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

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, Nikolay Aguirre, Luz M. Castro, David Windhorst, Michael Weber, Bernd Stimm, Sven Günter, Ximena Palomeque, Julio MoraReinhard Mosandl, Erwin Beck

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

96 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish
Article number5612
JournalNature Communications
Volume5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014

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