The road to recovery: a synthesis of outcomes from ecosystem restoration in tropical and sub-tropical Asian forests.

Current policy is driving renewed impetus to restore forests to return ecological function, protect species, sequester carbon and secure livelihoods. Here we assess the contribution of tree planting to ecosystem restoration in tropical and sub-tropical Asia; we synthesize evidence on mortality and growth of planted trees at 176 sites and assess structural and biodiversity recovery of co-located actively restored and naturally regenerating forest plots. Mean mortality of planted trees was 18% 1 year after planting, increasing to 44% after 5 years.

The community capacity curve applied to reforestation: a framework to support success.

Community involvement is critical for the success of many interventions designed to promote reforestation. To secure this involvement, it helps to recognize that communities are heterogenous both within and among themselves and possess diverse mixes of livelihood assets required to implement reforestation. We explore the relationship between livelihood assets and reforestation success and outline a conceptual model that we call the community capacity curve (CCC) applied to reforestation.

Using machine learning algorithms to predict groundwater levels in Indonesian tropical peatlands.

Tropical peatlands play a vital role in the global carbon cycle as large carbon reservoirs and substantial carbon sinks. Indonesia possesses the largest share (65 %) of tropical peat carbon, equal to 57.4 Gt C.

Application of agroforestry business models to tropical peatland restoration.

Indonesia is home to around 45% of the world's tropical peatlands which continue to be degraded on a large scale by deforestation, drainage and fire, contributing massively to global GHG emissions. Approaches to restoring the peat-water balance and reducing emissions in peat hydrological units, through managing them based either on full protection or large-scale commercial production, have generally failed to address environmental and local community needs. We present published and unpublished findings pointing to the need for an integrated peatland protection and restoration strategy based first on raising water levels in degraded (drained) peatlands and maintaining them in forested peatlands, thus, reducing GHG emissions.

Field methods for above and belowground biomass estimation in plantation forests.

A practical and cost-effective destructive sampling method for estimating above and belowground biomass of subspecies grown in plantations is described. The methodology includes details on selecting sample trees, weighing tree components in the field, excavating root systems and obtaining fresh weights and laboratory analyses of components to determine oven dry weights. The development of these sampling procedures is a basic step towards successful, consistent collection of biomass data in 18-20 years old plantation forests.