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Multiple successional pathways in human-modified tropical landscapes: new insights from forest succession, forest fragmentation and landscape ecology research

Introduction

With the rise of deforestation, secondary forests and human-modified tropical landscapes (HMTL) have become an important source of ecosystem services yet there is limited knowledge concerning the successional process of these ecosystems. 

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Forests, atmospheric water and an uncertain future: the new biology of the global water cycle

Introduction 

This article provides a review of the connection between vegetation cover and climate, with a specifical focus on forests and rain. The author details how there are shortcomings in knowledge concerning how tree cover influences water-cycles, which are both highly complex and important. In order to direct readers to potential research opportunities in this field, the article highIights advances and uncertainties in this field through reviewing it's major research themes. 

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Genetic considerations in ecosystem restoration using native tree species

Introduction

With the rising interest on rehabilitation and restoration of forest landscapes to tackle climate change, there has been a renewed focus on the use of native species. Yet, the authors point out there is a lack of attention paid to genetic diversity among these trees along with their interactions, thus resulting in a failure to adequately assess the success of tree plantings. 

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Restoration of plant species and genetic diversity depends on landscape‐scale dispersal

Introduction

The article cites the importance of restoration efforts that leads to resilient, self-sustaining ecosystems in order to combat immense global change. Though biological and species diversity are key to this venture, they are rarely considered a factor. Thus, this review article highlights the connection between seed dispersal and species richness and diversity to landscape restoration. 

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Beyond the species pool: modification of species dispersal, establishment, and assembly by habitat restoration

Introduction

This article asserts that understanding the forces that shape species composition in plant communities, including seed dispersal, establishment, and assembly, is critical to restoration. Serving as an introduction to a special issue on seed dispersal and soil seed banks, the article reviews five major themes in relation to the process of species composition of plants. 

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Environment and landscape rather than planting design are the drivers of success in long‐term restoration of riparian Atlantic forest

Introduction

While identifying factors that contribute to restoration is difficult, it is ultimately critical in order to ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of the restored landscape.

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Revisiting IPCC Tier 1 coefficients for soil organic and biomass carbon storage in agroforestry systems

Introduction

While agroforestry systems cover a signifcant amount of land worldwide and have the capacity to sequester large amounts of carbon, they are often not considered in climate change mitigation. Most importantly, the IPCCC does not recognize them in carbon accounting primarily because there is so much diversity in the systems. 

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A tree-based approach to biomass estimation from remote sensing data in a tropical agricultural landscape

Introduction

Due to increasing agricultural landcover throughout the world, it is critical to develop methods that estimate above ground biomass and carbon in order to accurately monitor terrestrial carbon stocks and predicting carbo dynamics. This paper claims that while active remote sensing data may be a means to achieve these estimates, the plot-based methods may not be suitable for these agricultural areas. Thus, the authors seek an alternative. 

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Livelihoods diversification and gender in Malawi

BACKGROUND

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A comparative study of medicinal plants used in rural areas of Namibia and Zimbabwe

BACKGROUND

Despite the adoption of Western pharmaceutical drugs in developing countries, traditional medicine produced from wild plants is still the source of primary health care. In some countries up to 90% of the people rely on traditional medicines. Few studies have done a comparative analysis of the herbal medicines in Africa.

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Assessment of causes that contribute to the occurrence of plantations forests fires in Niassa Province, North of Mozambique

BACKGROUND

The government of Mozambique started to promote exotic forest plantations (pine & eucalyptus) because of low natural forest productivity, population growth and land use pressure. Niassa province was one of the provinces for this plantation program. However, fires in these commercial plantations have brought an enormous risk for companies, yet these companies provide the greatest source of employment for the local people.

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Research on Indigenous Knowledge and its Application: A Case of wild food plants of Zimbabwe

BACKGROUND

There has been so much emphasis on the documentation of Indigenous Knowledge due to the fear that it is getting lost. However, little attention has been given to the application of this knowledge and how it should benefit indigenous communities. Hence this study drew its research on wild food plants of Zimbabwe and attempted to show how indigenous knowledge can be applied in education and community settings. 

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Garden Plants in Zimbabwe: Their ethnomedicinal uses and reported toxicity

BACKGROUND

In Zimbabwe, there are several plants that have been grown in homes for primary survival and for aesthetic reasons, both exotic and indigenous species. The properties of some of these plants is unknown yet some have been discovered to be poisonous to humans and livestock. Some cases of plant poison have been accidental, hence there is need to protect the public from the toxicity of these plants.

Open access copy available

Distribution and genetic diversity of five invasive pests of Eucalyptus in sub-Saharan Africa

BACKGROUND

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Contributions of agroforestry to ecosystem services in the miombo eco-region of eastern and southern Africa

BACKGROUND

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Forests as safety nets for mitigating the impacts of HIV/AIDS in southern Africa

BACKGROUND

Open access copy available

Vulnerability of smallholder farmers to climate change in Central America and Mexico: current knowledge and research gaps

Background

This article recognizes that smallholder farmers are both critical to the global agricultural sector yet are one of the most vulnerable populations to climate change. Specifically, farmers in Central America and Mexico are experiences particularly high threats, thus the authors focus on this subgroup.

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Mangroves of Kenya: The effects of species richness on growth and ecosystem functions of restored East African Mangrove stands

Background

The authors of the story identify the gaps in long-term studies on the relationship between species diversity and ecosystem services in specific ecosystems. The study focuses on one of these ecosystems: mangroves, examining the effects of species diversity on above ground productivity. 

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Stewardship Success: How Community Group Dynamics Affect Urban Street Tree Survival and Growth

BACKGROUND

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Have integrated landscape approaches reconciled societal and environmental issues in the tropics?

Background

The author cite that while there has been growing recognition of intergrated landscape approaches, which aims to enhance environmental and social outcomes, there is still a lack of understanding. There has been suggestions that these approaches have been undertherorized and a lack of evidence of its effectiveness.

Open access copy available