The aim of the project was to explore the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge amongst decision-makers involved in the management of red deer in Scotland. While research exists on the ecology of red deer habitat, no research exists that focuses on the relationship between the deer and the people responsible for their management. Therefore, this thesis is primarily qualitative research which aimed to explore the various aspects of red deer management in Scotland within the socio-ecological context in which it exists. There are numerous groups with interest in red deer management, however this research, due to scope and time restrictions, was limited to two primary groups, the individuals tasked with implementing policy and the practitioners who carry out culling. During the course of the project, under-researched topics surfaced, highlighting areas of practical and theoretical divergence between stakeholders. This thesis therefore aims to explore how differing views and perspectives of two of the key stakeholder groups – the estate-based practitioners (including stalkers, land-managers, and land-owners) and staff of governmental agencies – influence the management of red deer in Scotland. This research indicates that people with different roles hold different relationships with the deer, which affect management decisions and implementation at local, regional, and/or national level. As with other areas within conservation and wildlife management, this research indicates there is a disconnect between blanket governmental policy and site-specific needs, with a lack of inclusion of practitioner knowledge. Potential future research would include additional qualitative research to follow up some of the management issues raised by this research and formulate recommendations for changes to practice, followed by collection of quantitative data assessing the efficacy of interventions.

Na primeira metade de século XX, tanto os empiristas lógicos quanto os racionalistas popperianos sustentaram que os juízos científicos corretos derivavam de sua conformação a certas regras: indutivas, dedutivas, hipotético-dedutivas ou formalizáveis segundo o cálculo de probabilidades. No entanto, após a emergência de novos trabalhos, como os de Thomas Kuhn, houve um amplo desenvolvimento de abordagens que analisam a inferência científica com base em valores, em vez de regras estabelecidas a priori. A estratégia proposta por Kuhn considera a prática científica e sua história um elemento importante para uma compreensão adequada da racionalidade da ciência. Sua abordagem envolve a consideração de valores cognitivos, tais como fecundidade, consistência e escopo de teorias. Ampliando essa abordagem, estudos mais recentes – a partir da década de 90 e com grande efervescência nos últimos anos – defendem a tese de que o conhecimento científico, além de um produto da atividade social, possui ele mesmo uma dimensão social intrínseca. Poderíamos perguntar, então, em que medida valores não cognitivos, tais como valores morais e sociais, moldam a prática científica; e como esses valores poderiam exercer um papel legítimo ou mesmo contribuir para a produção de conhecimento. Essas questões envolvem o problema, bastante expressivo atualmente (cf. Longino, 2015), sobre a chamada “dimensão social do conhecimento científico”. Neste trabalho, abordo o referido problema no que tange à relação entre valores e atividade científica, utilizando-me, para a construção do artigo aqui presente, a abordagem do filósofo da ciência Hugh Lacey e aplicando-a a um contexto específico: as possibilidades de uso produtivo dos chamados Campos Sulinos. / In the first half of the XXth century, both logical empiricists and popperian rationalists sustained that correct scientific judgements derived from the conformation to certain rules: inductive, deductive, hypothetical-deductive or formalizable according to the calculation of probabilities. However, mainly because of Thomas Kuhn’s works, there was an extensive development of approaches that analyze the scientific inference based on values, rather than on a priori established rules. The proposal of Kuhn considers the scientific practice and history as elements of relevance to the comprehension of science’s rationality. His approach considers cognitive values, such as fecundity, consistence, and scope of theories. Expanding this approach, recent studies – starting in the 90s and with great effervescence in recent years – defend the thesis that scientific knowledge, besides being a product of social activity, features an intrinsic social dimension. We could ask, in what measure noncognitive values, such as moral and social values, shape the scientific practice; and how these values could exercise a legitimate role, or even contribute to the production of knowledge. These questions involve the currently quite significant (cf. Longino, 2015) problem called “social dimension of the scientific knowledge”. In this work, I approach the mentioned question regarding the relation between values and the scientific activity, using the approach of the philosopher of science Hugh Lacey, and applying it to a specific background: the possibilities of the productive use of the south Brazilian native grasslands, know Campos Sulinos.

