Forest and landscape restoration severely constrained by a lack of attention to the quantity and quality of tree seed: Insights from a global survey
background
This review article focuses on tree seed supply in the context of forest and landscape restoration (FLR). The article asserts that large-scale FLR commitments will require billions of tree seeds and seedlings, and that this supply is extremely inadequate in terms of not only quantity but also genetic diversity and quality. The article reviews 139 FLR projects worldwide and identifies widespread problems in the availability and diversity of tree seed supply.
conclusions & takeaways
The review provides five recommendations to avoid large-scale failure of FLR projects due to lack of tree seed: 1) national assessments of both seed supply and demand, 2) a review of FLR targets and funding cycles in the context of seed supply, 3) fostering of knowledge sharing of seed supply and selection, 4) enhancing of seed exchange across landscapes, and 5) creation of regulations around seed quality and strengthening capacity for compliance.
Reference:
Forest and landscape restoration severely constrained by a lack of attention to the quantity and quality of tree seed: Insights from a global survey. Conservation Letters. 2017;11:e12424. doi:10.1111/conl.12424.
.Affiliation:
- Bioversity International, Serdang, Malaysia
- Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Montpellier II, France
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
- Bioversity International, Cameroon
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR DIADE, France
- Bioversity International, Peru