Farmer managed natural regeneration (FMNR) is promoted as a cost-effective technique to restore degraded arable drylands. Evidence comes mainly from the West-African Sahel, where it is a traditional practice, and it is now being promoted across the African continent. In this study, we evaluated the role of the farmer affecting natural regeneration under farmer managed natural regeneration in the highly degraded Dodoma region in Tanzania. We systematically assessed the linkages between species selection, perceived benefits and management practices as reported by 57 farmers in 13 villages involved in FMNR. On average, farmers list 2.8 species to be promoted on their farms as part of the practice of FMNR. In total, a list of 69 species was promoted by the practice, of which most (51) were only mentioned by one or two farmers, indicating that FMNR may contribute substantially to on-farm regional diversity. Most species selected were associated with a range of benefits and the diversity of benefits, not any single benefit, explained species selection under FMNR. Management of FMNR species goes beyond pruning, a practice promoted within FMNR, and is characterized by 10 different practices that are differentially applied to the selected species and individuals. We conclude that species selection and management under FMNR is driven by farmers autonomous decisions, making FMNR both diverse and complex and complicates predicting the extent to which FMNR may successfully contribute to achieving specific restoration outcomes. Monitoring farms over extended periods may increase outcome prediction capacity. © Copyright © 2020 Moore, van Dijk, Asenga, Bongers, Sambalino, Veenendaal and Lohbeck.
Tag: degraded land
Agroforestry Options for Degraded Landscapes in Southeast Asia
In Southeast Asia, 8.5% of the global human population lives on 3.0% of the land area. With 7.9% of the global agricultural land base, the region has 14.7% and 28.9% of such land with at least 10% and 30% tree cover, respectively, and is the worlds’ primary home of ‘agroforests’. Landscapes in the region include the full range of ‘forest transition stages’, as identified in global analysis. A long tradition of top-down national reforestation and tree planting programs has not had success proportional to the efforts and resources allocated. By contrast, farmers in the region have a long tradition of retaining (and managing natural regeneration of) useful trees among planted trees (e.g. tree crops or timber) and annual crops to prevent degradation and avoiding the labour costs of weed control. Meanwhile, state-controlled forests have lost a lot of their diverse tree cover, both legally and illegally. The restoration agenda includes four levels of intensity and stakeholder involvement: (RI) ecological intensification within a land use system; (RII) recovery/regeneration, within a local socioecological system; (RIII) reparation/recuperation, within rules and rewards set by the national policy context; and (RIV) remediation, requiring international support and investment. Major opportunities for restoring the multifunctionality of landscapes in the region are formed by resolution of existing conflicts over multiple claims to ‘forest’ land stewardship. The chapter summarizes lessons learnt in 26 landscapes, grouped in seven ‘degradation syndromes’: Degraded hillslopes, fire-climax grasslands, over-intensified monocropping, forest classification conflicts, drained peatlands, converted mangroves and disturbed soil profiles. It also addresses two overarching concerns: disturbed hydrology and supply sheds at risk. In each landscape, a driver-pressure-state-impact-response analysis of the socioecological system supported a diagnosis beyond the primary degradation symptoms. Appropriate actions reflect six requirements for effective restoration: (1) community involvement, aligned with values and concerns, (2) rights, (3) knowledge and knowhow of sustainable land use practices, (4) markets for inputs (incl. Soil amendments, tree germplasm, labour) and outputs (access, bargaining position), (5) local environmental impacts (often primarily through the water cycle and agrobiodiversity) and (6) global connectivity, including interactions with climate and global biodiversity agendas. All six can be a ‘starting point’ for restoration interventions, but progress is typically limited by several (or all) of the others. In our analysis, all 17 Sustainable Development Goals can contribute to and benefit from a coherent rights-based approach to restoration through agroforestry with specific technologies and choice of species dependent on local context and market access.
Can cocoa agroforestry restore degraded soil structure following conversion from forest to agricultural use?
