Forest Management in French Guiana Original Source (In French)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Forest management in French Guiana original source (in French) http://www1.onf.fr/guyane/sommaire/guyane/connaitre/domaine/@@index.html Table of contents 1 The managed area ............................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Forests on the Atlantic coast ........................................................................................ 5 1.2 Forests in the permanent forest domain (DFP) ............................................................ 6 1.3 Forests in the intermediate zone between the Guiana Amazonian Park (PAG) and the permanent forest domain (DPE) ............................................................................................. 7 1.4 Forests in the membership zone of the Guiana Amazonian Park (PAG) .................... 7 1.5 National Nature Reserves ............................................................................................ 7 1.6 Adaptations made by the Forestry Code to the Guyanese context .............................. 8 2 The permanent forest domain ............................................................................................. 8 3 Sustainable forest management ........................................................................................... 9 3.1 Regional forestry guidelines for French Guiana ........................................................ 10 3.2 Regional Forest Planning Guidelines (DRA) ............................................................ 10 3.3 Forest management .................................................................................................... 11 3.4 Forest management plans .......................................................................................... 11 3.5 The Regional Forest Development Program (PRMV) .............................................. 14 3.6 The silviculture guide for timber production in northern French Guiana ................. 15 4 The main rules for sustainable management ..................................................................... 15 5 Taking traditional uses into account ................................................................................. 17 5.1 The national legislative and regulatory framework ................................................... 17 5.2 Building the local management framework ............................................................... 18 5.3 The participation of indigenous peoples in forums for dialogue on forest management .......................................................................................................................... 18 5.4 Traditional uses in everyday life ............................................................................... 18 6 Supplying the timber sector .............................................................................................. 18 6.1 Strong demand for timber .......................................................................................... 19 6.2 Logging ...................................................................................................................... 19 6.3 Low-impact logging .................................................................................................. 20 6.3.1 Sustainable management objectives ................................................................... 20 6.3.2 Controlled operation ........................................................................................... 21 6.4 The certification of forests in French Guiana ............................................................ 21 The managed area The Guianese forests cover more than 8 million hectares. Among them, the conservation and management of 6 million hectares of forests in the private domain of the State are under the responsibility of the National Forest Office (ONF). The legal framework for this management is governed by the 2005 French forestry law and the 2008 decree adapting forestry law to French Guiana. Broadly speaking, there are 5 major areas in French Guiana as a whole, which are subject to special management practices and are shown on the map above. 1.1 Forests on the Atlantic coast The coastal strip represents 782 000 ha with 73% of natural habitats, among them half are forests. ONF manages 400 000 ha of forests in this area. The coastal strip is constituted by a wide variety of natural environments Different types of forests (forests on sandy cords, forest on the ancient coastal plain, forests on white sand, coastal forests on rocks, high forests, low forests, flooded or swampy forests, mangroves, plantations) Savannas Sandy beaches Bare rock, savannah rock Swamps Located near the main roads and population centers, this area has a high concentration of agricultural, urban and industrial areas, which are essential for the future development of French Guiana. However, within this area, some forests are protected for their ecological, social, cultural or recreational values. ONF monitors public forests, ensuring that forestry and biodiversity issues are fully integrated into land use planning policy. In this forest strip is the domain of the National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) which represents 70 000 ha, of which about 48 000 ha are forests. This private forest is managed by ONF on behalf of the CNES. 1.2 Forests in the permanent forest domain (DFP) The permanent forest domain or permanent forest estate (DFP, « domaine forestier permanent » in French) represents 2.4 million hectares. These forests fall under the forestry regime. This establishes a legislative and regulatory framework for sustainable management of public forests, the main objective of which is to guarantee the long-term forest and natural use of these lands, and the renewal of wood resources. In French Guiana, this regime applies only to DFP. In addition to the managed forests, this area includes the large national nature reserves of Nouragues, Trinité, Mont Grand Matoury, Kaw (in part) et the Lucifer Dékou- Dékou integral biological reserve. Within this area, the forests are subject to sustainable, multi-year, multi-functional management, detailed in documents called forest management plans (“aménagement forestier” in French). The aim is to allow wood production, protection and conservation of remarkable ecosystems of 29 large forests (forest massifs), as well as public activities and outreach. Two other forests, outside the DFP, are subject to a management plan that is currently being developed or revised: the Saul Forest and the Maripasoula Forest. They belong to communities of Saul and Maripasoula. These regulatory and legislative provisions have been incorporated into the new forestry law since July 1st 2012. 1.3 Forests in the intermediate zone between the Guiana Amazonian Park (PAG) and the permanent forest domain (DPE) These forests that do not come under the forest regime are also managed by ONF, which mainly carries out monitoring activities. 1.4 Forests in the membership zone of the Guiana Amazonian Park (PAG) This involves 1.4 million hectares of forests that are managed by the ONF. These areas are on the periphery of the core area of the National Park PAG (“Parc Amazonien de Guyane”). ONF contributes to the objective of sustainable local development by revising or drawing up management plans for forests close to settled areas, performing forest inventories and organizing harvesting operations, thus ensuring the supply of wood to small local industries. ONF also participates in monitoring this landscape. The forests in the core area of the (“Parc Amazonien de Guyane” (PAG) represent 2 million hectares, which are managed by PAG services. 1.5 National Nature Reserves In French Guiana, ONF also manages, alone or in partnership, several national nature reserves (reserve naturelle nationale) and integral biological reserves (reserve biologique intégrale), which are located in the Permanent Forest Domain. The goal of these areas is mainly the conservation of ecological and biodiversity values. the Réserve naturelle nationale de la Trinité (76 908 ha) the Réserve naturelle nationale des Nouragues (106 241 ha) in co-management with an NGO (named AGEP) and in partnership with CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research) the Réserve naturelle nationale du Mont Grand Matoury in co-management with the municipality of Matoury (2 123 ha) the Réserve biologique intégrale de Lucifer Dékou-Dékou (64 373 ha) the Réserve biologique intégrale des Petites montagnes Tortue (2 364 ha) ONF also works with the ‘Conservatoire de l'espace littoral et des rivages lacustres’ (a French public institution in charge of coastal conservation). 1.6 Adaptations made by the Forestry Code to the Guyanese context The Forestry Code, a legal document that sets the framework for the sustainable management of public forests in France, has been adapted to the Guyanese context. Implemented through the publication of an ordinance in July 2005, it thus defined the state forests benefiting from the forestry regime. It also provides for the creation of community forests for inhabitants traditionally drawing their survival from the forest. These forests will be sold to the communities free of charge, but will continue to benefit from the forestry regime, which guarantees their sustainable management. Through these adaptations, the identity and cultural role of forests is thus recognized. 2 The permanent forest domain From a regulatory point of view, the Permanent Forest Domain designates all areas of strict forestry