Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
mobility of seed-dispersing fauna (Harvey
et al
. 2004 ;
Chazdon
et al
. 2009a), and in turn facilitate the recov-
ery process. In contrast, surrounding land uses can
impede survival and growth of forest species within
adjacent regenerating forest through the spread of
agricultural chemicals, invasive species, or fi re. Given
the importance of the surrounding landscape matrix in
tropical forest recovery, promoting surrounding agri-
cultural practices that facilitate faunal movement and
minimize negative impacts on recovering areas should
certainly be part of efforts to facilitate forest recovery,
although the remainder of this chapter focuses on res-
toration strategies within specifi c restoration sites.
along with a consideration of the resources (e.g. fi nan-
cial, labour, sources of seeds or seedlings) available
to achieve these goals and the natural
resilience
of
the target ecosystem (Holl & Aide 2011). A goal of
most tropical forest restoration projects will be to
restore the species composition and processes of the
pre-disturbance forest. However, given the competing
needs of providing for human livelihoods and maximiz-
ing certain ecosystem services, there will be trade-offs
concerning which goals will be prioritized (Holl & Aide
2011). For example, is it more important to restore the
full suite of plant species or to maximize erosion control
or sequester carbon? Large areas of cleared tropical
lands are planted with trees that will be used for wood
and fi bre products, or that serve to diversify agricul-
tural cropping systems. Such reforestation efforts do
not aim to 'restore' the full complement of forest
species and functions, but rather serve to increase tree
cover and provide some ecosystem services. In addi-
tion, they may be critical for meeting the needs of
people living in the region.
9.3 SELECTING A RESTORATION
STRATEGY
As a fi rst stage in any restoration project, one needs to
clearly identify the goals (Figure 9.3). These goals and
specifi c objectives will necessarily need to be developed
Figure 9.3
Process for selecting a tropical forest restoration strategy.
