Natural regeneration in the context of large‐scale forest and landscape restoration in the tropics |
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| Authors: | Robin L Chazdon María Uriarte |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06268‐3043, USA;2. International Institute for Sustainability, Horto, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;3. Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027 USA |
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| Abstract: | Large‐scale and long‐term restoration efforts are urgently needed to reverse historical global trends of deforestation and forest degradation in the tropics. Restoration of forests within landscapes offers multiple social, economic, and environmental benefits that enhance lives of local people, mitigate effects of climate change, increase food security, and safeguard soil and water resources. Despite rapidly growing knowledge regarding the extent and feasibility of natural regeneration and the environmental and economic benefits of naturally regenerating forests in the tropics, tree planting remains the major focus of restoration programs. Natural regeneration is often ignored as a viable land‐use option. Here, we assemble a set of 16 original papers that provide an overview of the ecological, economic, and social dimensions of forest and landscape restoration (FLR), a relatively new approach to forest restoration that aims to regain ecological integrity and enhance human well‐being in deforested or degraded forest landscapes. The papers describe how spontaneous (passive) and assisted natural regeneration can contribute to achieving multiple social and ecological benefits. Forest and landscape restoration is centered on the people who live and work in the landscape and whose livelihoods will benefit and diversify through restoration activities inside and outside of farms. Given the scale of degraded forestland and the need to mitigate climate change and meet human development needs in the tropics, harnessing the potential of natural regeneration will play an essential role in achieving the ambitious goals that motivate global restoration initiatives. |
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| Keywords: | ecosystem services forest and landscape restoration mosaic restoration spontaneous natural regeneration sustainable land use wide‐scale restoration servicios ecosisté micos restauració n forestal a escala de paisaje restauració n de mosaí cos regeneració n natural espontanea uso sustentable del paisaje serviç os ecossistê micos restauraç ã o florestal e em paisagens florestais mosaico de restauraç ã o regeneraç ã o natural espontâ nea uso sustentá vel da terra restauraç ã o em larga escala |
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