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The future of tropical forests
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Thematic sheet: "Research at the heart of global issues"
Contact
Alain Billand
UR Biens et services des écosystèmes forestiers tropicaux
E-mail
Jean-Marc Bouvet
UR Diversité génétique et amélioration des espaces forestiers
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Jean Gérard
UR production et valorisation des bois tropicaux
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Jean-Michel Harmand
UMR Ecologie fonctionnelle et biogéochimie des sols et agroécosystèmes
E-mail
Sylvie Mouras
UR Biomasse énergie
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The future of tropical forests
CIRAD has been working on tropical forests for more than fifty years. This experience, combined with an original approach that places humans and their sustainable development centre-stage, has made CIRAD Europe's leading tropical forest research centre.
Many different stakeholders are concerned with forests and they often have contradictory interests and views. CIRAD’s research aims to reconcile the demands of human development and ecosystem conservation
Balancing production and ecosystem conservation
There is growing demand for the goods and services stemming from tropical forest ecosystems. To meet this demand, CIRAD’s researchers are working to improve concerted forest management methods, whether the forests in question are natural or planted.
- Sustainable management of natural forests
- Making use of a new type of ecosystem: degraded forests
- Promoting ecological intensification in planted forests
- Managing the interactions between forests and agriculture, organizing landscapes
- Developing agroforestry in agricultural areas
Promoting forest products to boost living standards in developing countries
CIRAD is working along several lines of research aimed at optimizing wood use. Researchers are also examining non-wood forestry products, such as animal proteins, resins, fruit and latex etc., which can stimulate economic and social development for local people.
- Characterizing tropical woods and promoting little-used species
- Strengthening supply chains for nonwood products
Meeting local demand for renewable energy more effectively
Wood is a renewable energy source for the future and for every society worldwide, whether it be in the form of charcoal, biofuel or electricity generated from biomass. And wood is already the main energy resource in developing countries. Ensuring the sustainable local management of this supply chain to benefit local people is one of CIRAD’s priority research lines.
- Improving fuelwood supplies to people in developing countries
- Optimizing and adapting conversion processes
- Developing the biofuels of the future
Boosting the services provided by forests to meet the challenges of climate change
In addition to the carbon sequestration (the capture and storage of carbon) offered by trees, forests provide a whole range of services that help to make local people less vulnerable to climate change. CIRAD is studying the vital role of forests in coping with one of the major challenges facing the planet this century.
- Devising ways in which societies and public policy can adapt
- Understanding and anticipating ecosystem dynamics in the light of climate change
- Quantifying carbon sequestration through forests, plantations and agroforestry systems more accurately, analysing the implementation of economic tools (REDD+, PES, CDM) and developing new, more effective and fairer tools