scholarly journals Potential for Forest Restoration and Deficit Compensation in Itacaiúnas Watershed, Southeastern Brazilian Amazon

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sâmia Nunes ◽  
Rosane B. L. Cavalcante ◽  
Wilson R. Nascimento ◽  
Pedro Walfir M. Souza-Filho ◽  
Diogo Santos
Keyword(s):  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Environmental Law ◽  
High Water ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Land Use Classification ◽  
Legal Compliance ◽  
Compensation Mechanisms ◽  
Hydrological Services

The conservation and restoration of native vegetation is vital for providing key hydrological services (i.e., maintaining high water quality, atmospheric humidity, and precipitation patterns). However, this research area lacks fine-scale studies at the watershed level to evaluate opportunities for forest restoration and deficit (the shortfall of forest required to be restored or compensated), as well as the implications for watershed management. We provide the first fine-scale estimation of forest and deficit distribution, integrating permanent preservation areas (APPs, in Portuguese) and legal reserves (RL, in Portuguese), according to Brazilian environmental law, for the 41,300 km2 Itacaiúnas watershed in the Brazilian state of Pará, which has lost 50% of its vegetation cover. Using 30 m- and 10 m-resolution imagery, a multi-temporal land use classification was performed by geographic object-based image analysis (GEOBIA). The results were combined with a set of Brazilian regulations on the conservation and restoration of APPs and RL to assess patterns of forest cover and legal compliance. We found that the total RL deficit (4383 km2) was higher than the total forest surplus (above legal obligation) (3241 km2). However, most of this deficit (56%) could be compensated by protecting a forest area in another property within the Amazon biome, while 44% must be legally restored. Only 4% of the total forest surplus can be legally deforested, and the remaining 96% is already protected by law but can be used to compensate for areas under the deficit. We also found that, despite 57% (3017 km2) of the total APP being forested, only 26% (1356 km2) of the APP must be restored and 17% (881 km2) can remain deforested (consolidated areas). The 2012 law revision reduced the obligation to restore RL and APPs. This change could affect hydrological and ecological services. Compensation mechanisms could be used to protect forest within the Itacaiúnas watershed, rather than in the biome, to reduce further deforestation pressure.

Fine‐Scale Soil Heterogeneity at an Urban Site: Implications for Forest Restoration

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Smith ◽  
Richard A Hallett ◽  
Maha Deeb ◽  
Peter M Groffman
Keyword(s):  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Soil Heterogeneity ◽  
Urban Site ◽  
Fine Scale

scholarly journals Nursery Cultural Techniques Facilitate Restoration of Acacia koa Competing with Invasive Grass in a Dry Tropical Forest

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1124
Author(s):  
Douglass F. Jacobs ◽  
Anthony S. Davis ◽  
R. Kasten Dumroese ◽  
Owen T. Burney
Keyword(s):  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Anthropogenic Activity ◽  
Native Forest ◽  
Forest Trees ◽  
Acacia Koa ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Kikuyu Grass

