AAnnaalloogg FFoorreessttrryy PPrriinncciipplleess aanndd IImmpplleemmeennttaattiioonn Table of Contents I. The 12 Principles of Analog Forestry_________________________________ 3 II. Compararison of Analog Forestry with Agroforestry and Permaculture_______10 III Technical Forms for the Implementation of Analog Forestry Methodology____11 Form no. 1: Assessment of the surrounding area_____________________ 12 Form no. 2: Assessment of target area_____________________________ 13 Criteria for the ecological evaluation______________________________ 14 Formula for the physiognomic description of the vegetation____________ 22 Evaluation of the sustainability of the Analog Forestry System __________23 Appendices___________________________________________________ 26 1. Basic Concepts____________________________________________ 26 2. Methodologies for Soil Physical Indicators______________________ 27 3. Methodology for Evaluation of Soil Chemical Indicators____________ 32 4. Methodology for Biological Indicator Evaluation__________________ 35 5. Methodology to Apply the Physiognomic Formula_________________ 36 6. Mapping and Site Design ___________________________________ 37 7. Nursery and Seed Production_________________________________ 39 8. Planting the Plot___________________________________________ 41 9. Exchanging Seeds__________________________________________ 42 10. Forest Garden Products____________________________________ 45 11. Data base_______________________________________________ 46 12. International Analog Forestry Network________________________ 48 13. References related to Analog Forestry_________________________ 49 Acknowledgements ____________________________________________ 53 Analog Forestry: Principles and Implementation 2 I. The 12 Principles of Analog Forestry Analog Forestry is a system of forest management that seeks to establish a tree-dominated ecosystem that is analogous in architectural structure and ecological function to the original climax or sub climax vegetation community. Principle 1: Observe and record The mature ecosystem of any area represents the outcome of eons of experience in dealing with the climate and impacts at that place. If the area or landscape in question is fortunate enough to contain some representative element, excellent! If something remains, though in a degraded condition, it is still useful, there will be many lessons to be learnt. If nothing remains, look to history, books, stories, and local experience build up an idea of what the land once sustained. Observe the ecosystems and the patterns of biodiversity in the area to be treated. Record the species and ecosystems present in the area under treatment. The initial data will assist in setting a baseline against which future observations their changes can be evaluated. Recording is also of importance in evaluating the management activity and in maintaining a management history. It is important to record the physiognomic formula for the vegetation types on the land. The structure of the system will demonstrate a wide range of different architectural responses varying from trees to lianas. The provision of a suitable structure is addressed via the growth habit of the species being evaluated for use. While it is useful to appreciate that there may be differences between juvenile and adult forms, the primary design consideration will centre on the adult form. Thus tree species can be identified as having a terminal, decurrent or excurrent growth structure, with the crown occupying a dominant, co-dominant, intermediate or suppressed position. The nature of the adult root system should be noted for each species, whether the root system consists of fibrous roots, tap roots or heart roots, and whether there are any modifications such as aerial roots or buttresses. Principle 2: Understand and evaluate Understand the ecosystem being observed from as many perspectives as possible. It will function in one way for the ornithological element, another for the herpetological element another for the hydrological performance and yet another for its social and economic performance. The ecosystem will have certain physiognomic features and taxonomic features. A synthesis of many variables will always yield better choices of the species and patterns to be used in design. This is when the observations and records must be synthesised with as much scientific and traditional information as possible. The generation of the database on the vegetation species that are (were) present in the area and the potential new species to be considered is a critical part of recording and should be initiated at the inception of the project. A very potent tool in appreciating the function of the ecosystem is construction of the vegetation database. This enables an assessment of both ecological function and anthropocentric function, which includes Analog Forestry: Principles and Implementation 3 economic, social or cultural value provided by a single species or by the community as a whole. The performance of each member of the vegetation complex impacts the stability of the ecosystem. A soil building species might contribute to its stability positively, while an invasive species might contribute negatively. Once an understanding of the components of the ecosystem in question is gained, it is possible to evaluate the species within it in terms of the management goals. Principle 3: Know your land The better a manager understands his or her land the better will be the management response. A good understanding of the geography of the land, its peculiarities and its history is important prior to design. A powerful tool, in understanding the land is a carefully drawn out map that identifies the most pertinent features of the farm. Mapping the land is best done if developed as a series of overlays. Once the physical boundaries have been mapped, overlays that demarcate the contours, the hedges, fence lines, vegetation, soils, wind direction and water flow are some useful variables. Know the land in terms of its soil condition and biodiversity. The soil ecosystem is probably the most important asset of a farm. The soil, like trees, crops or livestock upon it are constantly changing, living thing. All we have to do is occasionally turn the soil with a spade to be impressed by this fact. However, something is very wrong with much of this resource today. Salting, wind erosion, water erosion, acidification and structural decline are on a landscape scale, like scabs or wounds on a diseased animal, these are indicators of ill health and disease. The farm map or farm plan should reflect not only the current situation but also the desired future condition. Principle 4: Identify levels of yield Identify the different economic outputs possible as a consequence of the design. All of such products will have an optimum level of extraction. The awareness of optimum yield level of each resource and designing for sustainable production will assist in setting the levels of yield and determining design. Design decisions as well as management decisions, will ultimately be based on goals and outputs that facilitate the achievement of such goals. A good knowledge of the levels of yield both in terms of individual species and ecosystem services is important. The yield required will differ depending on the priorities of the landowner or manager. If the goal is conservation the yield will be measured by increases in the target species, if the goal is economic gain the yield will be measured in terms of income or production. If the demand for yield is focussed on a single crop the higher the yield required the more the production system would move towards a single species monoculture. Finally, the levels of yield should correspond to the value set on different aspects of the design by the operator. For instance one operator might look for bird and butterfly increase as yield because ecotourism is seen as the income source, while another operator might look for high value market crop production because traditional agriculture is seen as the income source. Analog Forestry: Principles and Implementation 4 Principle 5: Map out flow and reservoir systems Every landscape has flow systems, where solids, liquids, gases, and genetic materials produce distinct patterns. Usually the direction of flow in solids, liquids and gasses is governed by gravity, resulting in the very characteristic drainage patters of water or soil flowing on land. Similarly wind moving across the landscape produces some significant patterns. Genes, for their part, usually follow existing corridors of ecosystems conducive for that species. The understanding of the flow systems across the farm or land area to be managed is important to setting the design. Cutting across flow systems is usually not productive. Following, augmenting or ameliorating flow systems to improve the ecosystem being designed, such that the crop or organism under management, will improve productivity. The other consideration in looking at flow systems across a landscape is the propensity to form reservoirs. In water-flow systems, reservoirs, be it natural or artificial can contribute greatly to local productivity. A similar relationship can be seen in the soil, with mineral soils weathering and flowing to form reservoirs of concentrate and in the flow of the organic fraction of the soil. Heterogeneity, or a difference between various landscape elements, is a fundamental cause of species movements and material flows. The distribution of species and the condition