Abstract:
The science guiding design and evaluation of restoration interventions in tropical
landscapes is dominated by ecological processes and outcomes and lacks
indicators and methods that integrate human wellbeing into the restoration
process. We apply a new systems approach framework for tree restoration in
forest-agricultural landscapes to showhowthis shortcoming can be addressed.
Demonstrating ‘proof of concept’, we tested statistical models underlying the
framework pathways with data collected from a case study in Tanzania.
Local community perceptions of nature’s values were not affected by levels
of self-reported wildlife-induced crop damage. But mapped predictions from
the systems approach under a tree restoration scenario suggested differential
outcomes for biodiversity indicators and altered spatial patterns of crop
damage risk, expected to jeopardize human wellbeing. The predictions map
anticipated trade-offs in costs and benefits of restoration scenarios, which we
have started to explore with stakeholders to identify restoration opportunities
that consider local knowledge, value systems and human wellbeing. We
suggest that the framework be applied to other landscapes to identify commonalities
and differences in forest landscape restoration outcomes under varying
governance and land use systems. This should form a foundation for
evidence-based implementation of the global drive for forest landscape
restoration, at local scales.
This article is part of the theme issue ‘Understanding forest landscape
restoration: reinforcing scientific foundations for the UN Decade on
Ecosystem Restoration’.
