Latin America and Caribbean
Trade-offs at applying tree nucleation to restore degraded high Andean forests in ColombiaBackgroundThis article recognizes applied nucleation as a forest restoration strategy in many low to mid altitude forests and aims to compare applied nucleation to passive regeneration at high altitude forests. Applied nucleation is successful at accelerating the speed of forest regeneration, improving soil conditions, and shading out invasive species in many low-mid altitude forests of the neotropics. There are gaps in the literature about the performance of applied nucleation in other tropical regions as well as high attitude tropical forests. Available with subscription or purchase |
Tropical surface gold mining: A review of ecological impacts and restoration strategiesBACKGROUNDOpen access copy available |
Potential for low-cost carbon removal through tropical reforestationbackgroundThe UNFCCC COP21 (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties) created the Paris Agreement in 2015, which pledges to “limit global warming to well below 2, preferably 1.5 °C.” For this to happen, we must both reduce how much carbon dioxide (CO2) that is released and find ways to capture CO2 that is already in the atmosphere. This study explores two ways this might happen using Nature-based Solutions: tree planting in the form of reforestation and afforestation, and the prevention of deforestation. Open access copy available |
Anything but a story foretold: multiple politics of resistance to the agrarian extractivist project in GuatemalaBackgroundOpen access copy available |
Oil palm expansion without enclosure: smallholders and environmental narrativesBackgroundOil palm expansion has been shown to cause deforestation and reduce land and resource availability for communities located near plantations. It has also been shown to have mixed impacts on local livelihoods. Some studies point to socially different impacts, with small and marginal farmers less likely to benefit from oil palm expansion while others find significant increases in incomes. This paper seeks to understand the factors that make smallholder farmers participate in oil palm expansion, and outline the varied narratives that are used by the proponents of oil palm expansion. Available with subscription or purchase |
Could 2021–2030 be the decade to couple new human values with ecological restoration? Valuable insights and actions are emerging from the Colombian AmazonBACKGROUNDAvailable with subscription or purchase |
Árboles Nativos para Predios GanaderosEspañolAntecedentesComo parte del Proyecto Ganadería Colombiana Sostenible, cerca de 1.5 millones de árboles nativos de alto valor ecológico fueron entregados a ganaderos de cinco regiones colombianas para integrar en sus fincas y sistemas pastoriles. Quince de esas especies de árbol nativo fueron seleccionadas para discutir en detalle en este libro, permitiendo así la divulgación del conocimiento sobre la importancia de los árboles nativos en la ganadería sostenible. Open access copy available |
Manejo integrado de insectos herbívoros en sistemas ganaderos sosteniblesEspañolAntecedentesOpen access copy available |
Restoration of Degraded Tropical Forest LandscapesBACKGROUNDForest loss and degradation negatively affect rural communities whose livelihoods are dependent on forests for ecological goods and services. To address the challenge, three solutions have been proposed, expanding networks of protected areas, improving agricultural productivity on abandoned lands and reforestation. Of the three, new approaches to restoration have shown to have the potential to address forest degradation and rural poverty. Available with subscription or purchase |
Restoring forests as a means to many endsBACKGROUNDThe earth is nearly reaching environmental thresholds which can result in devastating effects of climate change and biodiversity loss. Failure to take action can lead to disruptions of ecosystems, economies, and the society. Protecting and restoring native ecosystems is needed, however, changes in forest cover have not been well understood. Also, the knowledge of where and how to focus such restoration efforts is still limited. Available with subscription or purchase |
