Rehabilitation and Restoration of Degraded Forests

background

This book offers a comprehensive overview of rehabilitation and restoration at the landscape and local levels, providing information on the factors which are known to impact succession, as well as different approaches to reforestation. The authors discuss the importance of including human well-being along with ecological well-being into any plan for rehabilitation or restoration.

Conclusions & Takeaways

In order for natural succession to take place, a number of conditions must be met: 1) the disturbance must be removed, 2) Plants and animals must remain to recolonize the area, 3) the soils must not be overly degraded, and 4) Weeds and pests must be excluded. If these conditions are not met, it is necessary to adapt the reforestation approach, possibly by incorporation more tolerant species and/or a more modest biodiversity goal. Reforestation has commonly been carried out in plantation monocultures, and, in the tropics species from just four genera (Pinus, Eucalyptus, Acacia and Tectona) make up the majority of plantation plantings. Lists of potential site types and potential species types (including the function of the species type) for restoration or rehabilitation interventions are included, as well as a list of success indicators. The authors conclude that restoration and rehabilitation efforts must take into account ecological, economic and social factors, and will necessarily require varied treatments across the landscape.