Search

Drone-based remote sensing is a promising new technology that combines the benefits of ground-based and satellite-derived forest monitoring by collecting fine-scale data over relatively large areas in a cost-effective manner. Here, we explore the potential of the GatorEye drone-lidar system to monitor tropical forest succession by canopy structural attributes including canopy height, spatial heterogeneity, gap fraction, leaf area density (LAD) vertical distribution, canopy Shannon index (an index of LAD), leaf area index (LAI), and understory LAI. We focus on these variables? relationship to aboveground biomass (AGB) stocks and species diversity. In the Caribbean lowlands of northeastern Costa Rica, we analyze nine tropical forests stands (seven secondgrowth and two old-growth). Stands were relatively homogenous in terms of canopy height and spatial heterogeneity, but not in their gap fraction. Neither species density nor tree community Shannon diversity index was significantly correlated with the canopy Shannon index. Canopy height, LAI, and AGB did not show a clear pattern as a function of forest age. However, gap fraction and spatial heterogeneity increased with forest age, whereas understory LAI decreased with forest age. Canopy height was strongly correlated with AGB. The heterogeneous mosaic created by successional forest patches across human-managed tropical landscapes can now be better characterized. Drone-lidar systems offer the opportunity to improve assessment of forest recovery and develop general mechanistic carbon sequestration models that can be rapidly deployed to specific sites, an essential step for monitoring progress within the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Made available in DSpace on 2020-08-01T11:12:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 27015.pdf: 1386408 bytes, checksum: cce9ebab5fed640e715ad6387e973c5a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2020

Tree planting and reforestation are currently in the spotlight as strategies for solving global environmental degradation. Many ongoing large-scale initiatives have proposed restoring millions of hectares and planting a trillion trees to solve climate change and biodiversity loss. Forest and landscape restoration (FLR) is one of the approaches most frequently employed to support these initiatives. Currently, many FLR initiatives are implemented in developing countries through a top-down approach, not fully anchored to the social-ecological characteristics of landscapes (e.g. land use and tenure, values of local peoples, local livelihoods), and sometimes relegating human well-being to a secondary concern. Therefore, issues of social equity and legitimacy might hamper the effectiveness of FLR initiatives and projects regarding their environmental outcomes. In this perspective article, we present four challenges to better link FLR and human well-being in Latin America: (1) the high dependence of local communities and countries’ economies on natural resources, (2) conflicts over land tenure and access, (3) divergence in perceptions and values, and (4) the fragility of public institutions and policies. After describing these interrelated challenges, we discuss how to tackle them by implementing instruments and approaches recently organized under the concept of transformative governance. Finding an equitable and legitimate balance between global interests and urgency and increasing local well-being is the main challenge of FLR in Latin America, for which transformative governance is critical.

Technical reclamation and spontaneous succession (passive restoration) are the two main approaches for restoring post-mining sites worldwide. Despite substantial differences between both approaches, little is known regarding how they differ in terms of ecological outcomes. We assessed and compared the vegetation structure and composition in one spontaneous succession forest that is 29 years old, two technically reclaimed forests that are 2 and 10 years old after alluvial gold mining, and one old-growth reference forest in northeastern Antioquia, Colombia. We sampled trees and saplings establishing three Modified-Whittaker Plots in each site. We measured tree basal area, canopy cover, vegetation height, tree density, and species richness. Vegetation structure and composition differed considerably among restoration approaches. Species richness was significantly greater in the spontaneous succession forest than at the other sites. Similarly, technical reclamation significantly increased the vegetation attributes after 10 years, reaching values similar to the reference forest. We underscore the importance of fast-growth planted species (Acacia mangium, Samanea saman, and Schizolobium parahyba) to revegetate mining degraded lands. Resumen Mundialmente, la recuperación técnica y la sucesión espontánea (restauración pasiva) son los dos principales enfoques para restaurar áreas post-minería. A pesar de las diferencias sustanciales entre ambos enfoques, sabemos poco sobre cómo difieren en términos de resultados ecológicos. Evaluamos y comparamos la estructura y composición de la vegetación en un bosque con sucesión espontánea con 29 años, dos bosques técnicamente recuperados que tienen 2 y 10 años después de la extracción de oro aluvial, y un bosque de referencia en el noreste de Antioquia, Colombia. En cada sitio establecimos tres parcelas tipo Whittaker modificadas. Medimos el área basal de los árboles, cobertura del dosel, altura de la vegetación, densidad de árboles y riqueza de especies. La estructura y composición de la vegetación difirieron considerablemente entre los enfoques de restauración. La riqueza de especies fue significativamente mayor en el bosque de sucesión espontánea. Asimismo, la recuperación técnica incrementó significativamente los atributos de la vegetación. Adicionalmente, destacamos la importancia de las especies plantadas de rápido crecimiento (Acacia mangium, Samanea saman y Schizolobium parahyba) para revegetar zonas mineras degradadas.

