A FOCUS ON FORESTS
Extensive and ongoing deforestation during the past fifty years has lead to loss of biodiversity and decline in the goods and services for rural people (TEEB, 2008). Forests provide an array of benefits, from clean water, regulation of climate and biodi- versity protection to sources of income, fuel and food (Kaimow- itz, 2003; Chazdon, 2008). An estimated 1.6 billion people in the world rely heavily on forest resources for their livelihoods (WRI, 2005; Chomitz, 2007). They range from multinational companies to rural farmers. In a time of widespread global poverty, increasing population and degraded ecosystems, these benefits are increasingly important. However, the ability of forests to deliver the economic, environmental and social ben- efits we all need to survive and prosper is serious under threat (Chomitz, 2007). Intensive exploitation coupled with the rapid
Stairway to restoration Stairway to restoration
Stairway to restoration Stairway to restoration
High High
High High
Biodiversity and
Biodiversity and
Biodiversity and
Biodiversity and
ecosystem services
ecosystem services
ecosystem services
ecosystem services
Low Low
Low Low
High High
High High
Reclamation Reclamation
1 1
1 1
Reclamation Reclamation
Commercial restoration Restoration with
Commercial restoration Restoration with
Commercial restoration Restoration with
Rehabilitation Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation Rehabilitation
State of degradation State of degradation
State of degradation State of degradation
Low Low
Low Low
High High
High High
Depending on the state of degradation of an ecosystem, a range of management approaches can at least partially restore levels of biodiversity and ecosystem services given adequate time (years) and financial investment (capital, infrastructure and labour). Outcomes of particular restoration approaches are:
Depending on the state of degradation of an ecosystem, a range of management approaches can at least partially restore levels of biodiversity and ecosystem services given adequate time (years) and financial investment (capital, infrastructure and labour). Outcomes of particular restoration approaches are:
Depending on the state of degradation of an ecosystem, a range of management approaches can at least partially restore levels of biodiversity and ecosystem services given adequate time (years) and financial investment (capital, infrastructure and labour). Outcomes of particular restoration approaches are:
Depending on the state of degradation of an ecosystem, a range of management approaches can at least partially restore levels of biodiversity and ecosystem services given adequate time (years) and financial investment (capital, infrastructure and labour). Outcomes of particular restoration approaches are:
1 2 3
1 1 2 2
3 3
Source: adapted from Chazdon et al., Beyond Deforestation: Restoring Forests and Ecosystem Services on Degraded Lands, Science 2008
Source: adapted from Chazdon et al., Beyond Deforestation: Restoring Forests and Ecosystem Services on Degraded Lands, Science 2008
Source: adapted from Chazdon et al., Beyond Deforestation: Restoring Forests and Ecosystem Services on Degraded Lands, Science 2008
1 2 3
restoration of soil fertility for supporting ecosystems; production of some products such as timber; or recovery of biodiversity and ecosystem services
restoration of soil fertility for supporting ecosystems; production of some products such as timber; or recovery of biodiversity and ecosystem services
restoration of soil fertility for supporting ecosystems; production of some products such as timber; or recovery of biodiversity and ecosystem services
restoration of soil fertility for supporting ecosystems; production of some products such as timber; or recovery of biodiversity and ecosystem services
Figure 6: The restoration staircase.
24
Source: adapted from Chazdon et al., Beyond Deforestation: Restoring Forests and Ecosystem Services on Degraded Lands, Science 2008
Commercial restoration Restoration with
2 2
2 2
native species native species
native species native species
Assigned natural
Assigned natural
3 3
3 3
Assigned natural
Assigned natural
Natural
Natural Natural
regeneration regeneration
regeneration regeneration
regeneration Natural
regeneration regeneration
regeneration
costs costs
costs costs
Time and
Time and
Time and
Time and
Low Low
Low Low
growth of population, consumption patterns, development of agriculture, urban construction and other related disturbances as well as improper forest management, have resulted in large and expanding areas of degraded forest ecosystems (Wenhua, 2004, TEEB, 2008). This trend can be reversed through resto- ration and rehabilitation forests of degraded forest ecosystems.
In both developed and developing countries, assisted restora- tion and unassisted forest regeneration are gaining momentum (Sayer et al, 2004; Chazdon, 2008). Forests are being restored for many purposes in many ways and at increasing rates by lo- cal communities, non-governmental organisations and private agencies, as well as through state and national programmes. The projects and programmes have differed in scale, objectives,
Some of the benefits of forest restoration
• • • • •
• •
• • •
• • •
Increased and higher quality habitats for animals and plants; A secure and high-quality supply of water; Prevention and reduction of land degradation; A secure source of biomass and biofuel energy; Environmentally sound and socially acceptable carbon se- questration; Adequate and sustainable income and employment oppor- tunities for rural communities; Sustainable source of timber for forest industries and local communities;
Sound return on investment for forestry investors; Increased resilience and resistance to climate change; Additional sources of non-timber forest products such as medicinal plants and marketable goods; Recreation and tourism opportunities; Increased property values near restored areas; Enhanced economic and environmental security and miti- gation of risk form global economic and environmental change.
Source: Global Partnership on Forest Landscape Restoration (GPFLR),
http://www.ideastransformlandscapes.org
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112