Multipurpose Trees in the Tropics: Management & Improvement Strategies

The demand for useful and useable science is growing steadily, especially with regard to developing management strategies for forests and plantations. Despite rapid advances in information technology, communication and interaction is often inadequate between the researchers and the end users. This is an old problem which needs to be emphasized and addressed. Recognizing this gap, an International Conference on “Multipurpose trees in the Tropics: Assessment, Growth and Management” was organized at Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI), Jodhpur during Nov. 22-25, 2004. The conference was jointly organized by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) and Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun. The conference was co-hosted and sponsored by the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India; Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India; International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO); Asia Pacific Association of Forestry Research Institutions (NMPB), Min. of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India. The conference offered inter-disciplinary plenary sessions with invited papers and parallel sessions in different sections on specialized topics. The conference was open for all interested in or working with the management and improvement in MPTS including trees of medicinal values. The important sub-themes of the conference were: Management of Multipurpose tree species (MPTS); Conservation and management practices for medicinal plants; Assessment of Trees outside Forests (trees on agricultural lands, in urban and settlement areas, along roads, in home gardens, in hedge rows, scattered in the landscape and on pasture and rangelands); Modelling growth and production – data needs, techniques; Improvement strategies for MPTS with special emphasis on tree genetics. The range of topics covered in the conference was broad covering a variety of issues related to the management and improvement strategies for MPTS. The papers based on the studies related to issue of special interest such as management and genetic improvement of MPTS including medicinal plants; utilization of traditional knowledge for forest management in the tropics; role of NGOs and voluntary agencies in sustainable management of MPTS; MPTS in urban forestry; soil, water & nutrient management in MPTS; managing MPTS through JFM and other participatory approaches; management of MPTS against diseases and pests; trees outside forests (TOF), which are now recognized as a valuable tool in sustainable development and in enhancing livelihoods, etc. were presented. The delegates from USA, Costa Rica, Panama, Germany, Finland, Switzerland, Denmark, France, Cameroon, Sudan, Iran, Burkina Faso, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, China, India and Bhutan attended the conference and presented papers. The present book, includes selected peer reviewed papers presented in the different technical sessions of the conference.