las poblaciones ocupan preferentemente fragmentos de menor tamaño y mayor aislamiento. No hubo diferencias significativas entre la distribución de frecuencias de los fragmentos con presencia y sin presencia de Legrandia en cuanto a área y aislamiento. Sin embargo, se obtuvo que el tamaño, aislamiento y la distancia al borde del fragmento se relacionara significativamente con la presencia de la especie. Como medida de conservación de la especie, se recomienda incluir dentro de áreas protegidas a aquellas poblaciones con mayor riesgo a desaparecer, promover su conservación ex situ y establecer un programa de monitoreo. El estudio sienta un precedente respecto a la vinculación entre información a escala de paisaje proveniente de imágenes satelitales e información de estructura de la vegetación medida en terreno, para evaluar el estado de conservación de poblaciones de especies amenazadas que cubren extensiones restringidas de territorio. Esta innovación metodológica ofrece la posibilidad de monitorear los cambios producidos en el tiempo a fin de evaluar la efectividad de determinadas estrategias de conservación para estas poblaciones<br>Habitat fragmentation is one of the main threats to ecosystems integrity. In this study we assessed the influence of forest fragmentation on vegetation structure of populations of tree specie Legrandia concinna in south-central Chile. Occupancy pattern of Legrandia populations in remaining fragments of native forests was described, and relationship between landscape indices and vegetation structure variables were evaluated. Landscape indices, such as area, proximity mean index, shape and edge distance to fragment were applied to forest cover maps generated from a Landsat ETM+ satellite scene for the year 2001. Results showed high predominance of reduced size fragments, high isolation levels and regulars shapes of the fragments. Occupancy pattern suggests that Legrandia populations are found mainly in small and more isolated fragments. No significant difference was found between fragment distribution with and without presence of Legrandia related to size and isolation. However, we found that size, isolation and distance to fragment edge are significantly related to the presence of this specie. As conservation measures for this specie, we propose to include populations with high disappearance risk in protected areas, promote ex situ conservation and set up a monitoring program. This study sets a precedent related by linking landscape scale information obtained from satellite imagery and vegetation structure information measured in the field with conservation status of threatened populations. This innovative method allows monitoring changes over time to assess effectiveness of conservation strategies for these populations