Cette recherche concerne le management du bien-être au travail à l'aide des espaces de discussion. En effet, la perspective pathogénique semble largement dominante aussi bien dans la littérature que dans les pratiques des professionnels – prévention des risques psycho-sociaux, du stress, du burnout, de la souffrance au travail…- pour aborder cette question de la santé au travail. Dès lors, l'enjeu de cette recherche est de proposer une vision plus appréciative de cette question à travers le concept de bien-être au travail. En s'appuyant sur la définition de la santé au travail de l'OMS (2007) qui définit la santé comme « un état de complet bien-être physique, mental et social », et non pas seulement comme l'absence de pathologies, cette recherche vise à tracer les contours d'une perspective salutogénique du travail à travers trois recherches-interventions. La thèse défendue est que la construction et l'animation d'espaces de discussion par la DRH et le management constituent un puissant levier de préservation des ressources (compétences, règles de métier, capacités, pouvoir d'agir, identité professionnelle…) et conséquemment un facteur de bien-être - et de qualité - au travail. La confiance entre acteurs et la possibilité de dire et d'entendre une parole sur l'activité réelle et l'organisation effective du travail sont à la base de la construction de tels espaces de discussion, sans lesquels aucun bien-être durable n'est possible. Pour ce faire, une approche constructiviste aménagée articule trois recherches-interventions sur différents terrains –un Conseil Général, un service technique de mairie et une banque privée – mêlant étude qualitative et quantitative. Les résultats mettent en évidence l'importance des espaces de discussion centrés sur le travail pour préserver bien-être et santé au travail, à condition qu'ils n'empêchent pas de travailler et ne soient pas polluer par un climat de violence psychologique. L'apport principal de cette recherche est la présentation d'un modèle du management durable du bien-être au travail, à travers les espaces de discussion. / This research deals with well-being management at work by means of discussion areas. Indeed, pathogenic perspective seems to be largely prevailing as well in literature as in professional practices – psychosocial risks, stress, burnout and suffering at work prevention – to address the issue of health at work. This considered, the challenge treated by this research is to propose a more appreciative picture of this issue by means of the concept of wellbeing at work. On the basis of the definition of health at work by the WHO (2007) which defines health as « A state of complete physical mental and social wellbeing», and not only as the absence of pathosis, this research aims at drawing the outline of a salutogenic perspective of work using three action researches .This communication aims to define that the setting up and the animation of discussion areas by the HRD and managers are a powerful lever to preserve resources (skills, working rules, capabilities, power to act, professional identity…) and consequently a factor of well-being – and quality – at work .Trust between actors, and the possibility to say and hear words on the activity and the effective organization of work as they really are, are the basis of the setting up of such discussion areas without which sustainable well-being is not possible .Within a constructivist framework we conducted three action researches on various public and private French organizations, using qualitative and quantitative studies. The results highlight how important work discussions areas are to preserve well-being and health at work, provided that users still work, and are not being polluted by psychological violence. The essential added value of this research is the presentation of a pattern on sustainable well-being management at work by means of discussion areas. Key words: Psycho social risks prevention; well-being at work; salutogenic management; sustainable management; action research; discussion areas.

