Forestry Resources

FOREST RESOURCES ASSET ACCOUNTS

Do you know how much forest resources we had in 1994?
Did it increase or decrease compared to previous years?
What were the factors that contributed to its change?

Summary of Results

The following figures show the results of the estimates. These are presented with the objective of disseminating information on the status of the forest resources and at the same time, to solicit comments and suggestions from forest experts on the possible improvement of this account. It should be noted that some parameters used in the estimation need to be refined.

Physical and Monetary Estimate of the Closing Stocks of Dipterocarp, Pine and Rattan at Current and Constant Prices, 1988-1994

Opening and Closing Stocks of forest resources are accounted for each year. This table shows only the Closing Stock or the stock of the resources at the end of a given year, but it should be noted that the Closing Stock is forwarded as the Opening Stock of the following year. From these figures, we can easily surmise that there is a general downtrend in terms of volume and value at constant prices of forest resources for the period 1988 to 1994. The value at constant prices of dipterocarp resources declined at an average annual rate of 4.6%, while for pine forests, the decline rate was 5.9%. Rattan posted the highest decline rate at 10.4%. Overall, the annual decline rate for forest resources from 1988 to 1994 was 4.8%.

Assumptions and Limitations

The estimation took into account the enforcement of the total log ban on virgin forests (also known as old growth dipterocarp forest) in 1992. It was assumed that no logging activities occured in this type of forest from the year of enforcement onward. Ideally however, the presence of illegal logging activities should also be considered. Due to the lack of data on this parameter, however, illegal logging was not included in the estimation.

Other functions of forest resources were likewise not considered in this account. The resources were accounted for only in as far as they provide timber and other raw material inputs to wood related and wood intensive activities. Functions such as the provision of food and habitats for wildlife species, the prevention of soil erosion and the production of oxygen, etc. have not been taken into consideration in this process.

Furthermore, the account does not cover all types of forest resources of the country. To compete the picture, we need to include all other types of forests such as submarginal, mossy and mangrove forests. Again, data constraints do not allow for the estimation of these parameters at the present time. Moreover, the estimation covered only the years 1988 to 1994. However,plans to come up with updated estimates that include data up to 1998 are forthcoming. These will be available by the end of 1999. In spite of these limitations however, the Forest Resource Account was able to cover about 70% of the total resource.

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