Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 13 June 2008:
Vol. 320. no. 5882, pp. 1458 - 1460
DOI: 10.1126/science.1155365
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Perspective

Beyond Deforestation: Restoring Forests and Ecosystem Services on Degraded Lands

Robin L. Chazdon

Despite continued forest conversion and degradation, forest cover is increasing in countries across the globe. New forests are regenerating on former agricultural land, and forest plantations are being established for commercial and restoration purposes. Plantations and restored forests can improve ecosystem services and enhance biodiversity conservation, but will not match the composition and structure of the original forest cover. Approaches to restoring forest ecosystems depend strongly on levels of forest and soil degradation, residual vegetation, and desired restoration outcomes. Opportunities abound to combine ambitious forest restoration and regeneration goals with sustainable rural livelihoods and community participation. New forests will require adaptive management as dynamic, resilient systems that can withstand stresses of climate change, habitat fragmentation, and other anthropogenic effects.

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269–3043, USA. E-mail: chazdon{at}uconn.edu

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Trade-offs and synergies between carbon storage and livelihood benefits from forest commons.
A. Chhatre and A. Agrawal (2009)
PNAS 106, 17667-17670
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Forest transition in Vietnam and displacement of deforestation abroad.
P. Meyfroidt and E. F. Lambin (2009)
PNAS 106, 16139-16144
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Enhancement of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services by Ecological Restoration: A Meta-Analysis.
J. M. R. Benayas, A. C. Newton, A. Diaz, and J. M. Bullock (2009)
Science 325, 1121-1124
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Boom-and-Bust Development Patterns Across the Amazon Deforestation Frontier.
A. S. L. Rodrigues, R. M. Ewers, L. Parry, C. Souza Jr., A. Verissimo, and A. Balmford (2009)
Science 324, 1435-1437
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)