Anthropogenic activity has caused persistent and prominent losses of forest cover in dry tropical forests. Natural regeneration of forest trees in grazed areas often fails due to lack of seed sources and consumption by ungulates. To address this, the effective restoration of such sites often requires fencing and outplanting nursery-grown seedlings. In the degraded, dry forests of tropical Hawaii, USA, an additional challenge to restoration of native forest trees is the introduced kikuyu grass (Cenchrus clandestinus). This invasive, rapidly growing rhizomatous plant forms deep, dense mats. We studied the use of nursery cultural techniques to facilitate the establishment of koa (Acacia koa) seedlings outplanted amidst well-established kikuyu grass on a volcanic cinder cone on the dry, western side of Hawaii Island. Seedlings were grown four months in three container sizes (49, 164, 656 cm3) and with four rates (0, 4.8, 7.2, and 9.6 kg m−3) of 15–9–12 (NPK) controlled-release fertilizer incorporated into media prior to sowing. After 16 months in the field, seedling survival was > 80% for all treatments with two exceptions: the non-fertilized 49 cm3 (78%) and 164 cm3 (24%) containers. After 10 years, only these two treatments had significantly lower survival (35% and 10%, respectively) than the other treatments. One year following planting, none of the non-fertilized seedlings had transitioned to phyllodes from juvenile true leaves, regardless of container size. For the fertilized 656 cm3 container treatment, 78%–85% of seedlings had phyllodes, with mean values increasing by fertilizer rate. Phyllodes are known to confer greater drought resistance than true leaves in koa, which may help to explain the improved survival of fertilized trees on this relatively dry site. Overall, nursery fertilization was more influential on seedling height and diameter response than container size after outplanting. However, the largest container (656 cm3) with the addition of fertilizer, produced significantly larger trees than all other treatments during the early regeneration phase; early growth differences tended to fade at 10 years due to inter-tree canopy competition. Although koa is able to fix atmospheric nitrogen through rhizobium associations, our data confirm the importance of nursery fertilization in promoting regeneration establishment. Nursery cultural techniques may play an important role in forest restoration of dry tropical sites invaded by exotic vegetation.

Deforestation dynamics in a fragmented region of southern Amazonia: evaluation and future scenarios

2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
FERNANDA MICHALSKI ◽  
CARLOS A. PERES ◽  
IAIN R. LAKE
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Planning ◽  
Landscape Structure ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Environmental Law ◽  
Critical Threshold ◽  
Future Scenarios ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Deforestation Rate ◽  
Southern Amazonia

SUMMARYThe ‘arc of deforestation’ of southern Amazonia has one of the highest deforestation rates documented anywhere in the world. Landscape changes in a poorly studied but strategically important region in the Brazilian Amazon were studied using biennial Landsat TM/ETM+ images from 1984 to 2004. Deforestation rate for the period 1984–2004 was 2.47% yr−1 in the 7295 km2 study area, but decreased to 1.99% and 2.15% in 2000–2002 and 2002–2004, respectively. Landscape structure changes were characterized by smaller forest patches that were further apart, but increasingly complex in shape. Deforestation was mainly driven by cattle ranching, which in turn was affected by distance to roads, with forest cover increasing at greater distances from roads. A multi-layer perceptron was used to develop future scenarios based on Markov Chain analysis. Based on current land use, forest cover in the region will decline from 42% in 2004 to 21% by 2016. Results indicate a critical threshold at 51% of forest cover in which landscape structure and connectivity changes abruptly. This suggests that the region requires greater efforts in environmental law enforcement, land-use planning and education programmes to maintain the remaining forest cover near this threshold.

scholarly journals Applied-Geographic Analysis of the Pasmove Pobuzhzhia Territory

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Cover ◽  
System Analysis ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Urban System ◽  
Urban Ecosystem ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Nature Management ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Geographic Analysis ◽  
Environmental Measures

Pasmove Pobuzhzhia is a unique geosystem of the Male Polissia nature region which is formed by the thawed waters of the Oka glaciation. Today, this geosystem undergoes negative anthropogenic transformations mainly due to its vicinity to the urban system of Lviv city. Purpose. To carry out a complex applied-geographic analysis of the territory of the Pasmove Pobuzhzhia. Methods. System analysis, synthesis, generalization, comparison, methods of laboratory and instrumental research for determining the quality of groundwater, a cartographic method for creating a map of objects of economic infrastructure and the proposed environmental measures within the Pasmove Pobuzhzhia. Results. The natural conditions, forest cover, the density of the river network, the agricultural land cultivation and the main types of nature management were analyzed. The Pasmove Pobuzhzhia is experiencing a rather powerful negative anthropogenic impact, which is associated, in particular, with a close interconnection with the Lviv urban ecosystem. The western part of the Malekhivs’ke Pasmo, which relates to the location of the city garbage dump, is under special stress. Conclusions. The main problems hindering the sustainable development of the research area were revealed. The priority measures were proposed to improve the geoecological situation within the research area.

