English
Seed development, yield and quality of two palm species growing in different tropical forest types in SE Brazil: implications for ecological restorationBackgroundNatural forest remnants have been set as seed production fields to supply seeds of native tree species for tropical forest restoration, but the effect of different forest types on seed production has not been accessed to date for palm species. This study reports on seed development, yield, and quality of two palm species in different tropical forest types in SE Brazil. 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 |
Growing agroforestry trees: Farmers’ experiences with individual and group nurseries in Claveria, PhilippinesBackgroundIn the 1990s, a Landcare movement formed in Claveria, South Philippines, establishing community nurseries for fruit and timber trees based on a growing interest in promoting agroforestry and soil conservation. Ten years after the formation of these nurseries, the authors interviewed growers about the successes and limitations of that effort. Open access copy available |
Establishment and Growth of Living Fence Species: An Overlooked Tool for the Restoration of Degraded Areas in the TropicsbackgroundThis article describes three studies conducted in Honduras which examined the potential of using living fence species in restoration. Available with subscription or purchase |
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 |
Direct Seeding of Late-Successional Trees to Restore Tropical Montane ForestbackgroundThis study measures seed germination, seedling establishment, survival, growth and foliar nutrient content of five late-successional tree species which were directly seeded into three different habitats representing different stages of succession in tropical montane Costa Rica.The study also compares the costs of direct seeding with locally collected seeds with planting nursery-raised seedlings. Available with subscription or purchase |
The Effect of a Teak (Tectona grandis) Plantation on the Establishment of Native Species in an Abandoned Pasture in Costa RicabackgroundThis study compares native tree species recruitment in the understory of a 10-year-old teak plantation in premontane wet forest in Costa Rica to the native tree species recruitment on nearby abandoned agricultural land. Available with subscription or purchase |
Attempting Restoration of Wet Tropical Forests in Costa RicaBackgroundThis article describes a reforestation effort of the Tropical Forestry Initiative using mixed stands of native species to recover abandoned pastureland in the tropical wet forest of Costa Rica. Available with subscription or purchase |
Native Trees and Shrubs for the Productive Rehabilitation of Tropical Cattleranching LandsbackgroundThe authors of this study examined strategies to improve cattle ranching in Colombia and Mexico through the use of intensive silvopastoral systems. Silvopastoral systems transform extensive cattle ranching with intensively managed systems with high densities of trees and shrubs to improve yields and environmental impacts. Available with subscription or purchase |
Early Growth and Survival of 49 Tropical Tree Species across Sites Differing in Soil Fertility and Rainfall in PanamabackgroundThis research investigates the importance of soil quality upon species survival across a gradient of differing levels of rainfall and dry season length on disturbed land in Panama. Available with subscription or purchase |
