The development of integrated ecosystem management of tropical forests requires studies of the ecological service values and goods of these forests. Studies should begin with a review of the functional aspects of the various types of ecosystems in the target study area. New data should then be collected to create a database of ecological service values and goods. This database can be used for analyses of the inter-linkage between the different types of ecological services. Studies of highly diverse biomes such those in tropics need tools that can optimize the values of the different types of ecological services, particularly conflicting ecological services, such as biodiversity and timher production or carbon sequestration. The database will allow the development of a risk assessment program, a landscape zoning plan, and other plarming instruments that play important roles in integrated ecosystem management.

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This paper tries to estimate the values of tropical forests for local residents. The conjoint analysis, which is one of environmental valuation methods, is used The target of valuation is land use of tropical forests in Malaysia protective forests, productive forests and agricultural land. Final results are as follows. The value of protective forests is RM27.0/ha (761 yen), productive forests is -RM5.6/ha (-157 yen), and agricultural land is RM22.7/ha (639 yen), therefore, the value of protective forests for local residents in Malaysia is higher than agricultural use. The values of tropical forests vary according to the area or it may be difficult to make consensus for the policy of tropical forests.

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Tropical forest has close relationship to climate change from several viewpoints, such as carbon sequestration, carbon fertilization, biomass energy supply and climate mitigation This paper is an attempt to reply to the question: how much the economic value of tropical forest is from the carbon sequestration viewpoint For this purpose, three approaches of economic evaluation (demand-side, supply-side and market-equilibrium approaches) are explained, and the market-equilibrium approach is recommended for this case study. Then a market equilibrium economic model, “dynamic optimization model” is applied to the estimation of Malaysian tropical forest value, and it is evaluated as 330-760 billion US dollar. Finally, major factors to change such economic values are explained with some notes for methodology application.

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There have been significant advances in the understanding of the current role of the terrestrial biosphere in the global carbon cycle. Tropical forests playa major role in determining the current atmospheric concentration of CO₂ as both sources of CO₂, following deforestation and sinks of CO₂, probably resulting from CO₂, stimulation of forest photosynthesis. Recently, researchers have tried to quantify this role, and concluded the following results. 1) The productivity of tropical forests might be higher than that previously estimated when below ground productivity is fully taken into account. 2) Recent studies suggest that CO₂, emissions caused by tropical deforestation and degradation might be greater than those previously estimated, perhaps even approaching 3.0 Gt C year^-1 3) Micrometeoro-logical studies based upon the eddy covariance are still limited in number, but suggest a carbon sequestration rate that seems to be larger than 4.5 Gt C year^-1. 4) Studies of the distribution of atmospheric CO₂, find either no tropical source or only a modest source, in spite of the large CO₂ efflux from deforested area, thus indicating the presence of a tropical CO₂, sink of 1-3 Gt C year^-1. 5) There is some consistency between deforestation, forestry plot and atmospheric studies, suggesting a tropical carbon sink of 2.0 Gt C year^-1 a deforestation source of 2.4 Gt C year^-1 and a net tropical source of 0.4 Gt Cyear^-1.

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Detailed and accurate hydrological observation and investigation have been conducted at a small tropical rain forest catchment, Bukit Tarek Experimental Watershed in Peninsular Malaysia. In this paper I addressed that 1) soil physical properties, 2) variation in soil moisture to rainfall-runoff responses, 3) seasonal variation in soil water storage, and change in soil physical properties caused by forest disturbances. These results allow us to understand the function for natural dam in a tropical rain forest.

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Developing sustainable forestry regimes that retain genetic diversity is one of the major goals in tropical forestry today. Tropical tree species have predominantly allogamous mating systems, mediated by many kinds of pollinators, so the gene flow through pollen and seeds is one of the most important factors influencing genetic diversity in tropical forests. Recently, molecular markers have been used to determine the genetic diversity and differentiation of forest tree populations. In particular, microsatellite DNA markers, which are highly polymorphic, have been used to evaluate the gene flow through pollen and seeds within forests. Microsatellite DNA markers have been used to analyze mating systems, genetic structures and gene flow in several dipterocarp species. I discuss, here, characteristics of the pollination and breeding systems in dipterocarps that have been revealed by allozyme and microsatellite analysis, and the factors that influence them. Finally, the potential value and limitations of using molecular approaches to develop genetic criteria for gene conservation in sustainable forestry are discussed.

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I have been engaged in business and research activities of tropical forest since 1960’s. This report will be described based on these various kind of experiences.
At the beginning of 1990’s when The Japan Society of Tropical Ecology was established, many peoples in the world had keen interest to the global environmental issue especially to the deforestation of tropical forest Ten years has passed since UNCED (earth summit of Rio de Janeiro), many effort and challenge were done for combatting against deforestation, by United Nation, international organization and also by many nations. However, tropical natural forest were lost 1.52 million hectares annually during 1990s (FAO, 2001). Major causes of tropical deforestation are considered as social and economical issues. Therefore, tropical deforestation problem can not be solved without improving social system and economical problems. In these ten years, technology was advanced for reforestation of tropical forest, but its technology could not well utilize due to social and economical reasons. In many tropical countries, the wood industry contribute to local economy and employment, also wood products are important export commodity. Therefore, the development of wood industry without decreasing forest resources is crucial issue for sustainable tropical forest management.
In current report, background of deforestation will be described, then present situation of world forest resources and consumption, and production of wood products will be analyzed (session 1 and 2). Japan has imported huge volume of south sea logs, wood products from south eastern Asian and south pacific countries during last 40 years, which will be cleared in session 3. A answer to misunderstanding for commercial logging is described in session 4. Basing on these results, I will describe proper trading patterns of Japanese woods product import as “import cultivate resources”.

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