scholarly journals Turismo basado en naturaleza y conservación biológica: decisiones de uso de suelo en Mindo/ Nature-based tourism and biological conservation: land-use decisions in Mindo

2018 ◽  
pp. 178-198
Author(s):  
Jorje Ignacio Zalles
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Economic Incentive ◽  
Natural State ◽  
Biological Conservation ◽  
Native Forest ◽  
Land Use Patterns ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Land Use Decisions

El turismo basado en naturaleza se reconoce como un incentivo económico indirecto para la conservación biológica. En particular, se espera que las visitas dirigidas a observación de vida silvestre en estado natural aporten al establecimiento de patrones de uso de suelo favorables para la integridad biológica de los paisajes destino. La localidad de Mindo se ha consolidado en décadas recientes como receptora de turismo basado en naturaleza. Este artículo analiza el papel que juega el turismo en decisiones de uso de suelo tendientes al incremento de cobertura forestal nativa en Mindo. Se describe el marco institucional asociado al turismo y se elabora un mapa cognitivo de las decisiones de uso de suelo por participantes en un programa de restauración forestal. La mejora del atractivo turístico mediante restauración forestal es un importante factor de agencia individual en cuanto a uso de suelo en Mindo. Existen desafíos institucionales, sin embargo, que allí limitan el potencial del turismo como fuerza motriz para el incremento en cobertura forestal, y por ende su contribución a la conservación biológica en términos de paisaje. Abstract Nature-based tourism is recognized as an indirect economic incentive for biological conservation. In particular, the expectation is that visits aimed at the observation of wildlife in its natural state will encourage the establishment of land-use patterns that are favorable to the biological integrity of destination landscapes. The locality of Mindo has in recent decades become a well-known destination for nature-based tourism. This article analyzes the role played by tourism in land-use decisions aimed at increasing native forest cover in Mindo. The institutional framework associated with tourism is described, and a cognitive map of land-use decisions by participants in a forest restoration program is presented. The improvement of touristic attractiveness through forest restoration is an important influence on individual agency regarding land use in Mindo. There are institutional challenges, however, that limit tourism´s potential as a land-use driver for increased forest cover, and therefore its contribution to biological conservation at a landscape level.

scholarly journals Effects of seasonality, fertilization and species on the chlorophyll a fluorescence as related with photosynthesis and leguminous tree growth during Amazonian forest restoration

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Kirmayr Jaquetti ◽  
José Francisco de Carvalho Gonçalves ◽  
Henrique Eduardo Mendonça Nascimento ◽  
Karen Cristina Pires da Costa ◽  
Jair Max Fortunato Maia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Transport ◽  
Performance Index ◽  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
High Water ◽  
Diameter Growth ◽  
Cost Effective Technique ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Degraded Ecosystems

AbstractThe ability of species to adjust their light energy uptake is determined during plant establishment and development. Changes in resource availability may impact energy fluxes and photosynthesis. General and specific variations in chlorophyll a fluorescence under high vs. low water and nutrient conditions have been studied. N2-fixing leguminous trees, which are commonly used in tropical forest restoration, seem to be very well adapted to degraded ecosystems. To understand the effects of biological nitrogen fixation on Chl a fluorescence variables, three of the six Fabaceae species selected for this study were N2-fixing species. Additionally, the correlation among Chl a fluorescence and growth, photosynthesis and nutrient levels was evaluated. A 24-month forest restoration experiment was established, and data on dark-adapted Chl a fluorescence, photosynthesis, diameter growth and foliar nutrients were collected. Multivariate analysis was performed to detect the effects of seasonality and fertilization. Under high water- and nutrient-availability conditions, plants exhibited enhanced performance index values that were correlated with electron transport fluxes. Under drought and nutrient-poor conditions, most species exhibited increased energy dissipation as a method of photoprotection. Great interspecific variation was found; therefore, species-specific responses to the test conditions should be considered in future studies. N2-fixing species showed increased performance index and maximum fluorescence values, indicating their ability to colonize high-light environments. Negative correlations were found between photosynthesis and trapped fluxes and between diameter growth and initial fluorescence. Electron transport fluxes were positively correlated with growth. Given the different responses identified among species, Chl a fluorescence is considered a cost-effective technique to screen for seasonality, nutrient and N2-fixing species effects and should be considered for use during forest restoration. Finally, including N2-fixing species and multiple fertilization treatments in related studies may greatly facilitate the restoration of biogeochemical cycles in the tropics.