Natural regeneration has been proposed as a cost-effective forest restoration approach for both small and large-scale initiatives. However, attributes for assessing the success of forest restoration through natural regeneration may vary among them in spatial patterns depending on the scale of analysis and on environmental gradients. Here we analysed the spatial patterns of recovery completeness (i.e. how similar attributes in restored forests are to the same attributes in reference forests) in response to environmental factors in a Mediterranean forest landscape of Central Chile. We evaluated (1) forest recovery completeness using basal area (BA), quadratic mean diameter (QMD), adult species density (ASD), adult species richness (ASR), and seedling species richness (SSR); (2) the spatial congruence of recovery completeness estimated by each of these indicators; and (3) the environmental factors potentially shaping these spatial patterns. We used field measurements and geospatial information sources to quantify and predict indicator responses by fitting boosted regression tree models. To assess the spatial congruence of predictions we overlaid high-level recovery completeness values for all indicators. Overall recovery completeness in the study area was 72.7%, suggesting positive prospects for attaining fully restored forests. Recovery completeness had a resulted higher for diversity (92.3%-99.6%) than structural forest attributes (33.5%-76.9%); however, spatial congruence among recovery indicators was low due to the uneven spatial responses of each indicator. The maximum potential spatial congruence was, Universidad de La Frontera, Fundación de Apoyo a la Investigación del Estado de Sao Paulo

The ambitious restoration commitments made by Latin American countries have increased the demand for professionals having multidimensional training in ecological restoration; however, little is known about the kind of training that professionals are currently receiving. Through an online survey, we explored whether restoration professionals in Latin America have been trained on the ecological, socioeconomic, and management dimensions of ecological restoration, and their perceptions of training constraints and curricula needs. Half of the 411 respondents simultaneously work in academia, governments, and nongovernmental organizations, lessening the typical division between the science and practice of restoration, and suggesting the need for stronger multidimensional training to adequately respond to different needs and expectations. Over 80% received formal academic training in fields relevant for restoration and most respondents also reported attending interdisciplinary courses. Training was more focused on the ecological dimension of restoration compared to socioeconomic or management dimensions. Respondents have similar education levels (i.e. most respondents have postgraduate degrees), independently from the organization type in which respondents work, and multidimensionality among organization types was slight. Professionals expressed a need for training opportunities not demanding full-time dedication. Although increasing training opportunities in socioeconomic and management dimensions is needed, we highlight opportunities to reinforce multidimensional training on restoration through organizational and institutional training, and collaborations among organizations.

The knowledge of soil indicators during forest restoration is essential for understanding the recovery of ecosystem functions such as biomass production and water regulation. Despite this importance, in most restoration programs over the world, the soil remains under‐investigated. Here, we conducted a systematic literature review in order to determine: (1) the extent to which soil indicators are monitored during forest restoration in Colombia; (2) the type of soil indicators (e.g. physical, chemical, or biological) that are used for the monitoring; and (3) the regions where soil indicators are measured. We found 34 studies that report soil indicators. The most frequently studied restoration sites were 0–5 years old (36%). The majority (71%) of the studies only measured the soil characteristics at the topsoil. Soil sodium (Na) and phosphorus (P) concentrations were the most common chemical soil indicators reported by the studies. Soil biological indicators were the least frequently reported indicators. The studies rarely reported soil indicators that affect water movement directly. Of the retrieved studies, most included information about old‐growth forests (63%) or degraded sites (56%) for comparisons with forests undergoing restoration. Based on these results we provide recommendations for monitoring soil characteristics to assess the effectiveness of forest restoration projects in Colombia, and other tropical countries.

