Journal Articles
The soil C pool in different agroecosystems derived from the dry tropical forest of Guanacaste, Costa RicaBACKGROUND:Seasonally dry tropical forests, constituting 42% of all tropical forests, are critically endangered, with less than 0.1% protected in Pacific Mesoamerica. The preservation of these forests is severely threatened by the invasive, highly flammable grass Hyparrhenia rufa, which has aggressively colonized the area since the 1940s. The paper focuses on examining soil carbon pools across various ecosystems derived from these forests in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive research on their soil carbon dynamics. Available with subscription or purchase |
The Biodiversity Credit Market needs rigorous baseline, monitoring, and validation practicesBACKGROUND:The Biodiversity Credit Market (BCM) seeks to enhance funding for biodiversity conservation but faces challenges similar to those in the carbon credit market, such as inaccurate baselines and insufficient monitoring. To address these issues, the paper proposes three key strategies: establishing dynamic baselines with control sites, implementing comprehensive species monitoring, and enforcing a transparent, independent validation process for credit assignment. These measures are essential to ensure the BCM's credibility and effectiveness in contributing to global biodiversity conservation efforts. Open access copy available |
Exotic Plant Species as Problems and Solutions in Ecological Restoration: A SynthesisBackground:Available with subscription or purchase |
Quantifying Economic Damages from Climate ChangeBACKGROUND:Climate change is acknowledged as a global phenomenon, with local emissions causing damages across the globe and over extended periods. This makes the quantification of the "social cost of carbon" complex but crucial for effective policy-making. The study addresses the inconsistent focus on modeling the physical impacts of climate change relative to understanding its economic consequences. Available with subscription or purchase |
Field interventions for climate change mitigation behaviors: A second-order meta-analysisBACKGROUND:Climate change poses significant threats, including extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, and adverse impacts on human health. Behavioral change is recognized as a crucial strategy for mitigating these effects, yet a comprehensive synthesis of interventions promoting pro-environmental behaviors in real-world settings is lacking. The findings aim to identify the most impactful strategies, such as financial incentives and social norms, providing actionable insights for future research and practice in climate change mitigation. Open access copy available |
Leveraging the value chain-landscape governance nexus for non-wood forest products and tropical forest restorationBackgroundOpen access copy available |
Effectiveness of community participation in Mangrove restoration: the evidence from northern Sri LankaBackgroundSri Lanka's mangroves, vital for protecting coastlines and supporting biodiversity, have been heavily damaged by human activities. After the 2004 tsunami, the government recognized mangroves as natural barriers against ocean surges and initiated restoration efforts involving community participation. Local organizations have mobilized people to help restore mangroves, but the outcomes of these efforts remain unclear. In the war-affected northern region, the government has focused on community-based restoration, but it's uncertain whether these communities have the motivation or resources to participate fully. Open access copy available |
Monitoring of large-scale forest restoration: Evidence of vegetation recovery and reversing chronic ecosystem degradation in the mountain region of PakistanBACKGROUND:Global forest area has decreased by 4.2% over the past three decades, highlighting the urgent need for effective restoration efforts. In response, Pakistan launched the Billion Tree Tsunami Afforestation Program (BTAP) in 2014 to restore depleted forest ecosystems in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province through extensive afforestation and community involvement. This study evaluates the success of BTAP in reversing forest degradation by analyzing satellite imagery and vegetation growth trends from 2014 to 2021. Available with subscription or purchase |
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 |
Restoring Caribbean Dry Forests: Evaluation of Tree Propagation TechniquesBACKGROUND:Germination of seedlings, survival, and establishment are key components of forest restoration. Solar radiation and soil moisture regulate the seedling establishment in tropical dry forests. Unlike tropical wet forests, the role of light for seed germination in tropical dry forests is understudied. The study emphasizes the need for effective restoration strategies, particularly the propagation techniques for native tree species, as these forests serve critical ecological functions and house unique biodiversity. Open access copy available |
