General
Ecology of Tree Seed and Seedlings: Implications for Tropical Forest Conservation and RestorationbackgroundThis article reviews literature concerning germination and seedling growth pertinent to tropical forest conservation and restoration, examining the various processes and factors that seeds are exposed to. Open access copy available |
Rehabilitation and Restoration of Degraded ForestsbackgroundThis book offers a comprehensive overview of rehabilitation and restoration at the landscape and local levels, providing information on the factors which are known to impact succession, as well as different approaches to reforestation. The authors discuss the importance of including human well-being along with ecological well-being into any plan for rehabilitation or restoration. Open access copy available |
Institutional Issues and Political Challenges in Scaling Up Agroforestry: The Case of Landcare in the PhilippinesbackgroundThis paper presents the results of case studies of four municipalities in the Philippines participating in the Landcare agroforestry program which benefited from differing levels of institutional, technical, and government support. The paper assesses how effectively the Landcare program was able to scale up based on differing levels of support. Open access copy available |
Restoration of Degraded Tropical Forest LandscapesBackgroundThe rapid loss and degradation of tropical forests has been one of the defining features of the 20th century, with an estimated 350 million ha deforested and another 500 million ha (primary and secondary forest) in degraded status. There have been three major responses to this process: expanding protected areas; improving agricultural productivity on cultivated and abandoned lands; and plantation-style reforestation using a very limited number of species. These methods have proven unsuccessful in slowing the rate of deforestation or providing adequately for livelihoods. Open access copy available |
The Ecology and Ecosystem Services of Native Trees: Implications for Reforestation and Land Restoration in MesoamericabackgroundThis article summarizes papers presented at a conference on the state of tropical reforestation and restoration in Central America. Available with subscription or purchase |
Payments for Environmental Services in Latin America as a Tool for Restoration and Rural DevelopmentBackgroundTwo Payments for Environmental Services (PES) projects are assessed in this article: 1) a bundled PES system in forestry projects in Costa Rica, and 2) the Regional Integrated Silvopastoral Approaches to Ecosystem Management Project in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Colombia. The first project based PED on the provision of four different environmental services (carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, watershed protection, and aesthetic improvements and/or maintenance of the landscape) within the same plot of land. The second project implemented PES proportional to carbon sequestration and biodiversity outputs by participants. Open access copy available |
Tropical Tree Seed ManualBACKGROUNDThis manual provides information on seed biology, storage, germination and pathology of native trees in neotropics. The second part provides detailed factsheets for 167 tropical tree species. It provides over 600 pages of species specific descriptions including scientific names, common names, occurrence and geographic range, growth habits, flowering and fruiting, collection of fruits/seeds, extraction and cleaning, storage, pre-germination treatments, germination tests, nursery practices, seedling care, any other information. Open access copy available |
Tree Plantations in the Philippines and Thailand: Economic, Social, and Environmental EvaluationBackgroundTropical land area under plantations have dramatically increased in recent decades, largely as a result of natural forest depletion. Forest plantations cannot qualitatively substitute the timber or the habitat of natural forests, yet are growing in global importance both commercially and ecologically. However, the negative and positive social and environmental impacts must also be included in analysis of tropical forest plantations. Open access copy available |
Trees Commonly Cultivated in Southeast Asia: An Illustrated Field GuidebackgroundThis manual is an identification guide for the commonly-encountered trees of Southeast Asia. It provides botanical information for conifers, broad-leafed trees, bamboos, palms, and bananas. Open access copy available |
Promoting Biodiversity Co-Benefits in REDDbackgroundThis article describes the potential for maximizing biodiversity conservation as a co-benefit of REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation). Open access copy available |