Alternating degradation and restoration phases of soil quality, as is common in crop-fallow systems, can be avoided if the restorative elements of trees and forests can be integrated into productive agroforestry systems. However, evidence for the hypothesis of ‘internal restoration’ in agroforestry is patchy and the effectiveness may depend on local context. We investigated to what extent cocoa (Theobroma cacao, L.) agroforestry can recover soil structure and infiltration in comparison to monoculture systems across the Konaweha Watershed, Southeast Sulawesi. We compared soil organic carbon, fine root length and weight, soil aggregate stability, macroporosity and infiltration from three soil layers at five land use systems: i.e. degraded forests, 9–14 years old of complex-cocoa agroforestry, simple-cocoa agroforestry, monoculture cocoa and 1–4 years old annual food crops, all with three replications. In general, roots were concentrated in the upper 40 cm of soil depth, contained of 70% and 86% of total fine root length and weight. Compared to simple agroforestry and cocoa monoculture, complex agroforestry had greater root length and weight in the topsoil, even though it attained only half the values found in degraded forests. Higher root density was positively correlated to soil organic carbon. In upper soil layers, complex agroforestry had slightly higher soil aggregate stability compared to other agricultural systems. However, no significant difference was found in deeper layers. Complex agroforestry had higher soil macroporosity than other agricultural systems, but not sufficient to mimic forests. Degraded forests had two times faster steady-state soil infiltration than agricultural systems tested (13.2 cm h−1 and 6 cm h−1, respectively), relevant during peak rainfall events. Compared to other agricultural systems, complex agroforestry improves soil structure of degraded soil resulting from forest conversion. However, a considerable gap remains with forest soil conditions.
Participatory Assessment of Ecosystem Services from Community-Managed Planted Forests in Bhutan
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.
Selection of Different Trees/Shrubs Species for Rehabilitation of Degraded Lands in Wag-Lasta Area, Northeastern Ethiopia
Due to human and livestock population pressure, land degradation is the main problem in many part of Ethiopia. To avert the situation, tree and shrub species selection on degraded lands are valuable tool for ecological restoration. Therefore, the aim of this study was to select the best performing tree and shrub species in three agro-ecological zones of Waglasta area, Ethiopia. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with three replications in highland, mid altitude, and lowland sites. For total experimental setup 21 (seven for lowland, eight for mid altitude and six for highland) tree and shrub species were used. Growth and survival rate data were collected every 3 months interval for one year and every 6 months up to the end of the experiment. The result indicated that L. pallid (2.52 ± 0.19 m) at lowland site, Acacia senegal (1.32±0.23 m) at mid altitude and Acacia decurrens (4.0 ± 0.46 m) at highland site had shown better performance in height. Similarly, Moringa stenopetala at lowland, Jatropha carcus at mid altitude and Acacia saligna at highland site had shown 8.63 ± 2.37 cm, 3.1 ± 0.2 cm and 7.06 ± 0.75 cm performance in root collar diameter, respectively. However, the survival rate was higher for A. senegal (43 ± 7%) and M. stenoptella (44 ± 17%) at lowland site, A. senegal (98 ± 2%) at mid altitude and A. saligna (63.9 ± 20.0%) at highland site. Therefore, to restore degraded lands and to support the on-going land rehabilitation programs of Wag-lasta area, we recommend A. senegal and M. stenoptella for lowland site, A. senegal for mid altitude areas and A. saligna for highland site of Lalibela, Abergele and Sekota and similar agro-climatic zones. However, additional studies regarding soil nutrient dynamics, fostering effect and tree nursing should be integrated to develop sound ecological restoration strategies in the growth corridor as well as in the region.
Nature-Based Solution for Balancing the Food, Energy, and Environment Trilemma: Lessons from Indonesia
Demand for food and energy is constantly increasing in line with the global population and there are widespread concerns about environmental conservation. This chapter provides an overview of the identified potential to restore and utilize degraded land through an integrated biofuel- and food-production system that can also conserve the environment. Our findings highlight that the biofuel species Nyamplung (Calophyllum inophyllum L.) and Kemiri sunan [Reutealis trisperma (Blanco) Airy Shaw] in Indonesia are suitable to grow with local food crops on degraded land. Such integrated systems on degraded land are economically and socially favorable for local farmers. Producing biofuel and food on degraded land can also avoid compromising agricultural land use and production, while minimizing the harmful environmental consequences. However, for long-term sustainability of the system, and due to biodiversity and environmental concerns, there is a need to implement a mixed landscape approach using a “segregation” and “aggregation” land-management strategy, supported by competent government policies and local communities with sufficient social capital.