scholarly journals MIKOKO: A Data Sharing Platform On Kenyan Mangrove Species 

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Prosperi ◽  
Alexander Kathuku ◽  
Pierre Grard
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Open Data ◽  
High Water ◽  
Mangrove Ecosystem ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Forest Service ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
African Region ◽  
Mangrove Species

The Mangrove ecosystem offers a range of benefits and opportunities for local and national economic development such as fisheries, shoreline stability, and resource sustainability hence they should be protected and conserved. In Kenya Mangroves were declared government reserve forests by the Proclamation No. 44 of 30th April 1932, and later by Legal Notice No. 174 of 20th May 1964. Under this “Gazette Notification for Mangrove Forests in Kenya” all land between high water and low water marks (ordinary spring tides) are described as mangrove areas. These forests cover about 61,279ha representing approximately 3% of the natural forest cover or less than 1% of the national land area. Mangrove forests are found in tidal estuaries, creeks, and protected bays along the 536 km long Kenyan coastline that extends from the Kenya-Tanzania border in the south to the Kenya-Somalia border in the north; between latitudes 1°40΄S and 4°25΄S and longitudes 41°34΄E and 39°17΄E. Mikoko (Mangrove in Swahili) is the first project specifically developed for mangrove areas in Kenya. Driven by the Kenya Forest Service, the project takes into account the recommendations of the National Mangrove Ecosystem Management Plan 2017-2027. For effective management of mangroves in the country, the Plan is organised around six programmes including; forest conservation and utilization; fisheries development and management; community; tourism development; research and education; and human resource and operations. These programmes prescribe measures for rehabilitation, conservation, and sustainable management of mangrove ecosystems in Kenya. Implementations of this Plan will be led by Kenya Forest Service (KFS); but will also include other key actors such as Kenya Wildlife Service, State Department of Fisheries, Research Institutions, Academia and Community Forest Associations through a specially constituted National Mangrove Advisory Committee. The project is for a 2-year period during which it shall develop an effective system for management of mangrove resources in Kenya. This will be done through the development of management prescriptions, skills improvement and provision of adequate infrastructure as recommended by the mangrove plan. Biodiversity information on mangroves, covering species descriptions and distribution, is essential for understanding the ecology and distribution of this endangered ecosystem and its management. Nowadays, very few is done in that domain. If the mangroves location are well know, it's not the case regarding the species distribution. Citizen science is a way to address this important issue. MIKOKO, a French FSPI funded project, is focused on Kenya to develop species information systems on mangrove species. Mikoko aims to assimilate knowledge through its participatory portal to strengthen a science and technology network of stakeholders such as scientists and parataxonomists in the African region. The portal platform will contain a Citizen Science module, a graphic driven species identification module, a species pages module conforming to Species Profile Model and a spatial module. Subscribing to open data paradigm, all the data on the portal will be covered by Creative Commons license framework. Mobile applications for identifying 60 plant species and contributing to citizen science module will be deployed. The oral presentation will expose the portal features and related apps seeking participation from the environmentalists from the African region.

scholarly journals Habitat suitability for primate conservation in north-east Brazil

Oryx ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 803-813
Author(s):  
Bárbara Moraes ◽  
Orly Razgour ◽  
João Pedro Souza-Alves ◽  
Jean P. Boubli ◽  
Bruna Bezerra
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Change Scenario ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Priority Areas ◽  
North East

