Papers by Unna Chokkalingam
A new view of the constant struggle going on in the Maine woods between trees, diseases and weath... more A new view of the constant struggle going on in the Maine woods between trees, diseases and weather has emerged from several years of painstaking research by a team of University of Maine students and faculty. Working in the Big Reed forest preserve in northern Piscataquis County, one of the largest remaining stands of old growth forest in New England, researchers have described patterns of life and death over the past 200 years with an unprecedented level of sophistication and detail. The project was led by Unna Chokkalingam, a Ph.D. student and a native of India. Chokkalingam received her undergraduate education at the University of Madras in India and her Masters degree at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. At UMaine, Chokkalingam received guidance from Alan White, advisor on the project and an associate professor in the Dept. of Forest Ecosystem Science, as well as faculty in biological sciences and spatial information science and engineering. The research was funded by...
provide a thorough review and feedback of this document based on their in-depth knowledge of the ... more provide a thorough review and feedback of this document based on their in-depth knowledge of the forestry sector in Sri Lanka. We are very grateful to all the staff at the Forest Department; Climate Change Secretariat, Ministry of Environment; and Department of Wildlife Conservation for providing us with available information on both historic and recent developments without which this report would not have been possible. Our sincere thanks to
Fire is an important community wetland management tool in Indonesia, but its increasing use in th... more Fire is an important community wetland management tool in Indonesia, but its increasing use in the wetlands of southern Sumatra is degrading the landscape and diminishing household incomes and livelihood options. We studied evolving community land and fire use, resource and livelihood impacts on two sites of roughly 250 km2 each using satellite image analysis and biological and socio-economic surveys. Uncontrolled fire use expanded over time in relation to sonor or swamp rice cultivation, logging, fishing, grazing, and annual cropping on drained wetlands. As a result, most of the landscape has been subject to repeated fires of varying intensities, more extensive in El Niño years. Direct burning by companies played a smaller transitory role in fire ignition over the two decades. But company activities and other large-scale developments contributed to expanding community fire-based land use by bringing in more people, improving access to remote wetlands or making them more flammable. ...
This study in the wake of 1990s fire catastrophes identifies and analyzes underlying causes of ve... more This study in the wake of 1990s fire catastrophes identifies and analyzes underlying causes of vegetation fires in eight locations
Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 2001
DE JONG, W., CHOKKALINGAM, U., SMITH, J., & SABOGAL, C. 2001. Tropical secondary forests in Asia:... more DE JONG, W., CHOKKALINGAM, U., SMITH, J., & SABOGAL, C. 2001. Tropical secondary forests in Asia: introduction and synthesis. This paper provides the general objectives of the Special Issue: Secondary forests in Asia: their diversity, importance and role in future environmental management. It provides a brief overview of the renewed attention to tropical secondary forests and sketches the history of research on this subject. The paper introduces two analytical tools that are used throughout this Special Issue to better understand the current situation and trends of secondary forests in Asia: a typology of tropical secondary forest in Asia, and a conceptual framework that explains the formation and dynamics of these forests. It then outlines some of the main messages that emerge from discussions in the various papers and ends with recommendations for actions and needs for future research.
... Medium term plan: 2011-2013. Where we work: Africa; Asia; Latin America. Careers with CIFOR: ... more ... Medium term plan: 2011-2013. Where we work: Africa; Asia; Latin America. Careers with CIFOR: National positions; National compensation and benefits; ... Authors: Castaneda, F.; Kuzee, M.; Chokkalingam, U.; Jama, B.; Dotzauer, H.; Savenije, H.; (prepared by). Topic: ...
... Projects funded through foreign grants and a World Bank loan were much higher at> P30 ... ... more ... Projects funded through foreign grants and a World Bank loan were much higher at> P30 ... to no local participation in decision-making on site selection, methods, rights and responsibilities ... on sample projects from pre-project to present time * Varied responses between project ...
Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 2001
This special issue brings together 15 papers entirely dedicated to secondary forests in tropical ... more This special issue brings together 15 papers entirely dedicated to secondary forests in tropical Asia: 1. Tropical secondary forests in Asia: introduction and synthesis. 2. A conceptual framework for the assessment of tropical secondary forest dynamics and sustainable development potential in Asia. 3. Formation and recovery of secondary forests in India: a particular reference to Western Ghats in South India. 4. An overview of post-extraction secondary forests in Indonesia. 5. Status and perspectives on secondary forests in tropical China. 6. Secondary forests in the Philippines: formation and transformation in the 20th century. 7. Secondary forests in the lower Mekong subregion: an overview of their extent, roles and importance. 8. Tropical secondary forests in Nepal and their importance to local people. 9. Farming secondary forests in Indonesia. 10. Secondary forests of the Himalaya with emphasis on the north-eastern hill region of India. 11. Secondary forests in swidden agricultu...
framework for the assessment of tropical secondary forest dynamics and sustainable development po... more framework for the assessment of tropical secondary forest dynamics and sustainable development potential in Asia. In this paper, we present an intensification model based on the intensity of exploitation and use of forests and forest lands as a relevant framework for analysing the appearance, dynamics, and evolution of different types of secondary forests. The systematic driving forces responsible for the disturbances and subsequent secondary forest re-growth tend to change and evolve along this continuum. This dynamic, process-oriented, long-term framework draws on existing theories and models of the underlying factors of forest change relevant for tropical Asia, and emphasises factors related to secondary forests. We identify and characterise four general stages along this intensification continuum—the extensive use stage, the intensive exploitation stage, the forest depleted stage, and the forest recovery stage. In the extensive use stage, secondary forests tend to be limited and...
Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 2001
CHOKKALINGAM, U., BHAT, D. M., & VON GEMMINGEN, G. 2001. Secondary forests associated with the re... more CHOKKALINGAM, U., BHAT, D. M., & VON GEMMINGEN, G. 2001. Secondary forests associated with the rehabilitation of degraded lands in tropical Asia: a synthesis. Rehabilitated secondary forests constitute a potential new and emerging resource requiring changes in policy favouring the rehabilitation of the large areas of degraded land in tropical Asia. Conversion of degraded lands into rehabilitated secondary forests rather than into monoculture plantations of exotics may be better for meeting the diverse product needs of local people, other stakeholders, and changing markets, as well as for environmental amelioration. It is also a relatively inexpensive method, suitable for rehabilitation by local people. Government and other stakeholder interest in and scope for rehabilitating degraded lands to secondary forest systems tend to increase along a proposed land use intensification model. Attempts to rehabilitate degraded lands in the intensive exploitation stage because of international p...
1 World Agroforestry Centre, 2F CFNR, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, P... more 1 World Agroforestry Centre, 2F CFNR, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines 2 Main Ave., Marymount Village, Anos, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines 3 Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), P.O. Box 6596 JKPWB, Jakarta 10065, Indonesia 4 College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños,College, Laguna, Philippines 5 Forest Management Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Quezon City, Philippines
There is no official term "degraded forest land" in China. We estimated degraded forest land in G... more There is no official term "degraded forest land" in China. We estimated degraded forest land in Guangdong as the area with non-forest (barren, logged-over and burnt-over forest areas), shrub and sparse forest cover which represent degraded vegetation types in the province. Sparse forests are areas with less than 20 percent tree canopy cover (< 30 percent prior to 1996). 2 Forest includes area with greater than 20 percent (> 30 percent prior to 1996) tree canopy cover, bamboo groves, some shrub lands specially prescribed by the State, farmland shelterbelts, and trees planted around villages, rivers, roads and houses (Regulations for implementation of the State Forest Law issued in 2000). It includes timber, shelterbelt, fuelwood, economic (non-timber products) and special purpose forests. 3 See Chapter I for details on rehabilitation terminology. Chapter III Success and sustainability: Lessons from Guangdong Province 7 | Learning lessons from China's forest rehabilitation efforts Laterite is typical of the tropical area and suitable for growing tropical fruits and crops. Red earth is typical of the mid-subtropical area in the northern mountains, and is good for growing Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata), Masson pine (Pinus massoniana), some valuable broad-leaved timber plantations such as Castanopsis fargesii, Altingia chinensis, Choerospondias axillaris, Betula alnoides and Castanopsis carlesii, and economic plantations. Yellow earth is suitable for developing commercial timber and ecological forests 9. 2.2 Socioeconomic conditions In 2000, agricultural land constituted 83.5 percent of all land use, construction nine percent and other uses 7.5 percent (LRDGP 2000). Of the agricultural land, arable areas comprised 20.44 percent, gardens 5.72 percent, forest land 67.96 percent or 10.2 million ha, grassland 0.19 percent and other agricultural land 5.69 percent. 2.2.1 Population density and composition The Han ethnic group makes up 98.6 percent of Guangdong's population, with the rest comprising 53 minority groups, mainly the Zhuang, Yao, She, Hui and Man. The population in 2000 was almost triple that in 1949 (Table 1), with the density rising from 155 to 417 people per km 2 in 2000. Guangdong's population is still largely agricultural (69%), but the rural growth rate has been declining due to increasing urbanisation. From 1990 to 2000, the non-agricultural population increased on average by 5.83 percent per annum while the agricultural population increased by only 0.82 percent. A sample survey suggested that Guangdong's permanent residents totalled 78.58 million by the end of 2002, making it the third most populated province in China. 2.2.2 Economy and development Since China implemented its reform policy and began opening up to the outside world in 1978, Guangdong has enjoyed substantial, sustained economic growth 9 Ecological forests or non-commercial forests are for the purpose of maintaining and improving the ecological balance and the environment, conserving biodiversity, and providing non-timber forest products.
