Species Characteristics

Forest Landscape Restoration Opportunity Assessment for Rwanda

Background

Rwanda is a densely populated, landlocked country that relies significantly on non-mechanized agriculture. In 2011, the country also committed to restore 2 million hectares of forest and agricultural land to the Bonn Challenge. The government has recognized the Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) approach as the ideal means to achieving this goal.

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Croissance et assimilation nette foliaire de jeunes plants de dix arbres de la forêt guyanaise, cultivés à cinq niveaux d'éclairement

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This study assesses the growth of ten species of tropical rainforest trees under 5 different light conditions.

Conclusions & Takeaways

The authors find that juveniles of most species did best in 25-45% sun light conditions and that the lowest light levels severely decrease growth across species.

 

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Effet de la lumière des trouées de la canopée sur le potentiel et la dissémination de Gnetum africanum dans les écosystèmes forestiers congolais

This article examines Gnetum africanum, a species of commercial interest in Central African forests. The authors Iinvestigated the importance of light in Gnetum africanum dispersal and regeneration by analysing the effect of canopy gaps on Gnetum africanum in different forest types. Ther determined that Gnetum africanum is a shade tolerant species that needs shade to germinate and prefers low light levels as juveniles.

 

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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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Régénération naturelle à faible coût dans le cadre de l’aménagement forestier en zones tropicales sèches en Afrique (Natural generation at low cost as part of forest management in African tropical dry landscapes)

The author examines effective, low-cost, and often-overlooked methods of natural regeneration by root suckering and terrestrial layering in African tropical dry forests. He suggests this method of regeneration for both inside and outside of forested areas.

 

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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.

 

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Collaborative Efforts On Mangrove Restoration In Sedari Village, Karawang District, West Java Province

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Many communities are undertaking mangrove restoration projects to try to return some of the ecosystem services provided by mangrove forests, with mixed success.

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Monitoring of Carbon Abatement in Forestry Projects - Case Study of Western Ghat Project

Background

The forestry sector is increasingly being turned to as a means to address greenhouse gases, particularly in the tropics. Due to this, it is critical to conduct monitoring that measures, records, and verifies the amount of carbon sequestered or emmissions avoided through these forestry schemes. 

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Biomass production of trees and grasses in a silvopasture system on marginal lands of Doon Valley of north-west India

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This paper shares the results of a 14-year study of silvopastoral systems in the Doon Valley of Northwest India. The study compared growth of two grass species – Chrysopogon fulvus and Eulaliopsis binata – under four tree species – Albizia lebbek, Bauhinia purpurea, Grewia optiva, and Leucaena leucocephala – finding that grass biomass was highest under B. purpurea and G. optiva with the grass E. binata.

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Designing Pest-Suppressive Multistrata Perennial Crop Systems: Shade-Grown Coffee in Central America

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This paper analyzes opportunities to realize the benefits of the presence microflora and fauna in coffee plantations by considering species selection, complimentary characteristics, density, and spatial arrangement of tree species . This study addresses reducing the presence of pests and pathogens such as  leaf rust, coffee leaf minor, berry borer, and the American leaf spot. The authors hypothesize that for every soil and climate for coffee, a multistrata system creates a micro-environment that can create a complex ecosystem to resist pests as a whole as opposed to a pest-by-pest strategy.

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