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Afforestation or intense pasturing improve the ecological and economic value of abandoned tropical farmlands

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas Knoke

    (TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München)

  • Jörg Bendix

    (Laboratory for Climatology and Remote Sensing (LCRS), Faculty of Geography, University of Marburg)

  • Perdita Pohle

    (Institute of Geography, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg)

  • Ute Hamer

    (Institute of Soil Science and Site Ecology, Dresden University of Technology
    Present address: Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Muenster, 48149 Münster, Germany)

  • Patrick Hildebrandt

    (TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München)

  • Kristin Roos

    (University of Bayreuth)

  • Andrés Gerique

    (Institute of Geography, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg)

  • María L. Sandoval

    (Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, FLACSO)

  • Lutz Breuer

    (Institute for Landscape Ecology and Resources Management, Justus Liebig University Giessen)

  • Alexander Tischer

    (Institute of Soil Science and Site Ecology, Dresden University of Technology)

  • Brenner Silva

    (Laboratory for Climatology and Remote Sensing (LCRS), Faculty of Geography, University of Marburg)

  • Baltazar Calvas

    (TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München)

  • Nikolay Aguirre

    (Biodiversity, Forestry and Ecosystem Services Research Program, National University of Loja)

  • Luz M. Castro

    (Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja)

  • David Windhorst

    (Institute for Landscape Ecology and Resources Management, Justus Liebig University Giessen)

  • Michael Weber

    (TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München)

  • Bernd Stimm

    (TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München)

  • Sven Günter

    (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE)
    Present address: Thünen-Institut, 21031 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Ximena Palomeque

    (TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München)

  • Julio Mora

    (TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München)

  • Reinhard Mosandl

    (TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München)

  • Erwin Beck

    (University of Bayreuth)

Abstract

Increasing demands for livelihood resources in tropical rural areas have led to progressive clearing of biodiverse natural forests. Restoration of abandoned farmlands could counter this process. However, as aims and modes of restoration differ in their ecological and socio-economic value, the assessment of achievable ecosystem functions and benefits requires holistic investigation. Here we combine the results from multidisciplinary research for a unique assessment based on a normalization of 23 ecological, economic and social indicators for four restoration options in the tropical Andes of Ecuador. A comparison of the outcomes among afforestation with native alder or exotic pine, pasture restoration with either low-input or intense management and the abandoned status quo shows that both variants of afforestation and intense pasture use improve the ecological value, but low-input pasture does not. Economic indicators favour either afforestation or intense pasturing. Both Mestizo and indigenous Saraguro settlers are more inclined to opt for afforestation.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Knoke & Jörg Bendix & Perdita Pohle & Ute Hamer & Patrick Hildebrandt & Kristin Roos & Andrés Gerique & María L. Sandoval & Lutz Breuer & Alexander Tischer & Brenner Silva & Baltazar Calvas & N, 2014. "Afforestation or intense pasturing improve the ecological and economic value of abandoned tropical farmlands," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms6612
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6612
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    Cited by:

    1. Tarin Toledo-Aceves & Manuel R. Guariguata & Sven Günter & Luciana Porter-Bolland & Leticia Merino, 2021. "Overcoming Key Barriers for Secondary Cloud Forest Management in Mexico," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-14, October.
    2. Knoke, Thomas & Gosling, Elizabeth & Paul, Carola, 2020. "Use and misuse of the net present value in environmental studies," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    3. Esther Reith & Elizabeth Gosling & Thomas Knoke & Carola Paul, 2020. "How Much Agroforestry Is Needed to Achieve Multifunctional Landscapes at the Forest Frontier?—Coupling Expert Opinion with Robust Goal Programming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-27, July.
    4. Paula Meli & Karen D Holl & José María Rey Benayas & Holly P Jones & Peter C Jones & Daniel Montoya & David Moreno Mateos, 2017. "A global review of past land use, climate, and active vs. passive restoration effects on forest recovery," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(2), pages 1-17, February.
    5. Rössert, Sebastian & Gosling, Elizabeth & Gandorfer, Markus & Knoke, Thomas, 2022. "Woodchips or potato chips? How enhancing soil carbon and reducing chemical inputs influence the allocation of cropland," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    6. Cao, Jianjun & Tian, Hong & Adamowski, Jan F. & Zhang, Xiaofang & Cao, Zijian, 2018. "Influences of afforestation policies on soil moisture content in China’s arid and semi-arid regions," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 449-458.
    7. Luz Maria Castro & Baltazar Calvas & Thomas Knoke, 2015. "Ecuadorian Banana Farms Should Consider Organic Banana with Low Price Risks in Their Land-Use Portfolios," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(3), pages 1-23, March.
    8. Fenta, Ayele Almaw & Tsunekawa, Atsushi & Haregeweyn, Nigussie & Tsubo, Mitsuru & Yasuda, Hiroshi & Shimizu, Katsuyuki & Kawai, Takayuki & Ebabu, Kindiye & Berihun, Mulatu Liyew & Sultan, Dagnenet & B, 2020. "Cropland expansion outweighs the monetary effect of declining natural vegetation on ecosystem services in sub-Saharan Africa," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    9. Sila Carneiro Da Silva & André Fischer Sbrissia & Lilian Elgalise Techio Pereira, 2015. "Ecophysiology of C 4 Forage Grasses—Understanding Plant Growth for Optimising Their Use and Management," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-28, July.
    10. Qiming Zheng & Tim Ha & Alexander V. Prishchepov & Yiwen Zeng & He Yin & Lian Pin Koh, 2023. "The neglected role of abandoned cropland in supporting both food security and climate change mitigation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    11. Lippe, Melvin & Rummel, Lisa & Günter, Sven, 2022. "Simulating land use and land cover change under contrasting levels of policy enforcement and its spatially-explicit impact on tropical forest landscapes in Ecuador," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    12. Thomas Knoke & Nick Hanley & Rosa Maria Roman-Cuesta & Ben Groom & Frank Venmans & Carola Paul, 2023. "Trends in tropical forest loss and the social value of emission reductions," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(11), pages 1373-1384, November.
    13. Ota, Liz & Herbohn, John & Gregorio, Nestor & Harrison, Steve, 2020. "Reforestation and smallholder livelihoods in the humid tropics," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).

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