Promoting diversity is core for ecological restoration. Restoration projects often quantify biological diversity as a measure of success, but generally overlook human diversity, including gender issues, which have not been sufficiently considered in restoration planning, implementation, and monitoring. Here, we justify the need to consider gender equality in ecological restoration and offer guidance on adopting gender-responsive approaches. Gender equality should be considered both a driver and a measure of success and will play a central role to leverage the contributions of restoration to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and of women to its Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. We finally recommend that the International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration are amended to include a gender-responsive perspective in its recommendations.

In restoration science, evidence reviews play a crucial role in summarizing research findings in practice and policy. However, if unreliable or inappropriate methods are used to review evidence, decisions based on these reviews may not accurately reflect the available evidence base. To assess the current value of restoration reviews, we examined a sample of meta-analyses and narrative syntheses (n = 91) with the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence Synthesis Assessment Tool (CEESAT), which uses detailed criteria to assesses the method of policy-relevant evidence synthesis according to elements important for objectivity, transparency, and comprehensiveness. Overall, reviews scored low based on this standard: median score 16 out of 39, modal score 15, and mean 16.6. Meta-analyses scored higher than narrative syntheses (median 17 vs. 5, respectively), although there were some outlier narrative syntheses that had high scores, suggesting that quantitative synthesis does not solely reflect the reliability of a review. In general, criteria spanning the more fundamental review stages (i.e., searching for studies and including studies) received low scores for both synthesis types. Conversely, criteria comprising the later stages of the review (i.e., critical appraisal, data extraction, and data synthesis) were generally well described in meta-analyses; thus, these criteria achieved the highest individual CEESAT scores. We argue that restoration ecology is well positioned to advance so-called evidence-based restoration, but review authors should elucidate their conceptual understanding of evidence syntheses and recognize that conducting reliable reviews demands the same methodological rigor and reporting standards used in primary research. Given the potential of evidence reviews to inform management, policy, and research, it is of vital importance that the overall methodological reliability of restoration reviews be improved.Confiabilidad de los Métodos de Revisión de Evidencias en la Ecología de Restauración Resumen Para las ciencias de la restauración, las revisiones de evidencias juegan un papel muy importante en la síntesis de los hallazgos de las investigaciones en la práctica y en las políticas. Sin embargo, si se usan métodos poco fiables o inapropiados para revisar las evidencias, las decisiones que se tomen con base en estas revisiones pueden no reflejar acertadamente la base disponible de evidencias. Para analizar el valor actual de las revisiones de restauraciones examinamos una muestra de metaanálisis y síntesis narrativas (n = 91) con la Herramienta para la Síntesis de Análisis de la Colaboración para la Evidencia Ambiental (CEESAT), la cual usa criterios detallados para analizar el método de síntesis de evidencias relevantes para las políticas de acuerdo con los elementos importantes para la objetividad, transparencia y exhaustividad. En general, las revisiones tuvieron puntajes bajos con base en este estándar (puntaje medio: 16 de 39, puntaje modal: 15, media: 16.6). Los metaanálisis tuvieron un puntaje más alto que las síntesis narrativas (mediana: 17 vs 5, respectivamente), aunque hubo algunas síntesis narrativas atípicas que tuvieron puntajes altos, lo que sugiere que la síntesis cuantitativa no refleja por sí sola la confiabilidad de una revisión. En suma, los criterios que abarcaron las etapas de revisión más fundamentales (es decir, buscar estudios e incluir estudios) recibieron puntajes bajos para ambos tipos de síntesis. Al contrario, los criterios que comprendieron las etapas tardías de la revisión (es decir, la valoración crítica, la extracción de datos y la síntesis de los datos) estuvieron generalmente bien descritos en los metaanálisis; por lo tanto, estos criterios alcanzaron los puntajes CEESAT individuales más altos. Argumentamos que la ecología de restauración se encuentra bien posicionada para adelantar la llamada restauración basada en evidencias, pero los autores de las revisiones deberían aclarar su entendimiento conceptual de la síntesis de evidencias y reconocer que la realización de revisiones confiables requiere el mismo rigor metodológico y los mismos estándares de reporte usados en la investigación primaria. Dado el potencial que tienen las revisiones de evidencias para orientar el manejo, las políticas y la investigación, es de vital importancia que se mejore la confiabilidad metodológica generalizada de las revisiones de restauración.

