Ecological and Social Limitations for Mexican Dry Forest Restoration: A Systematic Review

Abstract

In Mexico, dry forests are one of the ecosystems in major need of restoration intervention. Here, we explored the ecological and social limitations on the restoration of Mexican dry forests from the perspective of restoration practitioners and researchers. We included three data sources: (i) projects included in a national evaluation (1979–2016), (ii) a systematic review of scientific literature (1979–2021), and (iii) restoration projects included in two governmental programs. The national evaluation and the systematic review coincided in identifying the establishment of plantings as the most important ecological limitation and low social participation as the most important social limitation. There were three times more publications addressing ecological limitations than those addressing social limitations. We did not find research to resolve the problems faced by practitioners related to invasive species, unpredictable climate, and poor soil quality. Governmental programs promoting the restoration of ecosystems need to include measurable indicators to document the socioecological limitations faced by local practitioners to restore Mexican dry forests.

Tropical Dry Forest Restoration in an Era of Global Change: Ecological and Social Dimensions

“…Socioeconomic indicators are rarely used to evaluate restoration outcomes [41], and there are few studies including both ecological and socioeconomic indicators in TDF restoration practice [42]. Several papers in this Special Issue explore a broader range of social and environmental limitations for the effective restoration of TDFs in Mexico [33,43] and Hawaii [44], and review the opportunities for the integration of social science dimensions in TDF restoration [45]. These three papers of the present Special Issue stress the urgent need to integrate local people in order to not only develop better TDF restoration programs, but also to guide TDF restoration at regional and global scales.…”

The challenge of participatory restoration in rural areas

“…Acknowledging stakeholders' expectations and interests, and their direct involvement are key to ensuring that both nature and society mutually benefit. The social aspects of restoration are rarely explored and local rural communities seldom participate (Wehi & Lord 2017, Reyes-García et al 2019, Ceccon et al 2020, van Noordwijk et al 2020, Martínez-Garza et al 2022. Involving these stakeholders transforms them into the authors (sensu Pesci et al 2007) of a restoration project and not only enhances their participation and involvement but ensures their allegiance to the project and increases the possibility of success and long-term commitment.…”

Siembra directa de árboles nativos para la restauración de la selva estacionalmente seca

“…Para establecer los niveles mínimos de restauración se requiere menos inversión en presupuesto y menos cono-cimientos en comparación con lo requerido para establecer los niveles máximos de restauración (Zahawi et al, 2014). Finalmente, Martínez-Garza et al (2022) revelaron que las limitaciones ecológicas mencionadas con mayor frecuencia para hacer restauración en la selva estacionalmente seca de México, estaban relacionadas al conocimiento para establecer especies nativas en sitios perturbados.…”