The Experts below are selected from a list of 32433 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Pedro H. S. Brancalion - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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a landscape approach for cost effective large scale Forest Restoration
Journal of Applied Ecology, 2018Co-Authors: Robin L. Chazdon, Paulo Guilherme Molin, Silvio Frosini De Barros Ferraz, Pedro H. S. BrancalionAbstract:Achieving global targets for Forest Restoration will require cost‐effective strategies to return agricultural land to Forest, while minimizing implementation costs and negative outcomes for agricultural production. We present a landscape approach for optimizing the cost‐effectiveness of large‐scale Forest Restoration. Across three different landscapes within Brazil's Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot, we modelled landscape scenarios based on spatially explicit data on the probability of natural regeneration, Restoration costs, land opportunity costs, and Forest Restoration outcomes for increasing carbon stocking and landscape connectivity. We compare benefits of our cost‐reduction approach to the legally mandated riparian Restoration and randomly distributed approaches. Compared with riparian prioritization and considering both implementation and opportunity costs, our cost‐reduction scenario produced the greatest savings (20.9%) in mechanized agricultural landscapes. When only considering implementation costs, our cost‐reduction scenario led to the highest savings (38.4%) in the landscape with highest Forest cover where natural regeneration potential is highest and enables cost‐effective carbon stocking and connectivity. Synthesis and applications. We present a guide for Forest Restoration planning that maximizes specific outcomes with minimal costs and reduction of agricultural production. Furthermore, we show how policies could encourage prioritization of low‐cost Restoration via natural regeneration, increasing cost‐effectiveness. While our study focuses on Brazil's Atlantic Forest, the approach can be parameterized for other regions.
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A landscape approach for cost‐effective large‐scale Forest Restoration
Journal of Applied Ecology, 2018Co-Authors: Paulo Guilherme Molin, Robin L. Chazdon, Silvio Frosini De Barros Ferraz, Pedro H. S. BrancalionAbstract:Achieving global targets for Forest Restoration will require cost‐effective strategies to return agricultural land to Forest, while minimizing implementation costs and negative outcomes for agricultural production. We present a landscape approach for optimizing the cost‐effectiveness of large‐scale Forest Restoration. Across three different landscapes within Brazil's Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot, we modelled landscape scenarios based on spatially explicit data on the probability of natural regeneration, Restoration costs, land opportunity costs, and Forest Restoration outcomes for increasing carbon stocking and landscape connectivity. We compare benefits of our cost‐reduction approach to the legally mandated riparian Restoration and randomly distributed approaches. Compared with riparian prioritization and considering both implementation and opportunity costs, our cost‐reduction scenario produced the greatest savings (20.9%) in mechanized agricultural landscapes. When only considering implementation costs, our cost‐reduction scenario led to the highest savings (38.4%) in the landscape with highest Forest cover where natural regeneration potential is highest and enables cost‐effective carbon stocking and connectivity. Synthesis and applications. We present a guide for Forest Restoration planning that maximizes specific outcomes with minimal costs and reduction of agricultural production. Furthermore, we show how policies could encourage prioritization of low‐cost Restoration via natural regeneration, increasing cost‐effectiveness. While our study focuses on Brazil's Atlantic Forest, the approach can be parameterized for other regions.
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Protocol for Monitoring Tropical Forest Restoration: Perspectives From the Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact in Brazil
Tropical Conservation Science, 2017Co-Authors: Ricardo Augusto Gorne Viani, Karen D. Holl, Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues, Aurélio Padovezi, Bernardo B. N. Strassburg, Fabiano Turini Farah, Letícia Couto Garcia, Rafael B. Chaves, Pedro H. S. BrancalionAbstract:Monitoring protocols are needed to evaluate the millions of hectares of land that are being proposed for Forest Restoration in the coming decades. Standardized proposals are critical to evaluate ef...
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Contrasting regulatory frameworks to govern riparian Forest Restoration in Mexico and Brazil: Current status and needs for advances
World Development Perspectives, 2017Co-Authors: Paula Meli, Pedro H. S. BrancalionAbstract:Abstract We contrasted regulatory instruments to govern riparian Forest Restoration in Mexico and Brazil. Overall, Mexico has a few regulatory instruments covering the protection and Restoration of riparian buffers but no specific instrument to operationalize Restoration demands, while Brazil has objective norms supporting the Restoration of riparian Forests. Benchmarking regulatory frameworks from other countries can be a valuable approach for supporting the governance of riparian Forest Restoration.