Ecological functions, including pollination services, can be successfully restored in degraded ecosystems. In this study we propose a procedure for selection of target species to be employed in the restoration of plant-pollinator interactions in agricultural landscapes, which is illustrated by a case study located in the Tandilia System, in the Southern Pampa grasslands of Argentina. Based on information from a large pollination network dataset of 12 hills, composed of 172 pollinators and 96 plants (metaweb), we identified the plant species playing a major role in the maintenance of pollination mutualisms. We obtained a ranking of interaction frequency for each of the 96 plant species of the metaweb, and selected native plants that received more than 100 individual flower visitors. The targeted species were evaluated using ten criteria related to ecological, technical and cultural characteristics, and then ranked according to their suitability for use in restoration projects (species rank, SR). From the total number of plant species (96) registered for all sampled hills, we identified a total of 24 plant species that represented 90% of the total interactions and 25% of the plant species recorded in the metaweb. Six of the 24 selected species were excluded since they were non-native, leaving 18 targeted native plant species. The SR value ranged between 2.68 and 8, with a mean of 4.63 ± 1.40. Two genera presented the highest SR values (Eryngium sp. and Baccharis sp.), and are recognized as potential candidates for restoration of other ecosystems. A rank that evaluates plant species capable of rehabilitating plant-pollinator interactions will form a solid basis for planning restoration projects, which are crucial for biodiversity rehabilitation and conservation.

Limited funding is a major barrier to implementing ambitious global restoration commitments, so reducing restoration costs is essential to upscale restoration. The lack of rigorous analyses about the major components and drivers of restoration costs limit the development of alternatives to reduce costs and the selection of the most cost-effective methods to achieve restoration goals. We conducted detailed restoration cost assessments for the three most widespread biomes in Brazil (Amazon, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest) and estimated the restoration costs associated with implementing Brazil’s National Plan for Native Vegetation Recovery (12M hectares). Most surveys (60–90%) reported using the costly methods of planting seedlings or sowing seeds throughout the site, regardless of the biome. Natural regeneration and assisted regeneration approaches were an order of magnitude cheaper but were reported in

There is strong upswing in conservation and restoration efforts in Latin America (LA), particularly in the recent decades after several countries have committed to international agreements such as the Aichi targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Initiative 20×20, and the Bonn Challenge. To fulfill these agreements, the practice of ecological restoration has to be defined based on ecological knowledge, but also on the specific social, economic, and legal aspects of each country in the region. Here, we give some examples about the national understanding of ecological restoration in 10 countries of LA. We identify difficulties and opportunities to define restoration priorities and needs, and discuss some approaches to cope with economic constraints and agreements, including the potential role of restoration networks in this process. On the basis of the socioecological complexity of these countries and the expectations they have in relation to restoration, we proposed four approaches to guide restoration practice and policy in the region: (1) including biodiversity and ecosystem services approach into ecosystem restoration initiatives; (2) promoting restoration in their frequently human-modified landscapes; (3) accounting for cost–benefit trade-offs; and (4) assembling “horizontal” communication frameworks. These approaches should be based at national levels, but adapted to local-regional levels, in a bottom-up perspective. We consider that national and international restoration networks in the region can help to overcome difficulties, fostering a solid scientific community, helping to develop national approaches that better match the specific conditions of each country and enhancing communication among different groups of stakeholders.

