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. 

conclusions & takeaways

The article proposes that  agro-successional restoration (defined as incorporating a range of agroecology and agroforestry techniques as a transitional phase early in forest restoration) can be used more widely to overcome socioeconomic and ecological obstacles to restoring land. By providing for human livelihoods, reducing initial costs, and extending the time period of management, agro-successional restoration could be a more effective way of both engaging local farming communities in restoration and ensuring successful outcomes.