Opportunities for Integrating Social Science into Research on Dry Forest Restoration: A Mini-Review

Opportunities for Integrating Social Science into Research on Dry Forest Restoration: A Mini-Review

Background

Researchers have well-documented the threats to seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs), including anthropogenic fires, climate change, and soil degradation. The widespread conversion of SDTFs to other land uses creates substantial opportunities for large-scale restoration and reforestation. While most research focuses on abiotic, environmental, and biophysical factors influencing restoration and secondary succession, researchers have largely overlooked incorporating social sciences or human dimensions into the restoration process, leaving a significant gap in the field.

Goals and Methods

The author aims to expand the predominantly ecological focus of dry forest restoration research and explores how partnering with social science experts can enhance the success of seasonally dry tropical forest restoration projects. To achieve this, the author synthesizes findings from a literature review and incorporates social science perspectives into the context of dry forest restoration research.

Conclusions and Takeaways

The author highlights three key areas where integrating social science can enhance restoration efforts. First, researchers must recognize the essential role of local communities in project success and actively consult and collaborate with them during all phases of restoration, from planning to long-term maintenance. Second, few researchers translate expenditure data into cost-benefit or cost-effectiveness analyses that guide future efforts. When researchers quantify the costs of various management strategies, they can identify approaches that deliver the greatest overall benefits. Finally, by integrating ecological and sociological data, researchers can pinpoint areas where restored forests deliver the most significant combined benefits. For example, they use econometric valuation methods to assess the value of ecosystem services, state-transition models to incorporate diverse stakeholder input, and GIS and geospatial analyses to map tree distributions and prioritize restoration efforts.

Reference: 

Powers JS. Opportunities for Integrating Social Science into Research on Dry Forest Restoration: A Mini-Review. Sustainability. 2022;14(12):7351. doi:10.3390/su14127351.