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Managing the Future of Southeast Asia's Valuable Tropical Rainforests provides current knowledge about tropical rain forest genetics and its implications for the profitable and sustainable management of forest resources in Southeast Asia. Each chapter covers a major topic in the evolutionary biology of tropical rain forest trees and how management systems interact with these natural dynamics. Authors provide an up-to-date and insightful review of important scientific findings and conclude with practical recommendations for the modern forester in Southeast Asia. Several chapters provide compelling discussions about commonly neglected aspects of tropical forestry, including the impact of historical dynamics of climate change, anthropogenic threats to genetic viability, and the important role of wildlife in maintaining genetic diversity. These discussions will promote a deeper appreciation of not only the economic value of forests, but also their mystery and intangible values. The silvicultural industry in Southeast Asia is a major contributor to the regional economy but the connection between scientific research and the application and development of policy could be improved upon. Managing the Future of Southeast Asia's Valuable Tropical Rainforests will help bridge that gap.
Managing the Future of Southeast Asia's Valuable Tropical Rainforests will prove beneficial reading for forestry students, professional forest managers, and policy makers, who do not have technical training in genetics. It is also intended for non-specialists who are involved in the tropical timber industry, from the local forest manager to the international timber purchasing agent.
Preface
1. Forest Management Systems in Southeast Asia Shaharuddin Mohamad Ismail
2. A Biogeographic History of Southeast Asian Forests K.M. Wong
3. Gene Flow, Mating Systems and Inbreeding Depression in Natural Populations of Tropical Trees Yoshihiko Tsumura
4. Threats to Genetic Viability of Southeast Asian Forest Species Wickneswari Ratnam
5. The Importance of Animals in the Forest Richard Corlett
6. Synthesis and Options for Sustainable Management Shaharuddin Mohamed Ismail and Wickneswari Ratnam
Index
Dr. Wickneswari obtained her B.Sc. Honours in Genetics and Ph.D. in mycology and plant pathology from University of Malaya in June 1982 and June 1988 respectively. She joined the Forest Research Institute Malaysia as Research Officer in October 1986 and was promoted to Senior Research Officer and Head of Genetics Unit in 1993 and 1996 respectively. In January 1998 she joined Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia as Associate Professor and was promoted to Professor of Plant Genetics and Biotechnology in August 2005. She has been involved in extensive research on population genetics of exotic and indigenous tree species (e.g. acacias, rattans, dipterocarps, ramin, grasses) and plant genomics and breeding (acacias and rice).
Dr. Cannon obtained his B.A. in Biological Anthropology at Harvard University and received his Ph.D. in Botany from Duke University. He holds joint appointments as an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Texas Tech University and a Professor in the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Currently, he is based in the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, leading a research group on the evolution and ecology of Southeast Asian rainforest trees.
