Pilot plan for the sustainable management of 10'000 ha of secondary forest in San Lorenzo, Esmeraldas

Ecuador

It is estimated that Ecuador has an area of over 2'500'00 ha of logged-over natural forests, which are considered as secondary forests for the purposes of this Project. Out of this total area, about 10'000 ha belonging to black communities and settlers have been selected for the implementation of the project herebx submitted for the consideration of ITTO. The project seeks to generate technologies that will lead to the sustainable management of this significant resource base, with a view to submitting these technologies to the Ministry for the Environment for their regional and national implementation. Twenty pilot areas will be selected where secondary forest silvicultural treatments will be applied based on quantitative and qualitative data to be collected through a stock inventory. A forest management plan will be developed for the project area and on the basis of this plan, work and/or management plans will be prepared for the harvesting of high value timber species with minimum cutting diameters (forest enrichment will also be applied wherever needed). Forest owners will be trained on the sustainable management practices to be applied. Finally, technological packages on sustainable resource management will be prepared and submitted for consideration ba the Ministry for the Environment.