Journal Articles
Participatory Forestry as a Strategy for Reforestation in BangladeshbackgroundThis article describes Bangladesh's history of reforestation programs, notes the rarity of their success, and provides suggestions for future programs. Available with subscription or purchase |
Restoration of seasonal semideciduous forests in Brazil: influence of age and restoration design on forest structureBackgroundWith the high rates of deforestation in tropical regions, the restoration of degraded lands has become an important way for maintaining the diversity of plant communities and for creating wildlife habitats. Evaluating the success of restored areas is essential for improving restoration designs and for successfully restoring such complex ecosystems. Open access copy available |
The Potentials of 20 Indigenous Tree Species for Soil Rehabilitation in the Atlantic Forest Region of Bahia, BrazilbackgroundThis research presents the effects of 20 native tree species planted in 1974-1975 on different soil conditions in Bahia, Brazil. Research Goals & MethodsIn pure stands of the native species (some nitrogen-fixing) as well as a nearby 25 year old secondary forest, primary forest, and mixed-species plantation, soils were evaluated for the following conditions: depth, % carbon, % nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, dry weight of forest floor litter, pH, and nodules. Available with subscription or purchase |
Conceptual Framework for Mangrove Restoration in the Yucatán PeninsulaBackgroundIn the Yucatán Peninsula, mangroves were lost at a rate of around 1.84% per year between 1976 and 2000. In 2000, the North American Wetlands Conservation Council gave the state government of Yucatán $800,000 towards mangrove restoration projects. Some research shows that the projects funded by this grant did not fully meet restoration goals. Open access copy available |
Site and species selection — Changing perspectivesBackgroundPlantation forestry in the tropics today is characterized by increasing refinement of matching species with site and increasing emphasis on non-industrial purposes for growing trees. This perspective comments on the increased number of objectives that a tropical forester or scientist is called upon to fulfill. Available with subscription or purchase |
Restoration of dry tropical forests in Central America: A review of pattern and processBackgroundMuch information on restoration and management exists for wet tropical forests of Central America but comparatively little work has been done in the dry forests of this region. Such information is critical for reforestation efforts that are now occurring throughout Central America. This paper describes processes of degradation due to land use and provides a conceptual framework for the restoration of dry tropical forest, of which less than 2% remains intact. Open access copy available |
Rationale and Methods for Conserving Biodiversity in Plantation ForestsbackgroundWhen compared to degraded lands, developed lands, or areas of intensive industrial agriculture, forest plantations can positively contribute to biodiversity conservation. However, when monoculture stands of exotic trees, or native trees not typically found in single-species stands are used for plantations, they have been found to have impoverished flora and fauna compared with natural forest. Open access copy available |
Understory Development in Young Cordia alliodora PlantationsbackgroundThis article presents the findings of a study evaluating the biomass and composition of understory plants in 1- and 5- year old plantations at the La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica. Reserach Goals & MethodsThis study sampled plantations of Cordia alliodora in monoculture plots and in polyculture plots with trees interplanted with monocots (Euterpe macrospadix, Euterpe oleracea, and Heliconia imbricata). Available with subscription or purchase |
Application of Assisted Natural Regeneration to Restore Degraded Tropical ForestlandsbackgroundAssisted natural regeneration (ANR) has been proposed as an alternative restoration method that reduces the costs and scalability barriers of other restoration alternatives. This article describes the steps to applying ANR to disturbed ecosystems where forest succession processes have been halted by dominant grass or fern monocultures. Available with subscription or purchase |
Tropical Forest Restoration: Tree Islands As Recruitment Foci In Degraded Lands Of HondurasBackgroundMethods to accelerate forest recovery must address a number of impediments including limits on seed dispersal and microclimactic extremes. This study evaluates the ability of tree islands to serve as recruitment foci for additional seeds in a two-year study in northern Honduras. Available with subscription or purchase |
