Ecosystem Services and Ecological Processes
Releasing Rain Forest Succession: A Case Study in the Dicranopteris linearis Fernlands of Sri LankabackgroundThis study evaluates the effectiveness of different site treatments for controlling the invasive fern Dicranopteris linearis which has arrested forest succession in areas of the Sinharaja Man and Biosphere (MAB) reserve in lowland Sri Lanka. The fernlands, which had existed in the reserve for 10-20 years before this study, are favored by forest clearance for swidden agriculture and periodic fires. Available with subscription or purchase |
Farmer’s Perceptions of Silvopastoral System Promotion in Quindío, ColombiabackgroundThe adoption of silvopastoral systems (SPS) reduces pressure on forests and improves ecosystem services. Silvopastoral systems (SPS) are pasture systems in which multipurpose trees, diverse livestock feeds, and other techniques are used to improve productivity and ecosystem services in cattle production areas. In Latin America, conventional livestock production often results in rapid land degradation. SPS provides a longterm solution. This article describes results of a study evaluating farmers perceptions of SPS and, the motivations and disincentives for its adoption in Quindio Province of Colombia Open access copy available |
Payments for Environmental Services in Latin America as a Tool for Restoration and Rural DevelopmentBackgroundTwo Payments for Environmental Services (PES) projects are assessed in this article: 1) a bundled PES system in forestry projects in Costa Rica, and 2) the Regional Integrated Silvopastoral Approaches to Ecosystem Management Project in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Colombia. The first project based PED on the provision of four different environmental services (carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, watershed protection, and aesthetic improvements and/or maintenance of the landscape) within the same plot of land. The second project implemented PES proportional to carbon sequestration and biodiversity outputs by participants. Open access copy available |
Variability and Grouping of Leaf Traits in Multi-Species Reforestation (Leyte, Philippines)backgroundResearch on functional diversity is an important part in ongoing efforts to identify appropriate native tree species for reforestation projects. Increasing understanding of easy to measure physiological characteristics, such as specific leaf area, can help predict a variety of functional characteristics as well as growth perfromance. Available with subscription or purchase |
Reasons for reforestation success and failure with three mangrove species in ColombiaBackgroundThis study examines the mortality and growth rates of the propagules, seedlings and saplings of three native mangrove species (A. germinans, L. racemosa, and R. mangle) in order to determine the ecological factors that influence tree growth and survival in deforested mangroves with restored hydrologic conditions on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Available with subscription or purchase |
Nagarote Reforestation and Community Development Project - SosteNicaBackgroundSosteNica and CEPRODEL work together to provide microcredit and technical assistance to help communities in Nicaragua improve the environmental on their land while also improving the economic opportunities for those communities. Open access copy available |
Impact of Plantation on Ecosystem Development in Disturbed Coal Mine Overburden SpoilsbackgroundThis study evaluates the growth, survival, understory composition, and soil conditions in a plantation established on a mine site in India. Available with subscription or purchase |
Tree Plantations in the Philippines and Thailand: Economic, Social, and Environmental EvaluationBackgroundTropical land area under plantations have dramatically increased in recent decades, largely as a result of natural forest depletion. Forest plantations cannot qualitatively substitute the timber or the habitat of natural forests, yet are growing in global importance both commercially and ecologically. However, the negative and positive social and environmental impacts must also be included in analysis of tropical forest plantations. Open access copy available |
Seed Dispersal by Birds and Bats in Lowland Philippine Forest Successional AreaBackgroundWhile seed dispersal by birds and bats can be an important driver of succession, few studies have studied this dynamic in the tropical forests of SE Asia. This study compares the role of bird and bat dispersal in the lowland dipterocarp forest of the Subic Watershed Forest Reserve (SWFR) in Luzon Island, Philippines. Available with subscription or purchase |
Promoting Biodiversity Co-Benefits in REDDbackgroundThis article describes the potential for maximizing biodiversity conservation as a co-benefit of REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation). Open access copy available |