À l’heure de la monétarisation de chacun des éléments de notre société, la présente recherche relative à la conservation des milieux marins en droit international et droit de l’Union européenne opère une incursion holistique en droit de l’environnement, notamment axée sur l’analyse juridique, et plus largement socio-éco-systémique, de la conservation et de la gestion durables des milieux marins.Notre étude analyse, au regard du droit, les principales problématiques telles que les délimitations maritimes, les ressources des milieux marins et la gestion des zones marines protégées, mettant ainsi en exergue la nécessité d’une nouvelle gouvernance des océans et sous-tendant de fait la participation accrue de l’ensemble des acteurs socio-politiques concernés. En effet, la participation ainsi que l’accès à l’information et à la justice en matière environnementale apparaissent aujourd’hui comme des outils de conservation des milieux marins aux fins d’une garantie efficiente des droits de l’Homme.L’analyse de la lutte contre la pollution des milieux marins en droit international et droit de l’Union européenne permet d’envisager tant les causes (pollutions opérationnelles, accidentelles ou encore telluriques) que les conséquences de ce qui est communément admis comme une source majeure de pollution des mers. Est alors menée une réflexion sur les moyens potentiels susceptibles de mieux garantir la sécurité et la sûreté maritime, notamment à travers le cas de la piraterie maritime, à la faveur d’un éclairage, circonstancié et prospectif, sur quelques-unes des législations internationales et européennes en matière de lutte contre les actes illicites maritimes et les atteintes à l’environnement marin. / In an era when every element in our society can be monetized, this research examining the conservation of marine environment in European union and International Law will lead a holistic incursion in environmental law which will include a legal and a socio-eco-systemic approach to the conservation and the sustainable management of marine areas.This study provides a legal analysis of key issues: maritime boundary delimitations, marine resources and management of protected marine areas. It will underline the need for a new type of ocean governance involving an increased implication of socio-political stakeholders. Participation, access to information and environmental justice appear, now more than ever, as the main tools to ensure marine areas conservation and, ultimately, to safeguard human rights.The analysis of international efforts to fight the pollution of marine areas, through recourse to international and European union law is led against its various causes (operational, accidental or telluric pollutions) as well as their consequences. An analysis of available tools to better guarantee maritime security and safety - including through a study of maritime piracy - will allow for a comprehensive and prospective view of some of the international and European union legislations regarding illicit maritime acts and harmful acts against marine environment.

Na primeira metade de século XX, tanto os empiristas lógicos quanto os racionalistas popperianos sustentaram que os juízos científicos corretos derivavam de sua conformação a certas regras: indutivas, dedutivas, hipotético-dedutivas ou formalizáveis segundo o cálculo de probabilidades. No entanto, após a emergência de novos trabalhos, como os de Thomas Kuhn, houve um amplo desenvolvimento de abordagens que analisam a inferência científica com base em valores, em vez de regras estabelecidas a priori. A estratégia proposta por Kuhn considera a prática científica e sua história um elemento importante para uma compreensão adequada da racionalidade da ciência. Sua abordagem envolve a consideração de valores cognitivos, tais como fecundidade, consistência e escopo de teorias. Ampliando essa abordagem, estudos mais recentes – a partir da década de 90 e com grande efervescência nos últimos anos – defendem a tese de que o conhecimento científico, além de um produto da atividade social, possui ele mesmo uma dimensão social intrínseca. Poderíamos perguntar, então, em que medida valores não cognitivos, tais como valores morais e sociais, moldam a prática científica; e como esses valores poderiam exercer um papel legítimo ou mesmo contribuir para a produção de conhecimento. Essas questões envolvem o problema, bastante expressivo atualmente (cf. Longino, 2015), sobre a chamada “dimensão social do conhecimento científico”. Neste trabalho, abordo o referido problema no que tange à relação entre valores e atividade científica, utilizando-me, para a construção do artigo aqui presente, a abordagem do filósofo da ciência Hugh Lacey e aplicando-a a um contexto específico: as possibilidades de uso produtivo dos chamados Campos Sulinos. / In the first half of the XXth century, both logical empiricists and popperian rationalists sustained that correct scientific judgements derived from the conformation to certain rules: inductive, deductive, hypothetical-deductive or formalizable according to the calculation of probabilities. However, mainly because of Thomas Kuhn’s works, there was an extensive development of approaches that analyze the scientific inference based on values, rather than on a priori established rules. The proposal of Kuhn considers the scientific practice and history as elements of relevance to the comprehension of science’s rationality. His approach considers cognitive values, such as fecundity, consistence, and scope of theories. Expanding this approach, recent studies – starting in the 90s and with great effervescence in recent years – defend the thesis that scientific knowledge, besides being a product of social activity, features an intrinsic social dimension. We could ask, in what measure noncognitive values, such as moral and social values, shape the scientific practice; and how these values could exercise a legitimate role, or even contribute to the production of knowledge. These questions involve the currently quite significant (cf. Longino, 2015) problem called “social dimension of the scientific knowledge”. In this work, I approach the mentioned question regarding the relation between values and the scientific activity, using the approach of the philosopher of science Hugh Lacey, and applying it to a specific background: the possibilities of the productive use of the south Brazilian native grasslands, know Campos Sulinos.

