Latin America and Caribbean

Cartographier le carbone stocké dans la végétation: perspectives pour la spatialisation d’un service écosystémique (Mapping carbon stocks in vegetation)

The authors discuss a project to map ecosystem functioning in the Brazilian Amazon. They point out the limitations of ecosystem-service mapping and the importance of methodological decisionmaking while mapping functional processes.

 

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Stakeholders and Tropical Reforestation: Challenges, Trade-Offs, and Strategies in Dynamic Environments

Background

The authors recognize that reforestation efforts require trade-offs, yet they claim that successful efforts requires stakeholder engagement beyond the planning stages and the acknowledgement that stakeholder dynamics, interests, and roles change over time. To support this claim, the authors first do a relevant literature review and then the examine a single case study of a multi-stakeholder workshop in Mexico. 

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Targeted reforestation could reverse declines in connectivity for understory birds in a tropical habitat corridor

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This study looks at how conservation efforts over the last 25 years have impacted functional connectivity of forest habitat in northeastern Costa Rica’s San Juan-La Selva Biological Corridor. The study focuses on insectivorous understory forest birds.

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Large-Scale Impoverishment of Amazonian Forests by Logging and Fire

Background 

Amazonia typically uses deforestation rates to predict the effects on the carbon cycle and to measure the loss of forest in Brazil. The authors claim that these connections are limited. 

Research Goals & Methods

To widen the scope, the authors aim to include other factors to be used in deforestation mapping. The two primary ones the article focuses on are wood mills and forest burning. 

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Ecosystem Decay of Amazonian Forest Fragments: A 22-year Investigation

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The authors discuss results from the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, a long-term study on rainforest fragmentation in Amazonia. The project, which was originally intended to assess the influence of fragmented areas on Amazonia biota, took place in Menus, Brazil. This report surveyed 340 publications and theses that were produced over the 22 years of the project. 

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The World Bank Forest Strategy: Striking the Right Balance

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In response to the changing dynamics of the forest sector and global economy, the World Bank launched a Forest Policy Implementation Review and Strategy process. Through this process the Operations and Evaluation Department (OED) was asked to conduct an independent evaluation of the Bank's 1991 Forest Strategy, which is reviewed in this report. 

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Non-timber Forest Product Harvest does not Affect the Genetic Diversity of a Tropical Tree Despite Negative Effects on Population Fitness

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The authors investigated a relationship between exploitation of economically important mahogany in Benin and the species genetic diversity. The study is base on the theory that disturbances in forest habitats can lead to a decrease in diversity due to population fragmentation and increased inbreeding.

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Évaluation des Directives OIBT pour la restauration, l’aménagement et la réhabilitation des forêts tropicales (Evaluation of ITTO Guidelines for the restoration, management and rehabilitation of tropical forests)

This report provides case studies on the restoration of degraded and secondary forests in Ghana, Indonesia, and Mexico. The authors summarized common needs as they relate to each case, such as the needs for efficient governance, financial viability, monitoring and evaluation programs, and integrative management. Finally, they provided recommendations to the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO, or OIBT in French) for priorities and future areas of interest.

 

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Globalization and Forest Resurgence: Changes in Forest Cover in El Salvador

Background

The authors study certain globalization impacts in land-use change in El Salvador. The legacy of war, remittances and international migration are among other factors that have allowed tree resurgence even in highly urban populated areas.  This study tracks the different trajectories of forest recovery by analysing remote-sensing satellite images from 1970's to the early 2000's.

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Towards Productive Landscapes

Background

Increasingly, practitioners, scientists, and policymakers are recognizing the need to puruse integrated landscape level initiatives to address restoration issues. Given this, this report draws on 29 papers by practitioners all over the world that highlight both the successes and challenges of landscape approaches in order to inform the future of these practices.

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