English

And Yet It Moves: Success Stories and Drivers of CDM Projects in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNEP)

background

This report by the UNEP reviews CDM (Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol) projects in Africa. CDM projects allow polluting countries to offset their carbon emissions by financing clean development projects such as clean energy and efficiency, emissions capture, and reforestation in developing countries. This study examines CDM projects in Africa and includes a reforestation project in the DR Congo. 

Open access copy available

Forest Restoration in Abandoned Agricultural Land: a Case Study from East Africa

background

This study quantifies the pattern of forest recovery following clearing and 3 years of cultivation of an abandoned agricultural land adjacent to a 300ha relatively undisturbed natural forest in a moist-evergreen forest in Kibale National Park, Uganda.

Available with subscription or purchase

Does Weeding Promote Regeneration of an Indigenous Tree Community in Felled Pine Plantations in Uganda

background

This study evaluates a management scheme to cut vines, grasses, and shrubs to promote regeneration of indigenous trees subsequent to removal of plantation softwoods over a period of 3 years in Kibale National Park, Uganda.

Research Goals & Methods

Sampling of tree species from seedlings to adults were identified to species. The diameter of all stems more than 1.2m tall were measured at that height (DBH). The plots were subjected to subsequent cutting of weeds on average once every 7 months.

Available with subscription or purchase

Tree regeneration in church forests of Ethiopia: effects of microsites and management

Background

Tree regeneration is severely hampered in the fragmented afromontane forests of northern Ethiopia. Pressures of harvesting and grazing and climactic conditions present challenges to regeneration. This study explores how trees regenerate in remnant forests along the gradient from open field, forest edge to closed sites and canopy gaps inside the forest.

Available with subscription or purchase

Changes in Plant Species Composition Within a Planted Forest in a Deciduous Agroecosystem in Ghana

Background

Early-successional tree plantations can promote regeneration of second-growth mixed-species forests. While non-native species have been studied for their role in enabling second-growth regeneration, this study surveys understories of plantations of trees native to Ghana in a post-maize site to explore the suitability of native trees for promoting second-growth regeneration.

Available with subscription or purchase

Effects of Ground Preparation and Microenvironment on Germination and Natural Regeneration of Juniperus procera and Afrocarpus gracilior in Ethiopia

Background

This study assesses the net effect of seed supply and seedbed changes on germination and natural regeneration of J. procera and A. gracilior in the Afromontane forests of Ethiopia.

Available with subscription or purchase

Occurrence of Nodulation in Unexplored Leguminous Trees Native to the West African Tropical Rainforest and Inoculation Response of Native Species useful in Reforestation

Background

Few studies examine the ability of leguminous tree species to nodulate and fix atmospheric N, especially symbiotically with rhizobia; this study seeks to fill that research gap.  The occurrence of nodulation was determined in 156 mature leguminous species growing in 6 natural forest areas in south-eastern Guinea and an in situ experiment of rhizobia inoculation was performed on 8 selected tree species.

Open access copy available

Reforestation Strategies Amid Social Instability: Lessons from Afghanistan

Background

This study evaluates recent reforestation programs in Afghanistan in anticipation of larger scale programs needed to address watershed-scale degradation.

Research Goals & Methods

It surveys reforestation programs in rural upper watershed areas in Afghanistan in order to provide insight for similar problems in insecure regions elsewhere, especially where reforestation may help reverse degradation and assist with social stabilization efforts.

Open access copy available

More than Just Trees: Assessing Reforestation Success in Tropical Developing Countries

background

Open access copy available

Climate change mitigation through afforestation/reforestation: A global analysis of hydrologic impacts with four case studies

Background

While much attention is being given internationally to the opportunities for carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change, little attention is being paid to the environmental tradeoffs that are associated with these types of schemes. This study examines the implicit hydrologic dimensions of international efforts to mitigate climate change, specifically potential impacts of the Clean Development Mechanism-Afforestation/Reforestation (CDM-AR) provisions of the Kyoto Protocol (KP) on global, regional and local water cycles.

Available with subscription or purchase
Subscribe to English