A juçara (Euterpe edulis Mart.) é uma palmeira importante ecologicamente e considerada fonte de produtos valiosos culturalmente e economicamente. Há mais de duas décadas tem sido considerada ameaçada de extinção pelo corte de palmito, e atualmente surge uma nova oportunidade para reduzir sua vulnerabilidade por meio da valorização de seus frutos. Nesta pesquisa investigamos se o manejo de juçara para produção de polpa de frutos pode funcionar como catalisador da conservação da biodiversidade e da melhoria dos meios de vida das populações humanas locais. Algumas questões foram elaboradas e organizadas em quatro eixos convergentes a questão central: (I) Quais os principais aspectos socioeconômicos e práticas de manejo de E. edulis para produção de polpa nas áreas de estudo? Qual o potencial da atividade para o fortalecimento local e conservação da espécie? (II) Como varia a composição e a estrutura florestal ao longo de gradientes de manejo e altitude? Quais as espécies vegetais nativas mais valorizadas por estas comunidades locais? (III) Como a produção e a colheita de frutos variam através de diferentes sistemas de manejo ao longo dos anos? Quais os principais fatores que explicam essa variação? (IV) De que maneira o manejo de frutos de juçara afeta sua dinâmica populacional? Qual a taxa máxima sustentável de remoção de frutos? Quais as estratégias de manejo sustentável recomendada para diferentes condições? Para isso, foi realizado o monitoramento de populações de E. edulis em áreas manejadas por quatro populações humanas que habitam o entorno e interior do Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar (PESM), Núcleos Santa Virgínia e Picinguaba, nos municípios de Natividade da Serra e Ubatuba, SP. Também amostramos populações de E. edulis em áreas de proteção integral no interior do PESM, entrevistamos os moradores de cada comunidade local, assim como usamos dados de fontes secundárias sobre a vegetação do PESM e sobre a atividade de manejo da juçara nos últimos anos. Verificamos que existe uma nova possibilidade de trabalho e renda nas comunidades, inclusive para mulheres e jovens, possibilitando diversificação da economia local. As práticas não destrutivas de colheita dos frutos e as características do sistema reprodutivo da espécie não implicam em severas consequências ecológicas adversas, permitindo considerar o potencial de conservação circa situm, principalmente diante as mudanças climáticas e pressão do mercado de palmito. A diversidade arbórea reduziu localmente com o aumento da intensidade de manejo agroflorestal, mas permite a manutenção de espécies arbóreas de interesse para a conservação, além de proporcionar sustento às famílias dos produtores. As práticas de manejo realizadas nos sistemas agroflorestais tradicionais podem favorecer a manutenção do conhecimento ecológico local, além de aumenta a produtividade de frutos e reduzir a variação interanual da frutificação. A colheita de frutos de juçara em si não representa prejuízos em termos populacionais. Sendo o novo manejo de juçara uma das estratégias recomendadas para manter a viabilidade das populações em longo prazo, desde que o corte de palmito seja controlado e a regeneração seja promovida. / Juçara (Euterpe edulis Mart.) is a palm source of various culturally and economically valued products. It has been considered threatened of extinction for more than two decades. The simple opposition between strategies to obtain its different products arises a new opportunity to reduce its vulnerability. In this research we investigated if the management for fruit production could act as a catalyst to biodiversity conservation and local livelihood improvement. Some questions were elaborated and organized into four axes convergent to the central question: (I) How do the management systems of E. edulis for fruit production are characterized at the study area? Which is the activity potential to improve local livelihoods? (II) How does the forest structure and composition vary along management and altitude gradients? What native plant species are most valued by these communities? (III) How do fruit production and harvest vary through different management systems along different years? What are the main factors explaining such variation? (IV) How do juçara management for fruit production affect its population dynamics? What is the maximum sustainable rate of fruit removal? Which sustainable management strategies are recommended for different conditions? We built empirical evidences through monitoring E. edulis populations managed by four local human populations living around and inside Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar (PESM), Nuclei Santa Virgínia and Picinguaba. We also sampled E. edulis populations in strictly protected areas inside PESM, as well as used secondary data about juçara management activities in the last years. The opportunity for work and income, inclusive for women and young people, the stimulus for social organization, production diversification, among other aspects recorded in this study promote community resilience in the face of political and economic change. Juçara fruit harvest allows frugivorous foraging and indicates the potential for in situ and circa situm conservation approach, mainly in the face of climate change and market pressure for palm heart. Arboreal diversity reduced locally with increasing agroforesty management intensity, which in turn raised diversity at the landscape level. Management practices, performed at the traditional agroforestry systems, could strengthen local cognitive systems, enhance fruit productivity and reduce fruiting inter annual variation. Juçara fruit harvest benefits recruitment and could even induce population increase at the long term. Neverheless, other factors affected negatively affected the population negatively. The protection of adult palms for fruit harvest is one of the recommended strategies to keep population viability in the long term and could function as in situ and circa situm conservation strategies.