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Animal-dispersed pioneer trees enhance the early regeneration in Atlantic Forest Restoration plantations
Natureza & Conservação, 2015Co-Authors: Ricardo Augusto Gorne Viani, Natassia Bonini Vidas, Mariana Meireles Pardi, Diana Carolina Vásquez Castro, Eduardo Gusson, Pedro H. S. BrancalionAbstract:Abstract Planting of native trees has been adopted in many tropical regions worldwide as a central Forest Restoration method, but little is known concerning the role that these planted species play in catalyzing Forest regeneration beneath their canopies. We investigated the role of animal-dispersed tree species in catalyzing the regeneration of woody species in the understory of Restoration plantings. We assessed both the density and richness of tree seedlings within plots located beneath the canopy of both animal-dispersed and abiotic-dispersed tree species planted in three riparian Forest Restoration sites with ages of five, six and eight years. The proportion of animal-dispersed tree seedlings increased with plantation age. The richness of animal-dispersed tree seedlings was higher beneath animal-dispersed trees in the eight-year-old planting. The density of animal-dispersed tree seedlings was higher under animal-dispersed trees when sites were analyzed altogether. The top three species in regeneration density beneath the canopy were animal-dispersed trees, and from the top ten, seven were animal-dispersed species. We suggest that animal-dispersed pioneer trees which facilitate natural regeneration and promote a high density and richness of woody species beneath their canopies should be considered as “framework” species for tropical Forest Restoration.
Margaret A Palmer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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impacts of Forest Restoration on water yield a systematic review
PLOS ONE, 2017Co-Authors: Solange Filoso, Maira Ometto Bezerra, Katherine C B Weiss, Margaret A PalmerAbstract:Background Enhancing water provision services is a common target in Forest Restoration projects worldwide due to growing concerns over freshwater scarcity. However, whether or not Forest cover expansion or Restoration can improve water provision services is still unclear and highly disputed. Purpose The goal of this review is to provide a balanced and impartial assessment of the impacts of Forest Restoration and Forest cover expansion on water yields as informed by the scientific literature. Potential sources of bias on the results of papers published are also examined. Data sources English, Spanish and Portuguese peer-review articles in Agricola, CAB Abstracts, ISI Web of Science, JSTOR, Google Scholar, and SciELO. Databases were searched through 2015. Search terms Intervention terms included Forest Restoration, regeneration/regrowth, Forest second-growth, Forestation/afForestation, and Forestry. Target terms included water yield/quantity, streamflow, discharge, channel runoff, and annual flow. Study selection and eligibility criteria Articles were pre-selected based on key words in the title, abstract or text. Eligible articles addressed relevant interventions and targets and included quantitative information. Results Most studies reported decreases in water yields following the intervention, while other hydrological benefits have been observed. However, relatively few studies focused specifically on Forest Restoration, especially with native species, and/or on projects done at large spatial or temporal scales. Information is especially limited for the humid tropics and subtropics. Conclusions and implications of key findings While most studies reported a decrease in water yields, meta-analyses from a sub-set of studies suggest the potential influence of temporal and/or spatial scales on the outcomes of Forest cover expansion or Restoration projects. Given the many other benefits of Forest Restoration, improving our understanding of when and why Forest Restoration can lead to recovery of water yields is crucial to help improve positive outcomes and prevent unintended consequences. Our study identifies the critical types of studies and associated measurements needed.
Renato Crouzeilles - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Soil dynamics in Forest Restoration: a data set for temperate and tropical regions.
Ecology, 2021Co-Authors: Adriana Allek, Renato CrouzeillesAbstract:Restoring Forest ecosystems has become a global priority. Yet, soil dynamics are still poorly assessed among Restoration studies and there is a lack of knowledge on how soil is affected by Forest Restoration process. Here, we compile information on soil dynamics in Forest Restoration based on soil physical, chemical, and biological attributes in temperate and tropical Forest regions. It encompasses 50 scientific papers across 17 different countries and contains 1,469 points of quantitative information of soil attributes between reference (e.g., old-growth Forest) and restored ecosystems (e.g., Forests in their initial or secondary stage of succession) within the same study. To be selected, studies had to be conducted in Forest ecosystems, to include multiple sampling sites (replicates) in both restored and reference ecosystems, and to encompass quantitative data of soil attributes for both reference and restored ecosystems. We recorded in each study the following information: (1) study year, (2) country, (3) Forest region (tropical or temperate), (4) latitude, (5) longitude, (6) soil class, (7) past disturbance, (8) Restoration strategy (active or passive), (9) Restoration age, (10) soil attribute type (physical, chemical, or biological); (11) soil attribute, (12) soil attribute unit, (13) soil sampling (procedures), (14) date of sampling, (15) soil depth sampled, (16) soil analysis, (17) quantitative values of soil attributes for both restored and reference ecosystems, (18) type of variation (standard error of deviation) for both restored and reference ecosystems, and (19) quantitative values of the variation for both restored and reference ecosystems. These were the most common data available in the selected studies. This extensive database on the extent soil physical, chemical, and biological attributes differ between reference and restored ecosystems can fill part of the existing gap on both soil science and Forest Restoration in terms of (1) which are the critical soil attributes to be monitored during Forest Restoration? and (2) how do environmental factors affect soil attributes in Forest Restoration? The data will be made available to the scientific community for further analyses on both soil science and Forest Restoration. Soil information gaps during the Forest Restoration process and their general patterns can be addressed using this data set. There are no copyright or proprietary restrictions.
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A global meta-analysis on the ecological drivers of Forest Restoration success
Nature communications, 2016Co-Authors: Renato Crouzeilles, Michael Curran, Mariana Silva Ferreira, David B. Lindenmayer, Carlos E. V. Grelle, José María Rey BenayasAbstract:Two billion ha have been identified globally for Forest Restoration. Our meta-analysis encompassing 221 study landscapes worldwide reveals Forest Restoration enhances biodiversity by 15-84% and vegetation structure by 36-77%, compared with degraded ecosystems. For the first time, we identify the main ecological drivers of Forest Restoration success (defined as a return to a reference condition, that is, old-growth Forest) at both the local and landscape scale. These are as follows: the time elapsed since Restoration began, disturbance type and landscape context. The time elapsed since Restoration began strongly drives Restoration success in secondary Forests, but not in selectively logged Forests (which are more ecologically similar to reference systems). Landscape Restoration will be most successful when previous disturbance is less intensive and habitat is less fragmented in the landscape. Restoration does not result in full recovery of biodiversity and vegetation structure, but can complement old-growth Forests if there is sufficient time for ecological succession.
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a global meta analysis on the ecological drivers of Forest Restoration success
Nature Communications, 2016Co-Authors: Renato Crouzeilles, Michael Curran, Mariana Silva Ferreira, David B. Lindenmayer, Carlos E. V. Grelle, José María Rey BenayasAbstract:Two billion ha have been identified globally for Forest Restoration. Our meta-analysis encompassing 221 study landscapes worldwide reveals Forest Restoration enhances biodiversity by 15–84% and vegetation structure by 36–77%, compared with degraded ecosystems. For the first time, we identify the main ecological drivers of Forest Restoration success (defined as a return to a reference condition, that is, old-growth Forest) at both the local and landscape scale. These are as follows: the time elapsed since Restoration began, disturbance type and landscape context. The time elapsed since Restoration began strongly drives Restoration success in secondary Forests, but not in selectively logged Forests (which are more ecologically similar to reference systems). Landscape Restoration will be most successful when previous disturbance is less intensive and habitat is less fragmented in the landscape. Restoration does not result in full recovery of biodiversity and vegetation structure, but can complement old-growth Forests if there is sufficient time for ecological succession. Restoration of degraded ecosystems is known to enhance biodiversity and vegetation structure. Using a global meta-analysis, Crouzeilles et al. identify the drivers of Restoration success in Forest ecosystems at both the local and landscape scales.
Olivier Honnay - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Forest Restoration, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
BMC Ecology, 2011Co-Authors: Raf Aerts, Olivier HonnayAbstract:Globally, Forests cover nearly one third of the land area and they contain over 80% of terrestrial biodiversity. Both the extent and quality of Forest habitat continue to decrease and the associated loss of biodiversity jeopardizes Forest ecosystem functioning and the ability of Forests to provide ecosystem services. In the light of the increasing population pressure, it is of major importance not only to conserve, but also to restore Forest ecosystems. Ecological Restoration has recently started to adopt insights from the biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) perspective. Central is the focus on restoring the relation between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Here we provide an overview of important considerations related to Forest Restoration that can be inferred from this BEF-perspective. Restoring multiple Forest functions requires multiple species. It is highly unlikely that species-poor plantations, which may be optimal for above-ground biomass production, will outperform species diverse assemblages for a combination of functions, including overall carbon storage and control over water and nutrient flows. Restoring stable Forest functions also requires multiple species. In particular in the light of global climatic change scenarios, which predict more frequent extreme disturbances and climatic events, it is important to incorporate insights from the relation between biodiversity and stability of ecosystem functioning into Forest Restoration projects. Rather than focussing on species per se, focussing on functional diversity of tree species assemblages seems appropriate when selecting tree species for Restoration. Finally, also plant genetic diversity and above - below-ground linkages should be considered during the Restoration process, as these likely have prominent but until now poorly understood effects at the level of the ecosystem. The BEF-approach provides a useful framework to evaluate Forest Restoration in an ecosystem functioning context, but it also highlights that much remains to be understood, especially regarding the relation between Forest functioning on the one side and genetic diversity and above-ground-below-ground species associations on the other. The strong emphasis of the BEF-approach on functional rather than taxonomic diversity may also be the beginning of a paradigm shift in Restoration ecology, increasing the tolerance towards allochthonous species.
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Forest Restoration, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
BMC ecology, 2011Co-Authors: Raf Aerts, Olivier HonnayAbstract:Globally, Forests cover nearly one third of the land area and they contain over 80% of terrestrial biodiversity. Both the extent and quality of Forest habitat continue to decrease and the associated loss of biodiversity jeopardizes Forest ecosystem functioning and the ability of Forests to provide ecosystem services. In the light of the increasing population pressure, it is of major importance not only to conserve, but also to restore Forest ecosystems. Ecological Restoration has recently started to adopt insights from the biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) perspective. Central is the focus on restoring the relation between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Here we provide an overview of important considerations related to Forest Restoration that can be inferred from this BEF-perspective. Restoring multiple Forest functions requires multiple species. It is highly unlikely that species-poor plantations, which may be optimal for above-ground biomass production, will outperform species diverse assemblages for a combination of functions, including overall carbon storage and control over water and nutrient flows. Restoring stable Forest functions also requires multiple species. In particular in the light of global climatic change scenarios, which predict more frequent extreme disturbances and climatic events, it is important to incorporate insights from the relation between biodiversity and stability of ecosystem functioning into Forest Restoration projects. Rather than focussing on species per se, focussing on functional diversity of tree species assemblages seems appropriate when selecting tree species for Restoration. Finally, also plant genetic diversity and above - below-ground linkages should be considered during the Restoration process, as these likely have prominent but until now poorly understood effects at the level of the ecosystem. The BEF-approach provides a useful framework to evaluate Forest Restoration in an ecosystem functioning context, but it also highlights that much remains to be understood, especially regarding the relation between Forest functioning on the one side and genetic diversity and above-ground-below-ground species associations on the other. The strong emphasis of the BEF-approach on functional rather than taxonomic diversity may also be the beginning of a paradigm shift in Restoration ecology, increasing the tolerance towards allochthonous species.
Marcelo Tabarelli - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Priority setting for scaling-up tropical Forest Restoration projects: Early lessons from the Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact
Environmental Science & Policy, 2013Co-Authors: Felipe P. L. Melo, Pedro H. S. Brancalion, Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues, Severino Pinto, Pedro Castro, James Aronson, Marcelo TabarelliAbstract:Abstract Ongoing conversion of tropical Forests makes it urgent to invest in ecological Restoration on grand scales in order to promote biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services. The 4-year old Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact (AFRP) aims to restore 15,000,000 ha of tropical Forest in 40 years. The approaches and lessons learned appear transferable, and could help achieve the global Restoration targets. Fundamental prerequisites for success include: effective technology undergoing continuous improvement, ongoing teaching, outreach and capacity-building efforts, presence of local intelligentsia, maintaining a clear and transparent legal environment, and presence of effective economic instruments and incentives for landowners. These prerequisites can be achieved by expanding and strengthening the network of stakeholders both in public and private forums that must be aware of macro-economic and social/cultural shifts and trends which may provide opportunities and impose constraints to further Restoration activities. Finally, environmental regulations imposing habitat protection and Restoration are usually beyond individual land-owners’ possibilities and level of interest. Therefore, Forest Restoration, even in a biodiversity hotspot, must be approached as a potentially sustainable economic activity. Otherwise, private landowners, and most other stakeholders, will not persevere.