To counteract the global trend of declining tree cover, reforestation programmes have been established to restore forests, reverse deforestation and increase carbon storage. Such programmes sometimes convert existing trees and vegetation into plantation forests, destroying natural ecosystems and their biodiversity, which are often used by local communities.
Converting existing vegetation into plantation forest
To counteract the global trend of declining tree cover, reforestation programmes have been established to restore forests, reverse deforestation and increase carbon storage. Such programmes sometimes convert existing trees and vegetation into plantation forests, destroying natural ecosystems and their biodiversity, which are often used by local communities.
Nº 7
- Forestry
- AFOLU Emission Reduction
- Afforestation/Reforestation
some attempts made
past case
Region-1
Region-2
Region-3
Region-4
ongoing case
no attempts made
None
Converting existing vegetation into plantation forest
1. Reforestation projects in northern Vietnam have sometimes targeted ‘bare hills’ that were actually home to diverse species used by local communities. These ecosystems were important to the livelihoods of the people in these communities. In addition, as the reforestation project mainly involved the establishment of monoculture plantations, a diverse set of resources other than timber were lost.
2) On the island of Hainan in the South China Sea, land retirement and reforestation programmes have had a negative impact on natural forests, scrubland and grasslands. These natural ecosystems have to some extent been replaced by non-native monoculture plantations. While the latter tend to be forests of lower ‘quality’ in terms of their ability to form a diverse and resilient ecosystem, this distinction between forest types has not been made in the policies implemented.
- Frustrated the efforts to address the initial problem
- Cascading (far-reaching effects following each other)
1. McElwee, P. (2009). Reforesting “Bare Hills” in Vietnam: Social and Environmental Consequences of the 5 Million Hectare Reforestation Program. AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment, 38(6), 325-333. https://doi.org/10.1579/08-R-520.1
2) Zhai, DL., Xu, JC., Dai, ZC. et al. (2014). Increasing tree cover while losing diverse natural forests in tropical Hainan, China. Reg Environ Change 14, 611–621. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-013-0512-9
McElwee, P. (2009). Reforesting “bare hills” in Vietnam: Social and environmental consequences of the 5 million hectare reforestation program. Ambio: A Journal of the Human Environment, 38(6), 325-333. https://doi.org/10.1579/08-R-520.1
Zhai, D. L., Xu, J. C., Dai, Z. C., Cannon, C. H., & Grumbine, R. E. (2014). Increasing tree cover while losing diverse natural forests in tropical Hainan, China. Regional Environmental Change, 14, 611-621. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-013-0512-9
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