Indonesia menjadi penghasil polusi terbesar di dunia (Page et al. 2002).
International Forestry Review, 2001
SUMMARY With past and continued destruction of primary forests worldwide, secondary forests const... more SUMMARY With past and continued destruction of primary forests worldwide, secondary forests constitute a large and growing component of forest cover and have been found to be very important for a wide range of goods and services.” There is considerable ambiguity with regard to the meaning of the term “secondary forest” and the different forest types it encompasses, despite its widespread usage. This paper reviews existing definitions or perceptions of secondary forests and examines the three main points of contention, i.e., whether nature (human or natural) of disturbance, intensity of disturbance, and nature of vegetation development matters in its definition. We then arrive at a broad working definition for secondary forests, and develop a secondary forest typology based on the underlying disturbances or land use practices that create conditions for the appearance of secondary forest. The definition and typology are based on clear and objective criteria and are generalisable acros...
Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 2001
A conceptual framework for the assessment of tropical secondary forest dynamics and sustainable d... more A conceptual framework for the assessment of tropical secondary forest dynamics and sustainable development potential in Asia. In this paper, we present an intensification model based on the intensity of exploitation and use of forests and forest lands as a relevant framework for analysing the appearance, dynamics, and evolution of different types of secondary forests. The systematic driving forces responsible for the disturbances and subsequent secondary forest re-growth tend to change and evolve along this continuum. This dynamic, process-oriented, long-term framework draws on existing theories and models of the underlying factors of forest change relevant for tropical Asia, and emphasises factors related to secondary forests. We identify and characterise four general stages along this intensification continuum-the extensive use stage, the intensive exploitation stage, the forest depleted stage, and the forest recovery stage. In the extensive use stage, secondary forests tend to be limited and largely arise from long-rotation swidden agriculture. In the intensive exploitation stage, secondary forests tend to increase in absolute and proportional area, and arise mainly out of industrial and local logging activities and fires. In the forest depleted stage, natural forest cover is low and there is increasing interest in forest conservation, reforestation and sustainable management for timber, environmental and local needs. In the forest recovery stage, there is increased forest cover as a result of reforestation measures or regeneration with land use abandonment. This framework can help guide management and policy options for secondary forests based on threats and relative resource endowments, infrastructure, and the policy and institutional environment present in each stage. It could also be used to identify effective intervention points and to anticipate and prevent problem situations beforehand.
Natural regeneration is a cost-effective, nature-based tool for restoration that enhances resilie... more Natural regeneration is a cost-effective, nature-based tool for restoration that enhances resilience, supports local biodiversity, and supplies multiple ecosystem goods and services. However, for social, cultural and economic reasons, the potential of natural regeneration for achieving large-scale restoration objectives and climate mitigation targets is often overlooked. This information brief makes specific recommendations for policy changes that could enhance the role of natural regeneration in ecological restoration interventions and as an integral component of forest and landscape restoration.
National and regional policy initiatives, and concerns about deteriorating environmental conditio... more National and regional policy initiatives, and concerns about deteriorating environmental conditions and timber shortages have driven the rehabilitation efforts over the years. The province claims great success in its efforts, particularly since 1985, with forest cover increasing from 19% to 57% of the land area. The extent and nature of these rehabilitation efforts has varied over time, reflecting political changes, evolving economic policies and conditions, and land tenure reform. The actual biodiversity impacts can only be measured through detailed, on-the-ground studies before and after rehabilitation, or estimated by studying biodiversity across different types of degraded and rehabilitated areas. However, the potential for such projects to enhance and support biodiversity conservation can be seen through a quick assessment of the objectives, kinds of lands rehabilitated, revegetation methods used, and the species planted on different projects. This assessment is based on 22 samples (counties, cities, or cases) among eight different rehabilitation initiatives in Guangdong Province. The eight initiatives include:
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Papers by Unna Chokkalingam