Ecosystem Services and Ecological Processes
Afforestation for Reclaiming Degraded Village Common Land: A Case StudybackgroundIn India, population growth and agriculture put a strain on natural resources, often resulting in "wastelands" where the soil is no longer productive - often either affected by either salt or alkilinity. Using soil amendments to restore these lands to productivity can be cost-prohibitive for the small villages that own these lands. Afforestation is one possible method for restoring the health of these in a cost-effective and scalable way. Available with subscription or purchase |
Simulating Forest Cover Changes of Bannerghatta National Park Based on a CA-Markov Model: A Remote Sensing ApproachBackgroundEstablishment of protected areas has been a primary response to deforestation and land-use change in tropical forests. However, few empirical evaluations have conducted a comparison of pre- and post-intervention landscapes. Open access copy available |
Ecological Engineering for Successful Management and Restoration of Mangrove ForestsBackgroundThis article takes a look at the reasons why many mangrove restoration projects fail, and provides key recommendations for improving the success rate of mangrove restoration projects. Open access copy available |
The Impact of Forest Use and Reforestation on Soil Hydraulic Conductivity in the Western Ghats of India: Implications for Surface and Sub-Surface HydrologybackgroundThis article presents research on the surface and sub-surface permeability of degraded and restored forests and their dominant stormflow pathways in the humid tropics of Uttar Kannada district, Karnataka, India. The authors attempt to determine to what extent field saturated hydraulic conductivity (K*) isaltered due to long-term forest degradation as compared to other studies in the humid tropics. They quantify changes in permeability following forestation of plantations and degraded landscapes and investigate the likely effect of wet-season conditions and the implications this has for predicting hydrologic consequences of forest degradation. Available with subscription or purchase |
Avian Communities in Forest Fragments and Reforestation Areas Associated with Banana Plantations in Costa RicaBackgroundThis study evaluates the avian diversity value of reforested and secondary forest fragments in a matrix of banana plantations in Caribbean Costa Rica. In Costa Rica, banana producers (Dole and Delmonte) retain riparian buffer forests in addition to reforestation on lands removed from production. Zygia longifolia dominated reforested and secondary forest fragments. Available with subscription or purchase |
Modification of Tropical Forest Patches for Wildlife Protection and Community Conservation in BelizebackgroundThis chapter highlights the forest management practices that are practiced in a fragmented tropical forest in Belize. The project began in 1985 and includes 8 villages home to approximately 450 people. The forested area is fragmented but howler monkeys are not hunted and have coexisted at the site with humans for many years. The project area includes 45 km² , but approximately half is cleared, and remaining forest is centered in the riparian areas. Open access copy available |
Patch Size Effects on Avian Foraging Behaviour: Implications for Tropical Forest Restoration DesignbackgroundThis study looks at bird behavior in restoration sites in southern Costa Rica. While multiple studies examine the presence of birds in restored forest, few studies examine behavior in these sites. Open access copy available |
Migratory Bird Species in Young Tropical Forest Restoration Sites: Effects of Vegetation Height, Planting Design, and SeasonbackgroundThis study examines the difference in habitat preference of four migratory birds in restored forests in southern Costa Rica. Open access copy available |
The Role of Revegetation for Rehabilitation of Sodic soils in Semiarid Subtropical Forest, IndiabackgroundThis study relies on a case study evaluate the rehabilitation of barren land within a larger forest ecosystem. The article indicates that restoration opportunities exist even with severely degraded land where natural succession does not occur without management practices. Available with subscription or purchase |
Manejo e recuperação de mata ciliar em regiões florestais da Amazônia (Management and recovering of riparian forests in forest regions of the Amazon)Open access copy available |
