Tropical-managed Forests Observatory

The Tropical-managed Forests Observatory (TmFO) aims to assess the impact of logging on managed forest dynamics, carbon storage and tree species composition at a regional level in the Amazon Basin, the Congo Basin and Southeast Asia. The project is coordinated by the CIRAD and involves 15 different research institutions. It is funded by the sentinel landscape program of CGIAR.

TmFO brings together data from 489 permanent sample plot networks set up by the research institutions involved in TmFO, representing an area of more than 900 ha. Meta-analyses are used to answer questions such as the following:
How does the provision of different forest products and services vary across gradients of timber harvest intensity?
Are there tradeoffs in management practices aiming to enhance the production of different forest products and services?
Do responses of forests vary across the region, and does this follow trends in forest functional composition?

Insights into forest responses to logging will contribute to assessing their resilience in the context of climate change and their capacity to provide goods and services sustainably. This will allow TmFO to make new recommendations towards more sustainable and profitable forest management.
Click here to view the official TmFO site.

Located in tropical forests with a total surface ≥ 1 ha
All trees ≥ 20 cm diameter
Good reliable species identification
Mean annual precipitation ≥ 1000 mm
Consistent information on logging treatments
At least one pre-logging and at least two post-logging censuses
The Amazon Basin
11 experimental sites
5 countries
245 plots (672 ha)
35 control plots (164 ha, 25%)
Mean period of monitoring – 15 years
The Congo Basin
6 experimental sites
2 countries
92 plots (84 ha)
13 control plots (13 ha)
Mean period of monitoring – 13 years
Southeast Asia
7 experimental sites
2 countries
153 plots (158 ha)
11 control plots (69 ha)
Mean period of monitoring – 16 years

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