Die Freizeit- bzw. Angelfischerei ist ein komplexes sozial-ökologisches System, welches sich aus drei wesentlichen Komponenten zusammensetzt: einer biologischen, einer sozialen und einer Managementkomponente. Fischereimanager sind aufgefordert, anglerischen Interessen und den Anforderungen einer biologisch nachhaltigen Gewässerbewirtschaftung gleichsam gerecht zu werden. Unzureichend verstandene Wechselwirkungen zwischen den Fischereikomponenten limitieren die Möglichkeit, die Angelfischerei nachhaltig zu entwickeln. Diese werden beeinflusst von lebensgeschichtlichen Parametern der jeweiligen Fischart, von Dynamik und Diversität der Angler sowie von Maßnahmen und Managementzielen. Die Dissertation untersuchte die Bedeutung einer gleichzeitigen Berücksichtigung der drei Fischereikomponenten und ihren Wechselwirkungen zur Realisierung einer biologisch und sozial nachhaltigen Angelfischerei. Ein neuartiges bioökonomisches Simulationsmodell identifizierte Bewirtschaftungsmaßnahmen, die den von der Fischerei erzeugten sozialen Nutzen maximieren. Die Ergebnisse widerlegen die Annahme der Selbstregulationsfähigkeit der Angelfischerei. Die Höhe und Art der Befischungsintensität sowie der soziale Nutzen wurden stark durch eine Vielzahl von fangabhängigen und fangunabhängigen Attributen beeinflusst, wobei auch Anglertyp und Anfälligkeit der Fischpopulation zur Überfischung eine Rolle spielten. Einige Regularien zur Erreichung der Bewirtschaftungsziele waren effektiver als andere, aber ihre Wirksamkeit könnte durch die Haksterblichkeit und die Nichteinhaltung von Vorschriften unterlaufen werden. Obwohl sich die Bewirtschaftungsmaßnahmen je nach Zielart, Anglerschaft und Bewirtschaftungszielen richten, beinhalten die als optimal identifizierten Maßnahmen in fast allen Fällen eine biologische nachhaltige Bewirtschaftung. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass ein interdisziplinärer Ansatz zu einer sozial und biologisch nachhaltigen Bewirtschaftung der Freizeitfischerei beitragen kann. / Recreational fisheries are complex social-ecological systems, and managers often need to balance the interests of the anglers utilizing the fishery – the social sustainability – and the biological sustainability of the fish population. However, a poor understanding of the interactions among the main components of a fishery – the biological, social, and management components – has limited our ability to manage recreational fisheries sustainably. Fish life-history type (LHT), the dynamics and diversity of the angler population, angling regulations and management objectives all influence management outcomes. Using both empirical and theoretical studies, I evaluated the importance of jointly considering these primary drivers and the feedbacks between fishery components when managing recreational fisheries. I developed a novel bioeconomic modelling framework to determine which regulations (effort regulations and minimum-size limits) maximized the social welfare derived from the fishery, the optimal social yield (OSY). My research refutes the hypothesis that anglers are self-regulating (i.e., stop fishing when catch rates decline). The amount and type of fishing pressure the fishery received and the social welfare derived were strongly influenced by multiple fishery attributes and differed with the type of angler fishing and the fish population’s vulnerability to overexploitation (LHT). I found regulations influenced fishing mortality rates, but also directly influenced angler behaviour. Some regulations were more effective than others at achieving management objectives, but their effectiveness could be undermined by hooking mortality and regulatory noncompliance. Despite differences in optimal regulations, an OSY management approach generally did not result in overfishing. My research demonstrates that a multidisciplinary approach based on clear objectives can help us progress towards both socially and biologically sustainable management of recreational fisheries.