Understanding Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) and making the decision to apply it. Guide for the leading producer and trainer
FMNR is the deliberate selection, protection and management of trees and shrubs from felled tree stumps and sprouting root systems in crop fields. Direct seeding or planting can also be used to enhance biodiversity.
Explore before you restore: Incorporating complex systems thinking in ecosystem restoration
The global movement for ecosystem restoration has gained momentum in response to the Bonn Challenge (2010) and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (UNDER, 2021–2030). While several science-based guidelines exist to aid in achieving successful restoration outcomes, significant variation remains in the outcomes of restoration projects. Some of this disparity can be attributed to unexpected responses of ecosystem components to planned interventions. Given the complex nature of ecosystems, we propose that concepts from Complex Systems Science (CSS) that are linked to non-linearity, such as regime shifts, ecological resilience and ecological feedbacks, should be employed to help explain this variation in restoration outcomes from an ecological perspective. Our framework, Explore Before You Restore, illustrates how these concepts impact restoration outcomes by influencing degradation and recovery trajectories. Additionally, we propose incorporating CSS concepts into the typical restoration project cycle through a CSS assessment phase and suggest that the need for such assessment is explicitly included in the guidelines to improve restoration outcomes. To facilitate this inclusion and make it workable by practitioners, we describe indicators and methods available for restoration teams to answer key questions that should make up such CSS assessment. In doing so, we identify key outstanding science and policy tasks that are needed to further operationalize CSS assessment in restoration. Synthesis and applications. By illustrating how key Complex Systems Science (CSS) concepts linked to non-linear threshold behaviour can impact restoration outcomes through influencing recovery trajectories, our framework Explore Before You Restore demonstrates the need to incorporate Complex Systems thinking in ecosystem restoration. We argue that inclusion of CSS assessment into restoration project cycles, and more broadly, into international restoration guidelines, may significantly improve restoration outcomes.
Suitability of bioenergy tree species on degraded peatlands in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia
Vast areas of degraded peatlands in Kalimantan need a sustainable longterm restoration mechanism, ideally one that can address energy security without compromising food production or biodiversity conversation. This research assesses the survivability and growth performance of potential bioenergy crops: gamal (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp.), kaliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus Meissner), kemiri sunan (Reutealis trisperma (Blanco) Airy Shaw) and nyamplung (Calophyllum inophyllum L.), that could be cultivated to produce bioenergy and restore degraded peatlands. Parameters observed were tree height and stem diameter growth as well as plant survival rates. Trials was conducted on a two-hectare demonstration plot on burned degraded peatland in Buntoi village, Pulang Pisau district, Central Kalimantan province. Using a split plot design, two treatments were applied to each species, i.e., agroforestry (intercropped with Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) and monoculture plantation. For each species, these treatments were replicated in two separate subplots. Results indicate nyamplung being the most adaptable species, followed by kemiri sunan, and both species performing better under agroforestry than monoculture treatments. Further study is needed to assess productivity and associated biofuel yields.
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Potential benefits of integrated bioenergy and food production systems on degraded land in Wonogiri, Indonesia
Cultivating suitable biofuel crops on degraded land by involving local communities can be a promising solution for energy and food security while restoring land. This chapter provides information on the socioeconomic and environmental benefits of Calophyllum inophyllum L., known locally as nyamplung, based on agroforestry systems practiced by local farmers in Wonogiri district, Central Java province, Indonesia. Relevant information was gathered through field observations and a focus group discussion with 20 farmers practicing “nyamplung-based agroforestry systems” with rice, maize, peanuts and honey. The net present values (NPVs) of rice and peanuts indicated negative profitability when they were grown as monocultures, whereas maize generated only marginal profits. Amazingly, honey production utilizing nyamplung produced an NPV nearly 300 times higher than maize. However, combined with nyamplung, honey was also the commodity most sensitive to decreases in production, followed by nyamplung–peanut and nyamplung–rice combinations. While decreases in production had little effect on the NPVs of rice, peanuts and maize, these annual crops can only be cultivated for a maximum of six years within nyamplung’s 35-year production cycle, due to canopy closure after this time. In conclusion, Nyamplung-based agroforestry systems can provide economic, social and environmental benefits on different scales. Additionally, considering the high profit potential of combining nyamplung with honey production, it is necessary to improve and develop bee husbandry practices to make doing so a viable option for local farmers.
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