Sustainable forest land management to restore degraded lands

Abstract

Deforestation and degradation of the global forests have led to the degradation of the environment, the economy, and the esthetics of the forestlands. Deforestation and degradation have been compensated to some degree by the natural regeneration of the forests and the setting up of plantations, but much-regenerated forest is composed of a small number of species designed to produce one or two types of products rather than to produce a wider variety of forest products and services that contribute to the prosperity of the local community. Conventional models of plantation forestry rarely provide the multiple values of forests and do not adequately address the needs of the forest-dependent communities and the water users downstream. In reality, such systems can lead to a decrease in the variety, quality, and volume of forest products and services, as well as social and economic displacement and an increase in vulnerability to climate and other natural shocks. There is a pressing need to both enhance the quality of the restoration and rehabilitation of the forest at site level, as well as to identify effective ways to carry out these activities within the context of wider environmental, social, or economic interests. While forest land use has traditionally been seen as a local environmental challenge, it is now becoming a global challenge. Changes to forests, farms, waterways, and air are driving global changes to the food supply, fiber supply, water supply, shelter supply, and air supply for more than 6 billion people. In recent decades, global cropland, pasture, plantation, and city areas have grown in size and increased energy, water, and fertilizer use, with significant biodiversity loss. These land-use changes have allowed humans to appropriate more and more of the planet’s resources. But they also threaten the ability of ecosystems to support food production, freshwater and forest supply, climate and air regulation, and disease control. We are confronted with the challenge of balancing immediate human needs with maintaining the biosphere’s capacity to deliver goods and services over the long term. As our population continues to grow and our demand for land and resources increases, so too does the pressure on forest ecosystems. Many forests that remain are decimated by logging, cutting firewood, pollution, and pests. Even trees that are left are disappearing to make room for houses, roads, dams, and intensive agriculture. Climate change-driven wildfires can also wreak havoc on forest ecosystems. Forest restoration is the process of returning trees to previously forested land and improving the state of degraded forests. It involves planting native tree species to restore the tree cover in existing forests. It also includes the conservation of wild plants and animals, as well as preserving the soils and water resources that are part of a forest ecosystem. Land that has been cleared for farming but is now being used for other purposes is a great place to restore forests. In some instances, forest trees will naturally re-grow. Restoration can also include the nurturing of forest and woodland patches in landscapes that include busy farms and settlements.