Problems in resource data acquisition
1992
Temu, A. B. | Piearce, G. D. | Gumbo, D. J.
The indigenous forests of Southern Africa occupy fragile sites and represent climax ecosystems which are hard to replace. Growing dependence on these forests, particularly for basic energy needs of rural and peri-urban communities, threatens their future survival and development. Resource information on the indigenous forests of Southern Africa is scanty and barely useful for management purposes. The available floristic inventories and phenological studies are limited to a few forests, and even in these they do not cover all the species. Nonetheless, this information is barely utilized. Most resource inventories have been motivated by harvesting needs and have therefore concentrated on timber. There is a serious dearth of management information on the basis of which the forests could be propagated and developed. Deliberate efforts are needed to collect, package, disseminate and use information on indigenous forests. Special effort should be devoted to providing information on resource change. The establishment of a special regional group for monitoring indigenous forests is urged.
显示更多 [+] 显示较少 [-]