L’objectif général de la thèse est de modéliser les principaux processus biologiques et économiques régissant des pêcheries multi-espèces et multi-flottilles afin de proposer des stratégies viables pour la gestion durable de ces pêcheries mixtes, dans un contexte stochastique et multiobjectif. Plus spécifiquement, cette thèse utilise des analyses de co-viabilité stochastique pour étudier les arbitrages entre des objectifs contradictoires de gestion (conservation, et viabilité économique et sociale) des pêcheries mixtes. Deux pêcheries mixtes sont analysées dans cette thèse : la pêcherie française mixte démersale du golfe de Gascogne et la pêcherie crevettière australienne du Nord (NPF). Ces deux pêcheries sont multi-espèces, et utilisent des stratégies multiples de pêche, induisant des impacts directs et indirects sur les écosystèmes. Cette thèse propose une application de la co-viabilité stochastique à ces deux cas, en prenant en compte leur histoire, leur contexte socio-politique et les différences dans les stratégies et objectifs de gestion. Les résultats suggèrent que le status quo peut être considéré comme une stratégie biologiquement durable mais socio économiquement à risque dans les deux pêcheries (ainsi qu’à risque écologique dans le cas de la pêcherie australienne). Les simulations réalisées pour le golfe de Gascogne permettent de comparer les arbitrages associés à différentes réductions de capacités par flottille et de montrer qu’il existe des solutions de gestion permettant la co-viabilité du système (viabilité biologique des différentes espèces considérées et viabilité socio-économique des flottilles) contrairement à des stratégies de gestion mono-spécifiques ou basées sur la maximisation de la rente. Dans la pêcherie crevettière australienne, l’analyse montre que les stratégies de diversification permettent de limiter le risque économique contrairement aux stratégies plus spécialisées. / Empirical evidence and the theoretical literature both point to stock sustainability and the protection of marine biodiversity as important fisheries management issues. Decision-support tools are increasingly required to operationalize the ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management. These tools need to integrate (i) ecological and socio-economic drivers of changes in fisheries and ecosystems; (ii) complex dynamics; (iii) deal with various sources of uncertainty; and (iv) incorporate multiple, rather than single objectives. The stochastic co-viability approach addresses the trade-offs associated with balancing ecological, economic and social objectives throughout time, and takes into account the complexity and uncertainty of the dynamic interactions which characterize exploited ecosystems and biodiversity. This thesis proposes an application of this co-viability approach to the sustainable management of mixed fisheries, using two contrasting case studies: the French Bay of Biscay (BoB) demersal mixed fishery and the Australian Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF). Both fisheries entail direct and indirect impacts on mixed species communities while also generating large economic returns. Their sustainability is therefore a major societal concern. A dynamic bio-economic modelling approach is used to capture the key biological and economic processes governing these fisheries, combining age- (BoB) or size- (NPF) structured models of multiple species with recruitment uncertainty, and multiple fleets (BoB) or fishing strategies (NPF). Economic uncertainties relating to input and output prices are also considered. The bioeconomic models are used to investigate how the fisheries can operate within a set of constraints relating to the preservation of Spawning Stock Biomasses (BoB) or Spawning Stock Size Indices (NPF) of a set of key target species, maintenance of the economic profitability of various fleets (BoB) or the fishery as a whole (NPF), and limitation of fishing impacts on the broader biodiversity (NPF), under a range of alternative scenarios and management strategies. Results suggest that under a status quo strategy both fisheries can be considered as biologically sustainable, while socio-economically (and ecologically in the NPF case) at risk. Despite very different management contexts and objectives, viable management strategies suggest a reduction in the number of vessels in both cases. The BoB simulations allow comparison of the trade-offs associated with different allocations of this decrease across fleets. Notably, co-viability management strategies entail a more equitable allocation of effort reductions compared to strategies aiming at maximizing economic yield. In the NPF, species catch diversification strategies are shown to perform well in controlling the levels of economic risk, by contrast with more specialized fishing strategies. Furthermore analyses emphasize the importance to the fishing industry of balancing global economic performance with inter-annual economic variability. Promising future developments based on this research involve the incorporation of a broader set of objectives including social dimensions, as well as the integration of ecological interactions, to better address the needs of ecosystem-based approaches to the sustainable harvesting of marine biodiversity.

