Restoring working forests in human dominated landscapes of tropical South Asia: An introduction

Restoring working forests in human dominated landscapes of tropical South Asia: An introduction

Background

The resource issues around restoring human dominated landscapes in tropical South Asia are complex and can be divided into topics concerning forest fragmentation and restoration. This review article discusses key subjects in forest fragmentation and restoration in South Asia.

Research goals & methods

Issues that focus on effects of forest fragmentation include studies that show declines in forest structure and standing carbon stocks within forest fragments as compared to contiguous forest; changes in bird composition and flock density in relation to forest-agriculture matrices; and the role of sacred groves as cultural, social and ecological centers of remnant forest within deforested landscapes. Studies that focus on restoration have demonstrated the benefits of plantations as mechanisms to establish second growth forests and native species plantings for both economic and conservation purposes; the incorporation of indigenous plants that produce non-timber forest products in forest restoration programs; and the control of fire, soil preparation and protection from herbivory as treatments that can facilitate natural forest regeneration in montane grasslands.

Conclusions & takeaways

Further research on montane forests, dry forests, and the potential of non-timber forest products in South Asia should be conducted. Further studies should also be done on the social, cultural, and economic dimensions of reforestation in a dynamic and diverse region.

Reference: 

Ashton MS, Goodale UM, Bawa KS, J. Neidel D, Ashton PS. Restoring working forests in human dominated landscapes of tropical south Asia. Forest Ecology and Management. 2014;329:334. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2014.05.035.

Affiliation: 

  • School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
  • Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, PR China
  • Department of Biology, University of Massachusett, Boston, MA 02125, USA
  • Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
  • Environmental Leadership and Training Initiative, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA