Guidance for successful tree planting initiatives

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 57(12), P. 2349 - 2361

Published: July 27, 2020

Abstract A growing number of initiatives at global, regional and national scales propose to plant millions, billions or even trillions trees as a simple solution resolve complex environmental problems. However, tree planting is much more complicated than it seems. We summarize the multifaceted decision‐making process needed offer guidelines increase success proposed ambitious efforts cover world‐wide. Given varied definitions motivations for planting, critical that stakeholders work together clearly define biophysical socioeconomic goals each project. Then series questions must be addressed about where how (e.g. vs. allowing natural forest regrowth) most effectively achieve these minimize unintended negative consequences, well how, when by whom will evaluated. Key successfully include: (a) first addressing underlying drivers deforestation; (b) integrating across from local global; (c) tailoring strategies stated project planning, adaptively managing evaluating over sufficiently long timeframe; (d) focusing on ecosystem whole, not just trees; (e) coordinating different land uses (f) involving all stages planning process. Synthesis applications . Tree along with other in appropriate locations contexts, can make valuable contribution ensuring ecological social well‐being our planet coming decades, but only if are considered one component solutions problems carefully planned, implemented monitored time‐scale stakeholder engagement broader consideration socio‐ecological complexities.

Language: Английский

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Hidden destruction of older forests threatens Brazil’s Atlantic Forest and challenges restoration programs

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 7(4)

Published: Jan. 20, 2021

Understanding the dynamics of native forest loss and gain is critical for biodiversity conservation ecosystem services, especially in regions experiencing intense transformations. We quantified cover on an annual basis from 1990 to 2017 Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. Despite relative stability during this period (~28 Mha), ongoing older forests, mostly flatter terrains, have been hidden by increasing younger cover, marginal lands mechanized agriculture. Changes its spatial distribution increased isolation 36.4% landscapes. The clearance forests associated with recut 27% has resulted a progressive rejuvenation cover. highlight need include spatiotemporal into restoration programs better estimate their expected benefits unexpected problems.

Language: Английский

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The role of land‐use history in driving successional pathways and its implications for the restoration of tropical forests

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 96(4), P. 1114 - 1134

Published: March 12, 2021

ABSTRACT Secondary forests are increasingly important components of human‐modified landscapes in the tropics. Successional pathways, however, can vary enormously across and within landscapes, with divergent regrowth rates, vegetation structure species composition. While climatic edaphic conditions drive variations regions, land‐use history plays a central role driving alternative successional pathways landscapes. How land use affects succession depends on its intensity, spatial extent, frequency, duration management practices, is mediated by complex combination mechanisms acting different ecosystem at temporal scales. We review literature aiming to provide comprehensive understanding underlying long‐lasting effects tropical forest discuss implications for restoration. organize it following framework based hierarchical model ecological filtering theory. This shows that our knowledge mostly derived from studies Neotropical regenerating after abandonment shifting cultivation or pasture systems. Vegetation component assessed most often. Little known regarding how recovery belowground processes microbiota communities affected previous history. In published studies, has been characterized type, without discrimination frequency. compile metrics used describe history, facilitate future studies. The ( i ) availability transformations landscape affect dispersal, practices seed predation, which composition diversity propagules site. Once successfully reaches an abandoned field, establishment performance dependent resistance tolerance (modified) soil conditions, herbivory, competition weeds invasive species, facilitation remnant trees. ii Structural compositional divergences early stages remain decades, suggesting play governing further functioning during succession. Management interventions could help enhance rates manipulate pathways. iii local defines limitations therefore potential natural regeneration restore properties effectively. summarized here enable identification efficiently promote restoration, where specific required foster Finally, characterization context essential understand define cost‐effective restoration strategies. Advancing these two aspects key finding generalizable relations will increase predictability efficiency under contexts.

Language: Английский

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People plant trees for utility more often than for biodiversity or carbon

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 261, P. 109224 - 109224

Published: July 7, 2021

Tree planting is both a promising and controversial solution to climate change biodiversity loss. However, this controversy largely theoretical because we lack detailed information of how tree proceeding on-the-ground. Here, compiled pantropical dataset 174 organizations determine the type involved in planting, their geographic locations approaches. We found that number have increased by 288% past 30 years, especially for-profit organizations. These reported nearly 1.4 billion trees across 74 countries since 1961. Most frequently establishing agroforestry systems or mixed species single plantations using assisted natural regeneration, suggesting programs are designed support local communities as well environmental objectives. Moreover, most were commercial utilitarian, with top five including cacao, teak, moringa, mango coffee. Finally, despite widespread efforts plant more trees, there was pronounced monitoring on websites reports; only 18% mention at all, 5% measuring survival rate plantings. Greater transparency greater communication needed between researchers apply effective ways restore forest cover. Further, while often aimed counter problems, use same sets commercially useful meet economic development goals global indicates need for coordination among avoid biotic homogenization.