Author(s): Brancalion, Pedro HS; Meli, Paula; Tymus, Julio RC; Lenti, Felipe EB; Benini, Rubens M; Silva, Ana Paula M; Isernhagen, Ingo; Holl, Karen D

Understanding social perceptions of rural communities is essential to construct public policy and management alternatives, not only to maintain natural ecosystems but also to deal with a changing environment due to climatic change. Because climate variability in Mexico has important socio-economic and environmental impacts, it is necessary to build capacities for adaptation. We describe social perceptions of three main local stakeholders (that is, farmers, elders, and local authorities), regarding their relationships with rainforest and local adaptation to climate change in eleven rural communities in Marques de Comillas municipality, Chiapas, Southern Mexico. We based in a qualitative approach and used participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Even certain subtly variation among stakeholders, we recognized some underlying ideas behind perceptions. Rainforest is considered crucial to maintain human livelihoods and to mitigate climatic changes. They perceived changes in climate occurring in the region, such as raising temperature, unpredictable rainfall, and streams becoming dry. Local organization and government involved in managing rainforest or dealing with climatic changes are practically absent. This emphasizes the needs bring proper and reliable information to make decisions regarding rainforest use and management, but also to adapt to a changing climate. The loss of the collective character of the communities and, certain conflicts in public policies that mirrored in the coexistence of initiatives with contrasting objectives are proposed as particularly important for understanding the emergence of these perceptions. We proposed some recommendations to bolster regional capacities addressing climate change. Involving stakeholders such as governmental and non-governmental institutions is also imperative.

La restauración ecológica se utiliza a menudo para recuperar los niveles de biodiversidad y de servicios ecosistémicos (SE) en ecosistemas degradados. En general, los resultados de la restauración ecológica se pueden estimar como el progreso o la compleción de la recuperación de indicadores de la integridad ecológica en el estado restaurado respecto al estado degradado o de referencia, respectivamente. Presentamos una síntesis de estos resultados según cuatro meta-análisis globales independientes, obtenidos en una amplia gama de ecosistemas, con énfasis en humedales, agroecosistemas y bosques. La restauración ecológica aumentó la biodiversidad y los SE en 58 y 99%, respectivamente. Sin embargo, estos niveles fueron inferiores a los de los ecosistemas de referencia (-10 y -8%, respectivamente). La recuperación varió entre tipos de ecosistema. Los humedales restaurados tuvieron niveles más altos de biodiversidad y de SE (19 y 43%, respectivamente) en relación a los degradados, aunque los niveles de los SE fueron inferiores (-13%) a los de referencia. La restauración aumentó los niveles de biodiversidad, SE de soporte y SE de regulación de los agroecosistemas en 68, 42 y 120%, respectivamente, y los agroecosistemas restaurados tuvieron niveles de biodiversidad y de estos SE similares a los ecosistemas de referencia. En el caso de los bosques, la recuperación fue completa para todos los SE, mientras que la biodiversidad, aunque aumentó 106% después de la restauración, fue 21% inferior a los niveles de referencia. Existe un hueco en la literatura científica sobre la evaluación cuantitativa de los SE culturales en ecosistemas restaurados. La recuperación de la biodiversidad y de los SE se correlacionaron de forma positiva en las comparaciones de ecosistemas degradados y restaurados en todos los meta-análisis. Concluimos que la restauración ecológica aumenta de forma notable la biodiversidad y los SE, aunque no se alcanzan los niveles de los ecosistemas de referencia, Comunidad de Madrid, Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (Argentina)

In revegetation projects, distinguishing species that can be passively restored by natural regeneration from those requiring active restoration is not a trivial decision. We quantified tree species dominance (measured by an importance value index, IVIi) and used abundance‐size correlations to select those species suitable for passive and/or active restoration of disturbed riparian vegetation in the Lacandonia region, Southern Mexico. We sampled riparian vegetation in a 50 ×10‐m transect in each of six reference (RE) and five disturbed (DE) riparian ecosystems. Those species representing more than 50% of total IVI in each ecosystem were selected, and Spearman rank correlation between abundance and diameter classes was calculated. For eight species, it was determined that passive restoration could be sufficient for their establishment. Another eight species could be transplanted by means of active restoration. Five species regenerate well in only one ecosystem type, suggesting that both restoration strategies could be used depending on the degree of degradation. Finally, two species were determined to not be suitable for restoration in the RE (based on the above selection criteria) and were not selected during this initial stage of our restoration project. The high number of tree species found in the RE suggests that the species pool for ecological restoration is large. However, sampling in both ecosystem types helped us reduce the number of species that requires active restoration. Restoration objectives must guide the selection of which methods to implement; in different conditions, other criteria such as dispersal syndrome or social value could be considered in the species selection.