Nurse Trees

Nursery management, tree propagation and marketing: A training manual for smallholder farmers and nursery operators

Introduction

Published by ICRAF, this manual is intended to provide training support aimed at farmers and nursery operators to promote the propogation and establishment of small-scale nurseries. 

Goals & Methods

To achieve the aim of encouraging superior techniques and materials for superior planting, the document offers five modules. Each module covers a different step in the nursery establishment process, from sourcing and selecting seeds to establishing a nursery business. 

Open access copy available

Ecological Restoration of Coal Mine-Degraded Lands in Dry Tropical Climate: What has been done? And what needs to be done?

Background

This paper discusses known methodology for how to restore native forest to abandoned coal mines. The paper splits the process of reclaiming abandoned coal mines into two sections, 1.) physical, technical, or engineering restoration and 2.) Biological Restoration. It also stresses taking a landscape scale approach to restoration, which includes 1.) an initial survey of the area, 2.) determination of the ultimate landscape objectives, and after restoration landuse possibilities, 3.) preparation of working plans for each phase of the restoration operation.

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Preliminary assessment of post-Haiyan mangrove damage andshort-term recovery in Eastern Samar, central Philippines

Background

In this study, authors examined the natural ability of mangrove trees to recover after major storms and supertyphoons in the Philippines. Coastal mangroves are important for reducing the damage from these storms.

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Les acacias: des plantes fixatrices d’azote prometteuses pour le développement durable des zones arides et semi-arides (Acacia: Promising Nitrogen fixing trees for sustainable development in arid and semi-arid areas)

The authors discuss the use of Acacia species for production purposes in arid and semi-arid zones.

 

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Les plantations forestières en afrique centrale: des sylvicultures nouvelles pour répondre aux nouveaux besoins des sociétés

The article provide several arguments for investing in tree plantations in central Africa where tropical wet and dry forests have been degraded and exploitation of forest resources is unsustainable. The authors give examples of benefits from native plantations in addition to exotic plantations. The article concludes by discussing the benefits tree plantations can have on society and the need for more scientific research on native tree plantations in central Africa.

 

Open access copy available

Can Pinus Plantations Facilitate Reintroduction of Endangered Cloud Forest Species?

background

This study tested the hypothesis that pine plantations can simulate the conditions of early forest succession, acting as a habitat for other native or endangered species to establish. In the cloud forest region of central Mexico, some tree species have become endangered due to land use change for both livestock production and tree plantations.

Open access copy available

A Place for Alien Species in Ecosystem Restoration

Background

This article makes the case that non-native, or "alien,"  species may be useful in some restoration efforts, and should not be overlooked or completely condemned because they are non-native. Such species can provide ecological and socioeconomic services and in some cases speed up successional processes. 

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Impact of Pine Plantations on Soils and Vegetation in the Ecuadorian High Andes

background

In the Ecuadorian Andes, pine plantations of different ages and management strategies were evaluated for soils and vegetation against natural forest and grazed grasslands. These plantations were situated on volcanic soils.

Open access copy available

Nurse Plant Theory and its Application in Ecological Restoration in Lower Subtropics of China

background

This study examines the mechanisms of the nurse tree effect and ecological factors that influence tree nursing and its relationship to ecological restoration.

Research Goals & Methods

The authors list different pairs of nurse and target tree species, including the broad description of such pairs and research findings of case studies in several locations in lower subtropical China. They also examine the positive and negative feedback loops between nurse trees and target species and explain why the nursing effect occurs.

Open access copy available

Memorias del I Congreso Colombiano de Restauración Ecológica

Background

These proceedings summarize the 11 Master Conferences at the "I Congreso Colombiano de Restauración Ecológica y II Simposio de Nacional de Experiencias en Restauración" in 2009. It includes information from dozens of forest restoration projects in Colombia. Most projects are restoration experiements with native species forest restoration in the montane zone of Colombia, although some reports describe projects in lowland humid forest, dry forest, and high mountain páramo.

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