General

A sustainability framework for assessing trade-offs in ecosystem services

Background

This report presents an analytical framework for achieving sustainability through the lens of ecosystem services.

Conclusions & takeaways

The report integrates both ecological and economic thinking to understand the dynamics of ecosystem services and human needs. A set of contrasting scenarios is presented as a way of illustrating both the pathways and the hurdles towards progress in sustainability. This report is intended to blend the disciplines of economics and ecology as a method for reaching wider audiences.

Open access copy available

Participatory Monitoring in Tropical Forest Management: A Review of Tools, Concepts and Lessons Learned

background

This report reviews the impacts, challenges, and shortcomings of well-documented cases of successful as well as unsuccessful participatory monitoring programs in tropical forests across the globe.

Open access copy available

The Role of Trees in Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture in the Tropics

BAckground

Available with subscription or purchase

Agro-Successional Restoration as a Strategy to Facilitate Tropical Forest Recovery

background

Tropical forest restoration to address resource degradation and climate change is a growing trend in tropical regions. However, a lack of funding and provision for human livelihoods often hinders forest restoration projects. Traditional agroforestry systems are often seen as a way to connect farmers to forest restoration, and the article outlines existing agroforestry models. 

Open access copy available

Creating Woodland Islets to Reconcile Ecological Restoration, Conservation, and Agricultural Land Use

BAckground

The 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

In Equal Measure: A User Guide to Gender Analysis in Agroforestry

background

This guide provides tools for  practioners working with rural communities in tropical countries. It describes how gender roles and responsibiities play a significant role in adoption and development of agroforestry systems.

Open access copy available

Four Opportunities for Studies of Ecological Succession

Background

The authors introduce two approaches to the  study of forest succession: 1) Standardized experimental manipulation - removal or addition of abiotic and biotic factors - across ecological gradients can help elucidate the drivers of succession and 2) the use of meta-analyses of successional data improve the ability to observe temporal changes across broader geographical scales.

Available with subscription or purchase

Succession and Management of Tropical Dry Forests in the Americas: Review and New Perspectives

Background

This article emphasizes the importance of understanding of successional processes in tropical dry forests. It provides an overview of the current knowledge  of the ecology of tropical dry forest ecosystems and discusses management implications . The authors describe rapidly increasing degradation and destruction of these ecosystems and identify gaps in knowledge to be addressed by future research.

Available with subscription or purchase

Effects of Invasive Alien Plants on Fire Regimes

Background

This article considers how  invasive plant species affect native ecosystems by altering fuel properties, fire behavior and fire regime characteristics. These may impact the ability of a site to restore to its previous state.

Open access copy available

A Place for Alien Species in Ecosystem Restoration

Background

This article makes the case that non-native, or "alien,"  species may be useful in some restoration efforts, and should not be overlooked or completely condemned because they are non-native. Such species can provide ecological and socioeconomic services and in some cases speed up successional processes. 

Available with subscription or purchase
Subscribe to General