Review Article
Paying for RestorationBackgroundThe authors examine the payments for ecosystem services and review strategies for funding ecological restoration. They do so by conducting a literature review that is focused on two main questions: "how should ecological and economic considerations be balanced in determining expenditures on restoration projects? how is society going to pay for the substantial costs involved?" Available with subscription or purchase |
Consequences of broadscale timber plantations for biodiversity in cleared forest landscapes of tropical and subtropical AustraliaBackgroundIn Australia, as in many countries, there has been a shift in timber production from native forests to plantations. While plantations are primarily considered an efficient means of producing timber, there is increasing interest in their potential contribution to biodiversity conservation. This paper conducts a literature review of the impacts of plantations on biodiversity and assesses plantation scenarios proposed for cleared rainforest landscapes in tropical and subtropical Australia. Open access copy available |
Creating Woodland Islets to Reconcile Ecological Restoration, Conservation, and Agricultural Land UseBAckgroundThe paper recognizes that there exists an agriculture and conservation paradox - agriculture is frequently in conflict with the other environmental services that forests provide. Thus, the authors review existing approaches to woodland restoration and consider the use of the woodland islets approach. Open access copy available |
Sixty-Seven Years of Land-Use Change in Southern Costa RicaBackgroundHabitat loss and fragmentation of forests are among the biggest threats to biodiversity and associated ecosystem services in tropical landscapes. This paper uses the vicinity of the Las Cruces Biological Station in southern Costa Rica as a regional case study to comment on seven decades of land-use change in one of the most intensively studied sites in the Neotropics. Open access copy available |
Seeding ecological restoration of tropical forests: Priority setting under REDD+BackgroundTropical deforestation continues to be the major driver of biodiversity loss and a considerable contributor to climate change. Increasing numbers of forest-dependent rural poor rely on degraded forest for their livelihoods. Ecological restoration of tropical forests has the potential to not only contribute to biodiversity conservation and climate mitigation, but also poverty alleviation. REDD+ provides a potentially powerful mechanism for supporting ecological restoration of tropical forests in developing countries. Available with subscription or purchase |
Restoring working forests in human dominated landscapes of tropical South Asia: An introductionBackgroundThe resource issues around restoring human dominated landscapes in tropical South Asia are complex and can be divided into topics concerning forest fragmentation and restoration. This review article discusses key subjects in forest fragmentation and restoration in South Asia. Available with subscription or purchase |
Mangrove forests: Resilience, protection from tsunamis, and responses to global climate changebackgroundAvailable with subscription or purchase |
Carbon Sequestration Potential of Indian Forestry Land Use SystemsbackgroundThe paper presents an overview of studies done on the carbon sequestration potential of varied forestry land use systems in India at regional, country, and site-specific levels. Open access copy available |
Restoration success: how is it being measured?BackgroundGlobal criteria of restoration success should be clearly established to evaluate restoration projects. Various governments, institutes, and authors use varying criteria, leading to potential misprioritization of goals. Recently, the Society of Ecological Restoration International (SER) produced a Primer that includes key ecosystem attributes that should be considered when evaluating restoration success. Available with subscription or purchase |
Restoration of ecosystem services and biodiversity: conflicts and opportunitiesBackgroundAlthough the science and practice of ecological restoration have developed rapidly, the emerging policy focus on ecosystem services represents a significant shift in the objectives of restoration. This might result in both conflicts and opportunities. This review article explores in detail the implications of this policy shift by examining whether ecological restoration could be effective in reversing the decline of ecosystem services along with biodiversity. Open access copy available |