Language: Английский

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The intervention continuum in restoration ecology: rethinking the active–passive dichotomy

Restoration Ecology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 32(8)

Published: Aug. 21, 2021

The distinction often made between active and passive restoration approaches is a false dichotomy that persists in much research, policy, financial structures today. We explore the contradictions imposed by this terminology merits of replacing with continuum‐based intervention framework. In practice, main “passive” “active” lies primarily timing extent human interventions. apply continuum framework to forest, grassland, stream, peatland ecosystems, emphasizing range within scope ecological or ecosystem are typically employed most projects, all can contribute recovery native ecosystems prevention further degradation. As fundamentally about eliminating sources degradation essential enable processes, regardless subsequent interventions may be needed assist recovery. Our review practices involving different levels highlights benefits recognizing broader suite policy frameworks currently underpin activity. Effective emerge from an understanding nature's intrinsic potential overcoming specific obstacles limit potential.

Language: Английский

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Rural land abandonment is too ephemeral to provide major benefits for biodiversity and climate

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 8(21)

Published: May 25, 2022

Hundreds of millions hectares cropland have been abandoned globally since 1950 due to demographic, economic, and environmental changes. This abandonment has seen as an important opportunity for carbon sequestration habitat restoration; yet those benefits depend on the persistence abandonment, which is poorly known. Here, we track recultivation at 11 sites across four continents using annual land-cover maps 1987–2017. We find that largely fleeting, lasting average only 14.22 years (SD = 1.44). At most sites, project >50% croplands will be recultivated within 30 years, precluding accumulation substantial amounts biodiversity. Recultivation resulted in 30.84% less 35.39% accumulated by 2017 than expected without recultivation. Unless policymakers take steps reduce or provide incentives regeneration, remain a missed biodiversity loss climate change.

Language: Английский

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The neglected role of abandoned cropland in supporting both food security and climate change mitigation

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Sept. 28, 2023

Despite the looming land scarcity for agriculture, cropland abandonment is widespread globally. Abandoned can be reused to support food security and climate change mitigation. Here, we investigate potentials trade-offs of using global abandoned recultivation restoring forests by natural regrowth, with spatially-explicit modelling scenario analysis. We identify 101 Mha between 1992 2020, a capability concurrently delivering 29 363 Peta-calories yr

Language: Английский

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Applied nucleation facilitates tropical forest recovery: Lessons learned from a 15‐year study

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 57(12), P. 2316 - 2328

Published: May 22, 2020

Abstract Applied nucleation, mostly based upon planting tree islands, has been proposed as a cost‐effective strategy to meet ambitious global forest and landscape restoration targets. We review results from 15‐year study, replicated at 15 sites in southern Costa Rica, that compares applied nucleation natural regeneration mixed‐species plantations strategies restore tropical forest. have collected data on planted survival growth, woody vegetation recruitment structure, seed rain, litterfall, epiphytes, birds, bats leaf litter arthropods. Our indicate plantation are similarly effective enhancing the recovery of most floral faunal groups, structure ecosystem functions, compared regeneration. Seed dispersal higher than treatments; canopy cover increased substantially both mortality N‐fixing species recent years. These trends led rapid changes composition nutrient cycling. The is cheaper plantations, but there may be social obstacles implementing this technique agricultural landscapes, such perceptions land not being used productively. likely cases where: nuclei enhance seedling establishment other species; spread strongly inhibited by abiotic or biotic factors; approach compatible with goals landowner preferences. Synthesis applications . Results our 15‐year, multi‐site study show can for facilitating holds promise helping large‐scale international commitments.

Language: Английский

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Benchmark maps of 33 years of secondary forest age for Brazil

Scientific Data, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 7(1)

Published: Aug. 14, 2020

The restoration and reforestation of 12 million hectares forests by 2030 are amongst the leading mitigation strategies for reducing carbon emissions within Brazilian Nationally Determined Contribution targets assumed under Paris Agreement. Understanding dynamics forest cover, which steeply decreased between 1985 2018 throughout Brazil, is essential estimating global balance quantifying provision ecosystem services. To know long-term increment, extent, age secondary crucial; however, these variables yet poorly quantified. Here we developed a 30-m spatial resolution dataset annual Brazil over 1986-2018 period. Land-use land-cover maps from MapBiomas Project (Collection 4.1) were used as input data our algorithm, implemented in Google Earth Engine platform. This provides critical spatially explicit information supporting reduction, biodiversity, policies, enabling environmental science applications, territorial planning, subsidizing law enforcement.

Language: Английский

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What is the future of abandoned agricultural lands? A systematic review of alternative trajectories in Europe

Land Use Policy, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 112, P. 105833 - 105833

Published: Nov. 3, 2021

Agricultural land abandonment and its impacts on landscape features have been a striking characteristic of many European rural areas over the last decades. Although previous research identified drivers environmental abandonment, few described post-agricultural trajectories. However, examining driving forces leading to different trajectories is key understand how alternative uses these lands can be developed address environmental, economic, social challenges faced in areas. This paper reviews literature observed after agricultural related processes. Based evidence, we proposed novel categorisation trajectories, with their outcomes. In most reported cases, transitioned towards semi-natural landscapes returned abandonment. The common force trajectory was absence management where secondary succession processes led landscapes. Quality state were variable. Alternative essentially driven by institutional socio-economic within biophysical constraints opportunities for (re-)afforestation, re-farming, multifunctional While abandoned bring respond biodiversity other policy goals, evidence across case studies suggests that adequate resources incentives are required stimulate favourable development, mitigate, potential trade-offs, support management.

Language: Английский

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