FLR is different to past reforestation approaches

• Holistic approach that addresses the need to balance multiple objectives, including improving rural livelihoods, conserving biodiversity, increasing agricultural production, promoting carbon storage, and increasing provision of multiple ecosystem services

• Livelihoods and community engagement are fundamental to success – people first

• Need to develop best practices and guidelines to enable diverse and improved modes of reforestation to be applied at a landscape scale (social and natural sciences as well as practical issues)

•  best practices and guidelines critical for encouraging secure investments in restoration.

• Many lessons to be learnt from the Asia-Pacific

Block 1

Block 2

Protection zone 1A

(3.5ha)

Production zone 1A

(4.9ha)

Protection zone 1B

(1.6ha)

Protection zone 2A

(1.6ha)

Production zone 2A

(6.3ha)Protection zone 2B

(3.3ha)Agroforestry zone

(5.3ha)

Layout of pilot ‘best practice’ reforestation plantings in Biliran, Philippines. Food security and livelihood opportunities are integral components of the design

Some lessons

Keys to promoting the success of community-based reforestation program

1. Appropriate project design2. Adequate social preparation3. Strong and honest PO leadership4. Transparency in handling funds5. Sustainable livelihood and food security

measures6. Adequate institutional arrangements and

supportive policy environment7. Security of land tenure8. Support from extension workers9. Major role of women in community forestry

program

PO member harvesting cassava planted along the fireline

Monitoring and evaluation critical

Le et al. 2012 Journal of Rural Studies

Understanding and managing secondary tropical forests

• Context: About 65% of tropical forest has been disturbed in some way, and many millions of people dependant on them for food security and other goods and services

• Information needed about the characteristics of secondary forests and recovery pathways and how these are best managed

• Long term plots, many established as part of sustainable logging research, are huge resource

Kuranda satinash (Syzygium Kuranda) in a regenerating logged rainforest in NQ.

EXP-78, Plot-1

EXP-78, Plot-2

Experiment 78 – established 1948. Treated vs untreated plots.

1960 1980 2000 20200

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Blepharocarya involucrigera Syzygium canicortexCardwellia sublimis Syzygium wesaXanthophyllum octandrum Flindersia bourjotianaAcacia aulacocarpa Flindersia bourjotianaPlacospermum coriaceum Ceratopetalum succirubrumSyzygium endophloium Cryptocarya grandisCeratopetalum succirubrum Syzygium luehmanniiPolyscias australiana AustromyrtusSyzygium endophloium Alphitonia whiteiGarcinia sp. aff. G. hunsteinii Brackenridgea australianaAlstonia muelleriana Flindersia laevicarpaSyzygium kuranda Darlingia darlingianaAustromyrtus Syzygium kurandaAntirhea tenuiflora Franciscodendron laurifolium

1967 1969 1972 1981 1989 19970

20

40

60

80

Changes of species numbers from 1967 to 1997

P1 P2 P3 P4P5 P6 P7 P8

1967 1969 1972 1981 1989 19970

20

40

60

80

Changes of species numbers from 1967 to 1997

P1 P2 P3 P4P5 P6 P7 P8

The keys to successful community-based reforestation

Much more than planting trees

Kawayanon Farmers Association involved in implementing best practice in community forestry as part of USC led project in the Philippines

CFGsuccess

Social stratification

Capacity building

Socio-economic andgender inequality

Project timeframe

+

Benefits+

Land and forestproductivity

+

+

CohesionConflict Motivation

Material assistanceGovernment

support

Patronage Corruption

Intra-CFGgovernance

Propertyrights

Extra-legal tenuremechanisms

Tree tenure

Land tenure+

--

-- +

+

-- --

Extra-CFGgovernance

++

--

+

+

+

+

+Legislative support

Practicalassistance

+

+

--

+

++

Bonding socialcapital

Bridging socialcapital

Participation

+

--

+

+

Harvest rights +

+

+

+

Bonding socialcapital

Bonding socialcapital

Bonding socialcapital

Community dynamics, policy, social capital and livelihood issues

Baynes, J., Herbohn, J., Smith, C., Fisher, R., and Bray, D. (2015). Key Drivers Affecting the Success of Community Forestry in Developing Countries, Global Environmental Change

Technology+

Fig. 1. Conceptual model used for assessing reforestation success on Leyte Island, the Philippines (Source: Le, Smith, Herbohn, Harrison 2012 Journal of Rural Studies)

Drivers of success

• Short term survival of trees– Weed control done (++)– Grazing control (++)– Good road access (+)

• Achievement of planting target– Funding source (101, 158, 102, Private) (+

++)– Soil depth (++)– Agroforestry/livelihood component (+++)– Sealed road to project (+++)– Short term survival of trees (++)

• % area remaining (long term survival)– Project site distance from town (---)– Economic component - profit sharing (++)– Degree to which target area achieved (+)

Source: Le, H.D., Smith, C and Herbohn, J.L. (2013). What drives the success of reforestation projects in tropical developing countries? The case of the Philippines. Global Environmental Change

Well managed mahogany tree farm

Drivers of success

• Biodiversity– Revegetation method (mixed > mono) (+++)– Rock type (basalt/meta > limestone (+++)– Seedling source (government nursery > private (++)– Tree size diversity (+++)

• Improved food security– Aspect – SE/SW (+++)– Agroforestry component (++)– Change in market access (++)

• Change in market access– Municipality classification (1st class – 5th class) (---)– Timber harvested from project site (++)

• Improved cash income after project– Province (Leyte > So Leyte) (++)– Dependence of local people on forests for subsistence (++) – Number of jobs provided by reforestation project (++)– Increase in market access (++)– Education, information or awareness building campaign done (++)Source: Le, H.D., Smith, C and Herbohn, J.L. (2013). What

drives the success of reforestation projects in tropical developing countries? The case of the Philippines. Global Environmental Change