Papers by Sylvie Gourlet-fleury
In the Congo Basin where nearly 20 million ha of concessions are exploited according to managemen... more In the Congo Basin where nearly 20 million ha of concessions are exploited according to management plans, improved forest management (IFM) has become a strategy of prime importance when setting up the REDD+ mechanism. For logging companies, REDD+ projects provide the opportunity to compensate a voluntary reduction of the logging intensity by valuing the associated carbon gain. We explored, from the perspective of a logging company, a range of scenarios for reducing logging intensity so as to assess the possibilities for emissions reductions and to evaluate the financial feasibility of such projects. On the basis of Monte Carlo simulations for a typical export-oriented forest concession, we calculated intervals of break-even prices of permanent carbon credits. We show that logging intensity reduction is an attractive option when there is a complete cessation of logging, and for little exploited and low-profit forests. The most feasible IFM projects would be those that require a major reduction of logging intensity. Our work suggests that—instead of improving forest logging techniques—IFM projects based on a voluntary reduction of logging intensity would rather lead the exclusive choice of carbon or timber valuation. Carbon market prices are too low to be an incentive to change logging practices toward more climate-smart forest management, and a change of paradigm to change actors' behaviors would be needed.
Information available conceming all but the most common timber species in the Guianas is scattere... more Information available conceming all but the most common timber species in the Guianas is scattered and difficult to obtain' very little is known of the ecological requirements of these timber species. over 170 tree species in Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana were found to have useable timber properties. Three-quarters of these are currently harvested in one of the three countries and less than20vo account ior greater tiang}vo of production.
Conservation Letters, 2013
In their response to our recent article , Kormos and Zimmerman (K&Z) do not take issue with the r... more In their response to our recent article , Kormos and Zimmerman (K&Z) do not take issue with the result of our meta-analysis of more than 100 published studies that biodiversity and carbon stocks are mostly retained in selectively logged tropical forests. Instead, they object to what they misconstrue as our advocacy of subsidies for logging operations. To be clear, what we advocate is support for efforts to improve tropical forest management and the safety of forest workers. For example, we endorse efforts to restrict logging in riparian buffer zones and on steep slopes, to promote careful planning of harvesting operations, and to provide worker training and safety gear. K&Z disregard the contributions of groups like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Tropical Forest Foundation, the Borneo Initiative, and the various environmental and social welfare groups that are helping to develop ways to compensate companies and communities for the costs of retaining more carbon in living trees through REDD+ and other mechanisms.
Journal articles by Sylvie Gourlet-fleury
Conservation Letters, 2014
ABSTRACT In their response to our recent article (Putz et al. 2012), Kormos and Zimmerman (K&... more ABSTRACT In their response to our recent article (Putz et al. 2012), Kormos and Zimmerman (K&Z) do not take issue with the result of our meta-analysis of more than 100 published studies that biodiversity and carbon stocks are mostly retained in selectively logged tropical forests.
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Papers by Sylvie Gourlet-fleury
Journal articles by Sylvie Gourlet-fleury