The Ecology and Ecosystem Services of Native Trees: Implications for Reforestation and Land Restoration in Mesoamerica

background

This article summarizes papers presented at a conference on the state of tropical reforestation and restoration in Central America.

Conclusions & Takeaways

The papers consider a decision framework which can help practitioners to decide when and where to intervene in the restoration of an ecosystem, along with research on the factors affecting growth and mortality of different native species. They describe research conducted on ecosystems services related to native tree species reforestation, with specific mention given to measurements of soil carbon, water infiltration and drought tolerance. They also address research on the use of native tree species in agroforestry, describing the benefits and how native species can be further integrated into silvopastoral systems. The authors conclude the article with recommendations for further research, calling for research which encompasses a broader variety of native tree species, as well as further study on the techniques for maximizing species diversity and the ecosystems services provided by forests reforested by native tree species.