Forest landscape restoration

Date: 7 July 2011

Publication explores how severe deforestation & degradation in Latin America might potentially be reversed.

A new publication, edited by Bournemouth University researchers Adrian Newton and Natalia Tejedor, explores forest landscape restoration in Latin America.

‘Principles and Practice of Forest Landscape Restoration: case studies from the drylands of Latin America’ was published earlier this month.

The book presents the results of an international research project, which was designed explicitly to examine application of the forest landscape restoration (FLR) approach to dryland forest ecosystems in Latin America.

The research focused on seven dryland areas where native forests have been subjected to intense human pressure in recent decades, resulting in severe deforestation and degradation. Each of these areas is characterized by high biodiversity of international conservation importance, with many endemic, threatened species.

Professor Adrian Newton, said: “Dryland forests are among the most threatened in the world, yet often play a major role in supporting human livelihoods. Our research examined how degraded dryland forests might be restored, to increase their value for both wildlife and people. The results we obtained, together with our international partners, suggest that not only is ecological restoration feasible, but that it can also be cost-effective. Our hope is that this book will support future forest restoration efforts throughout Latin America, as well as in other parts of the world.”

The text is published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); an organisation that aims to find ‘pragmatic solutions’ to the world’s most pressing environment and development challenges.