Sustainable Forest Management for Native Forests

The conscientious management of a forest is based on area zoning and on a rigorous planning exercise which considers a selection of usable trees and the areas to protect the surrounding environment. This criterion is based on the succession dynamics of forests focused on using only mature trees, leaving intact those which display adequate growing conditions as they should remain as seeding trees as well as future harvest specimens, or others which protect each other, as they grow in pronounced slopes, near the existing watersheds.

In the case of natural forests which show a good growth and development, six to twelve trees per hectare should be harvested. This seems to be a reasonable extraction rate, leaving the rest of the area and trees for future growth and development.

Once the area has been carefully intervened by means of a selective extraction process, it stays without intervention for the next 20 years. This time is necessary to regain the volume of growth through natural regeneration of trees and by taking good care of the area. ENDESA and BOTROSA make a systematic effort to introduce new tree species in their wood production processes.

At present, there are three important company owned areas with native forests subjected to Sustainable Forest Management practices: La Mayronga , Palma Real Tigrillera and Hoja Blanca. Other initiatives with SFM are being applied in community owned forest areas which display different levels of development.

SFM actions are being implemented in some forest areas owned by several Chachi communities located in Gualpi del Onzole. A special agro forestry project - Communal Forest Management - CFM is being executed in the Capuli area with the participation and support of the German Technical Assistance Agency GTZ.