AbstractBrazil has a high diversity of primates, but increasing anthropogenic pressures and climate change could influence forest cover in the country and cause future changes in the distribution of primate populations. Here we aim to assess the long-term suitability of habitats for the conservation of three threatened Brazilian primates (Alouatta belzebul, Sapajus flavius and Sapajus libidinosus) through (1) estimating their current and future distributions using species distribution models, (2) evaluating how much of the areas projected to be suitable is represented within protected areas and priority areas for biodiversity conservation, and (3) assessing the extent of remaining forest cover in areas predicted to be suitable for these species. We found that 88% of the suitable areas are outside protected areas and only 24% are located in areas with forest cover. Although not within protected areas, 27% of the climatically suitable areas are considered priority areas for conservation. Future projections, considering a severe climate change scenario, indicate that A. belzebul, S. flavius and S. libidinosus may lose up to 94, 98 and 54% of their suitable range, respectively. The establishment of primate populations and their long-term survival in these areas are at risk. Mitigation actions such as the implementation of new protected areas, forest restoration and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions will be essential for the conservation of Brazilian primates.

scholarly journals Participatory Assessment of Ecosystem Services from Community-Managed Planted Forests in Bhutan

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1062
Author(s):  
Prem Bahadur Rai ◽  
Robin R. Sears ◽  
Dorji Dukpa ◽  
Sonam Phuntsho ◽  
Yustina Artati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Soil Protection ◽  
Planted Forests ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Multilateral Environmental Agreements ◽  
Participatory Assessment ◽  
Viable Approach

Planted forests provide a range of ecosystem services, from the local to global scales. In this study, we evaluated the perceptions by local people of the ecosystem services from planted forest stands in Bhutan. We employed household questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions in eight villages in two regions of Bhutan: Trashigang dzongkhag, in eastern Bhutan, and Punakha dzongkhag in western Bhutan. At all sites, the planted forests were created several decades ago to restore forest cover in deforested and degraded areas. The restored stands were perceived by residents to provide multiple goods and ecosystem services important to local security, health, and livelihoods, including wild edibles, freshwater, and soil protection, and aesthetic and cultural services. This study indicates that local community participation in forest resource management can ease user conflict and manage the planted forests sustainably. We see community-based forest restoration on degraded lands as a viable approach, among others, to achieve national commitments to the Bonn Challenge and other multilateral environmental agreements related to forests.

scholarly journals Distribution Models of Timber Species for Forest Conservation and Restoration in the Andean-Amazonian Landscape, North of Peru

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 7945
Author(s):  
Dany A. Cotrina Sánchez ◽  
Elgar Barboza Castillo ◽  
Nilton B. Rojas Briceño ◽  
Manuel Oliva ◽  
Cristóbal Torres Guzman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Forest Conservation ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Timber Species ◽  
Regulatory Factor ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Entropy Model ◽  
Rapid Reduction ◽  
Conservation Plans

The Andean-Amazonian landscape has been universally recognized for its wide biodiversity, and is considered as global repository of ecosystem services. However, the severe loss of forest cover and rapid reduction of the timber species seriously threaten this ecosystem and biodiversity. In this study, we have modeled the distribution of the ten most exploited timber forest species in Amazonas (Peru) to identify priority areas for forest conservation and restoration. Statistical and cartographic protocols were applied with 4454 species records and 26 environmental variables using a Maximum Entropy model (MaxEnt). The result showed that the altitudinal variable was the main regulatory factor that significantly controls the distribution of the species. We found that nine species are distributed below 1000 m above sea level (a.s.l.), except Cedrela montana, which was distributed above 1500 m a.s.l., covering 40.68%. Eight of 10 species can coexist, and the species with the highest percentage of potential restoration area is Cedrela montana (14.57% from Amazonas). However, less than 1.33% of the Amazon has a potential distribution of some species and is protected under some category of conservation. Our study will contribute as a tool for the sustainable management of forests and will provide geographic information to complement forest restoration and conservation plans.

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