The Dipterocarp forests of SE Asia constitute a dominant component of the world's tropical forests, and are central to many global environmental issues, such as loss of biodiversity and climate change. Their fate will certainly depend on the involvement of scientists from many nations and disciplines, but will perhaps ultimately, rest with local policymakers, forest administrators and line foresters. Unfortunately, these two groups rarely share realms, readings or reasoning, with practical foresters often remaining remote to new developments. Traditionally though they do find solutions to problems, gain deep insights into forest responses and practical constraints, and sometimes even report in semi-obscure publications, which rarely reach the scientific circuit. This book attempts to bridge the gap between the realms of forest science and practice in Dipterocarp ecology, management and utilization.
Theoretical aspects of Dipterocarp forest ecosystems and its relevance for sustainable management, A. Schulte; ants benefits pioneer trees - the genus Macaranga as an example of ant plant associations in Dipterocarp forests, B. Fiala; sustainable management of Dipterocarp forests - opportunities and constraints, H-J. Weidelt; traditional management of Dipterocarp forests - examples of community forestry by indigeneous communities, K. W. Sorensen; reforestation experiences with Dipterocarps species on grassland, R. Otsamo et al; rehabilitation of degraded sites in logged-over forest using Dipterocarps, R. Nussbaum and L. H. Ang.