Landscape Rehabilitation of Degraded Tropical Forest Ecosystems: Case Study of the CIFOR/Japan Project in Indonesia and Peru

background

The CIFOR/Japan project on tropical forest restoration involves three principal components: 1) evaluation of logging impacts on forest systems, 2) development of methods for the restoration of logged and degraded forests, and 3) development of silvicultural practices for degraded forests.

Research Goals & Methods

Two case-studies are examined which demonstrate the objectives of CIFOR/Japan. At the Bukit Soeharto Education Forest in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, CIFOR/Japan investigated the secondary succession of logged and burned forest, with a focus on vegetation recovery. In Peru, CIFOR/Japan partnered with the Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agraria to study the relationship between soils and vegetation recovery in abandoned agricultural fields, as well as to identify valuable tree species with the potential to grow successfully on abandoned fields and infertile soils.

Conclusions & Takeaways

The author emphasizes the importance of creating a cooperative network among the stakeholders involved in landscape restoration efforts (including local communities), as well as the importance of clarifying restoration goals and establishing multipurpose forests with layered benefits.