Forest and product certification was initially promoted as a means of enhancing sustainable management of forests in the tropics. However after almost two decades, there is still very little evidence of certified timber products originating from tropical countries. A number of approaches have been suggested to enhance the growth of forest certification in the tropics. These approaches such as that of the Forest Stewardship Council, Global Forest Trade Network of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Sustainable Forest Initiative and various private sector initiatives have all failed to facilitate forest certification. Therefore to enhance the development of forest certification in Ghana, the research work amongst others, draws on experiences in certification from other sectors such as cocoa, fisheries, tourism and oil palm to develop a model for promoting forest certification in Ghana. The research work uses elements identified in the literature review in developing a questionnaire for the survey of timber firms in Ghana. The research work identified stakeholder consultations, legal framework, resource rights, and the regulation of the domestic market as key elements for promoting forest certification in Ghana. The research recommends a phased approach to promoting forest certification with the first phase being verification of legality that adopts the European Union Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) and the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) initiative. The study identifies this approach not only as a means of reducing cost to the private sector in pursuing forest certification but a means of drawing on support measures to enhance the regulation of the domestic market; a key component for promoting forest certification. The report argues that it is only through a well regulated domestic market can tropical timber producing countries achieve sustainable forest management and hence forest certification. The domestic market is therefore seen as a strong means of promoting certification since it will be internalised in the producing countries. None of the research on certification has so far identified the domestic market as a key factor to promoting forest certification and the research work argues that the slow pace of certification has been the lack of demand for certified products on the domestic market. Developing the domestic market is therefore seen as a key policy instrument for promoting the uptake of forest certification in Ghana and the tropics in general.

Recent literature has recommended that life cycle assessments (LCA) of forest bioenergy supply chains consider the impact of biomass harvest on ecosystem carbon stocks as well as the net emissions arising from combustion of various forms of biofuels compared with reference fossil fuel systems. The present study evaluated the magnitude and temporal variation of ecosystem C stock changes resulting from harvest of roadside residues and unutilized whole trees for bioenergy. The Carbon Budget Model (CBM-CFS3) was applied to the Gordon Cosens Forest, in northeastern Ontario, along with the Biomass Opportunity Supply Model (BiOS-Map), for cost analysis of different types of biomass comminution. Natural gas (NG) steam and electricity, grid electricity, and coal electricity reference systems were analyzed for a pulp and paper mill. The findings showed that the forested landscape becomes a net sink for carbon following the 20th year of roadside residue harvest, compared to whole-tree harvest, where the forested landscape remained a net source of carbon over the entire 100 year rotation. The cumulative ecosystem carbon loss from whole-tree harvest was 11 times greater compared to roadside residue harvest. BiOS-Map analysis suggested that due to technical and operational limits, between 55%-59% and 16%-24% of aboveground biomass was not recovered under roadside residue and whole-tree harvest respectively. The cost of delivering roadside residues was estimated at $52.32/odt–$57.45/odt, and for whole trees $92.63/odt–$97.44/odt. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis showed break-even points of 25, 33 and 6 years for roadside residues displacing NG steam, NG electricity, and coal, respectively. No GHG reduction was achieved when forest biomass was used to displace grid electricity that is generated in Ontario. Whole-tree bioenergy resulted in no GHG reduction for NG displacement, and a break-even point of 70-86 years for coal. A net GHG reduction of 67% and 16% was realized when roadside residues and whole trees were used to displace coal, compared to 45% and 38% when roadside residues were used to displace NG steam and NG electricity, respectively. Therefore, it is recommended that bioenergy deployment strategies focus on the utilization of roadside residues, if the main goal is GHG mitigation.