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Role of local communities in forest landscape restoration: Key lessons from the Billion Trees Afforestation Project, PakistanBACKGROUND:Forests in Pakistan have depleted over the years due to anthropogenic disturbances such as illegal logging, urbanization, and agriculture. The Billion Trees Afforestation Project (BTAP) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa aims to conserve forests, improve livelihoods, and mitigate climate change by actively involving local communities. This study evaluates the effectiveness of BTAP, the critical role of farmer participation, and the factors influencing their engagement in the project. Available with subscription or purchase |
Forty Years of Tropical Forest Recovery from Agriculture: Structure and Floristics of Secondary and Old-growth Riparian Forests in the Dominican RepublicBACKGROUND:The value of secondary forests in the tropics has received increased attention in recent years. The recovery of tropical forests from agricultural use, given the increase in abandoned agricultural lands, has gained momentum. Yet, few long-term studies of post-agriculture vegetation recovery in the tropics exist. The study compares 40-year-old secondary forests regenerating naturally after agricultural abandonment with old-growth forests in the Dominican Republic's Cordillera Central. Available with subscription or purchase |
Restoring tropical forests on lands mined for bauxite: Examples from the Brazilian AmazonBackground:Effective forest restoration is required to avoid the adverse environmental impacts of mining. However, restorationists working in most tropical regions lack the requisite knowledge of species selection and disturbance ecology to aid in mimicking the pre-disturbed ecosystem. One noteworthy exception to this is the forest restoration initiative created by a Brazilian bauxite mining company operating at Trombetas in Pará State, central Amazonia, since the early 1980s. Available with subscription or purchase |
Developing a framework for sustainable development indicators for the mining and minerals industryBACKGROUND:Minerals are essential to a variety of industries that help in everyday life. However, the extraction of minerals is often associated with numerous negative environmental impacts. The mining industry is responsible for more pressing sustainability challenges than any other industry. The mining industry must address these challenges by addressing the concerns of different stakeholders, as demonstrated by the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development project. Available with subscription or purchase |
Ecological filtering shapes the impacts of agricultural deforestation on biodiversityBackground:Deforestation for agriculture poses a significant threat to biodiversity. However, the severity of these impacts varies in agricultural landscapes. This study emphasizes the need to understand the factors underlying this variation to predict future biodiversity impacts of agricultural land use. While previous studies focused on landscape features and management regimes, this article introduces the concept of filtering, suggesting that natural and anthropogenic filtering may shape biodiversity responses at large geographical scales Available with subscription or purchase |
The carbon sink of secondary and degraded humid tropical forestsBackground:The Forest and Land use Declaration from the 26th Climate Change Conference of the Parties underscores the crucial role of tropical moist forests as a nature-based solution to address climate and ecological emergencies. However, the Amazon, Borneo, and Central Africa forests experience ongoing forest cover losses due to various anthropogenic drivers. This has led to a mosaic of recovering forests at different stages post-disturbance, with limited understanding of their impact on forest carbon dynamics. Available with subscription or purchase |
Silvicultural opportunities for increasing carbon stock in restoration of Atlantic forests in BrazilBackground:The Brazilian Atlantic Forest has suffered significant reduction due to deforestation for urbanization and agriculture expansion. To address this issue, restoration plantations with native tree species have been identified as a promising solution to rebuild the forest habitat and promote carbon sequestration. In particular, high input silviculture, which involves intensive fertilization and weed control similar to those applied in commercial production forest plantations, has been shown to increase productivity and accelerate the forest restoration process. Available with subscription or purchase |
Co-benefits in biodiversity conservation and carbon stock during forest regeneration in a preserved tropical landscapeBackground:Recognizing the connection between carbon stock and biodiversity has become more crucial in light of the requirements set by international agreements. Consequently, a vital and indispensable measure for guiding relevant global environmental initiatives is to empirically investigating the potential advantages of restoring degraded areas through forest regeneration. This approach aims to boost both aboveground carbon stock and biodiversity, moving them closer to their natural levels. Available with subscription or purchase |
Carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling in agroforestry systems on degraded soils of Eastern Amazon, BrazilBackground:Among various approaches to forest restoration, passive restoration via natural regeneration stands out as the most cost-efective option. However, the resilience of the forest is heavily influenced by factors such as water availability, soil integrity, and the presence of seed dispersers in the landscape. In situations where resilience is low, successful restoration relies on active human interventions. Unfortunately, many restoration projects, especially those involving smallholders, face budget constraints. In such circumstances, Agroforestry Systems emerge as a restoration strategy that combines both socio-economic and ecological advantages. Available with subscription or purchase |
Restoring soil carbon and chemical properties through silvopastoral adoption in the Colombian Amazon regionBackground:The traditional livestock production in this region causes the loss of forest areas each year, leading to soil degradation and loss of biodiversity. Silvopastoral systems have become an attractive alternative with positive effects for the environment, society, and the regional economy. The study was conducted in two counties in the northwestern Colombian Amazon, which are representative of the hilly landscape typical for Silvopastoral systems implementation. Available with subscription or purchase |
