Dead planet, living planet

A FOCUS ON FORESTS

Extensive and ongoing deforestation during the past fifty years has lead to loss of biodiversity and decline in the goods and services for rural people (TEEB, 2008). Forests provide an array of benefits, from clean water, regulation of climate and biodi- versity protection to sources of income, fuel and food (Kaimow- itz, 2003; Chazdon, 2008). An estimated 1.6 billion people in the world rely heavily on forest resources for their livelihoods (WRI, 2005; Chomitz, 2007). They range from multinational companies to rural farmers. In a time of widespread global poverty, increasing population and degraded ecosystems, these benefits are increasingly important. However, the ability of forests to deliver the economic, environmental and social ben- efits we all need to survive and prosper is serious under threat (Chomitz, 2007). Intensive exploitation coupled with the rapid Stairway to restoration Sta rway to restoration Stair ay to restoration Stairway to restoration

Increased and higher quality habitats for animals and plants; A secure and high-quality supply of water; Prevention and reduction of land degradation; A secure source of biomass and biofuel energy; Environmentally sound and socially acceptable carbon se- questration; Adequate and sustainable income and employment oppor- tunities for rural communities; Sustainable source of timber for forest industries and local communities; Sound return on investment for forestry investors; Increased resilience and resistance to climate change; Additional sources of non-timber forest products such as growth of population, consumption patterns, development of agriculture, urban construction and other related disturbances as well as improper forest management, have resulted in large and expanding areas of degraded forest ecosystems (Wenhua, 2004, TEEB, 2008). This trend can be reversed through resto- ration and rehabilitation forests of degraded forest ecosystems. In both developed and developing countries, assisted restora- tion and unassisted forest regeneration are gaining momentum (Sayer et al , 2004; Chazdon, 2008). Forests are being restored for many purposes in many ways and at increasing rates by lo- cal communities, non-governmental organisations and private agencies, as well as through state and national programmes. The projects and programmes have differed in scale, objectives, • • • • • • • Some of the benefits of forest restoration

Low Low Low Low

High High High High

Natural regeneration Natural regeneration Natural regeneration Natural regeneration

3 3 3 3

Assigned natural regeneration Assigned natural regeneration Assigned natural regeneration Assigned natural regeneration

2 2 2 2 Commercial restoration Commercial restoration Commercial restoration Commercial restoration Restoration with native species Restoration with native species Restoration with native species Restoration with native species

Biodiversity and ecosystem services Biodiversity and ecosystem services Biodiversity and ecosystem services Biodiversity and ecosystem servic s

Time and costs Time and costs Time and costs Time and costs

1 1 1 1

Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Rehabilitation

Reclamation Reclamation Reclamation Reclamation

High High High High

Low Low Low Low

State of degradation State of degradation State of degradation State of degradation

Low Low Low Low

High High High High

• • • • • •

Figure 6: The restoration staircase. production of some products such as timber; or recovery of biodiversity and ecosystem services Source: adapted from Chazdon et al., Beyond Deforestation: Restoring Forests and Ecosystem Services on Degraded Lands , Science 2008 Depending on the state of degradation of an ecosystem, a range of management approaches can at least partially restore levels of biodiversity and ecosystem services given adequate time (years) and financial investment (capital, infrastructure and labour). Outcomes of particular restoration approaches are: restoration of soil fertility for supporting ecosystems; producti f some products such as timber; or recovery of biodiversity and ecosystem services Source: adapted from Chazdon et al., Beyond Deforestation: Restoring Forests and Ecosystem Services on Degraded Lands , Science 2008 1 2 3 Depending on the state of degradation of an ecosystem, a range of management approaches can at least partially restore levels of biodiversity and ecosystem services given adequate time (years) and financial investment (capital, infrastructure and lab ur). Outcomes of particular restoration approaches are: restoration of soil fertility for supporting ecosystems; production of some products such as timber; or recovery of biodiversity and ecosystem services Sourc : adapted from Chazdon et al., Beyond Deforestation: Restoring Forests and Ecosystem Services on Degraded Lands , Science 2008 1 2 3 Depending on the state of degradation of an ecosystem, a range of management approaches can t least partially re tore levels of biodiversity and ecosystem services given dequa e time (years) and financial nvestm nt (capital, infrastructure and labour). Outcomes of particular restoration approaches a e: restoration of soil fertility for supporting ecosystems; productio f m products such as timber; or covery of biodiversity and ecosys em services Source: adapted from Chazdon et al., Beyond Deforestation: Restoring Forests and Ecosystem Services on Degraded Lands , Science 2008 1 2 3 1 2 3 Depending on the state of degradation of an ecosystem, a range of management approaches can at least partially restore levels of biodiversity and ecosystem services given adequate time (years) and financial investment (capital, infrastructure and labour). Outcomes of particular restoration approaches are: restoration of soil fertility for supporting ecosystems;

medicinal plants and marketable goods; Recreation and tourism opportunities; Increased property values near restored areas;

Enhanced economic and environmental security and miti- gation of risk form global economic and environmental change.

Source: Global Partnership on Forest Landscape Restoration (GPFLR), http://www.ideastransformlandscapes.org

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