SNAPP: Forest sharing or sparing for conservation and communities in tropical timber landscapes

How do we achieve the greatest conservation and human well-being outcomes in tropical timber production landscapes? This is an important question because (i) tropical forests under timber production cover more than twice the area under strict protection, (ii) loggers are the gatekeepers to most of the remaining remote forests, and (iii) forest conversion to timber plantations is a leading driver of deforestation. The urgency of this question is amplified by the emergence of major forest-carbon financing and policy processes that are driving policies in tropical countries to achieve forest conservation outcomes by 2020, in the midst of growing demand for tropical timber. Should countries segregate land use to achieve timber and climate targets in different places (intensification/sparing), or should they integrate (share) land uses for both timber and conservation outcomes? How do our answers change depending on the conservation outcomes we prioritize (i.e. carbon, water, biodiversity), where we are located, and the concerns of local communities (e.g. jobs, equity, flood control, etc.)? We propose to address these questions with data on carbon, water, biodiversity, timber yield, and human welfare in three geographies where TNC and WCS have large scale conservation programs: Berau, Indonesia; Southern Mexico; and Peten, Guatemala. In each geography we will address this question for two stakeholder groups: 1) forest managers and certifiers and 2) policymakers. We will synthesize a set of “best practices” across the range from low to high intensity timber production systems and estimate carbon, water, and biodiversity benefits. Results will be fed into landscape modeling analyses of “land sharing vs. sparing” scenarios. Our written products will be implemented as part of TNC & WCS conservation programs by (i) testing best practices with partnering land managers, and integrating them into certification standards, (ii) advocating for adjustments to forestry and climate policies to achieve an optimal balance of conservation, human well-being, and timber production outcomes.