Logged Forests Support Biodiversity After 15 Years of Rehabilitation, but Not If Turned Into Plantations

Active tree planting in logged tropical forests not only provides carbon-sequestering benefits, but also benefits to biodiversity, reports Mongabay.com:

(A)a new study in Conservation Biology shows that within 15 years logged forests—considered by many to be 'degraded'—can be managed in order to successfully fight both climate change and extinction.

Studying regenerating forests in northeast Borneo, Dr. David Edwards from the University of Leeds, surveyed bird species in three different forests: a protected forest that had never been logged; a forest that had been logged and then actively rehabilitated over the last 15 years; and finally a forest undergoing natural regeneration after logging.

Through bird surveys, Edwards found that when a regenerating forest is supported by managed rehabilitation efforts, such as active tree-planting, it only requires 15 years for biodiversity to return to levels near those of unlogged areas. Naturally regenerating forest showed less diversity in the same time frame.

But in Southeast Asia many logged forests are quickly turned into plantations, such as palm oil and eucalyptus, which support little biodiversity when compared to forests.

Edwards says, "this [study] could act as a strong incentive to protect logged forests under threat of deforestation for oil palm and other such crops. Selectively logged rainforests are often vulnerable because they're seen as degraded, but we've shown they can support similar levels of biodiversity to unlogged forests."

Edwards further argues that his study proves carbon trading projects within rainforests, like REDD, should be linked directly to preserving biodiversity.

"Our research shows that it is possible to have both carbon sequestration and biodiversity benefits within the same scheme," Edwards says. "There are now suggestions that carbon crediting and 'biodiversity banking' should be combined, enabling extra credits for projects that offer a biodiversity benefit. We believe this should be introduced as soon as possible, to ensure maximum support for rehabilitation schemes in the tropical rainforest." 

These are intriguing findings that provide the kind of data we need to evaluate the effects of conservation and restoration actions on ecosystem services beyond carbon sequestration -- which is the one "service" that payments for ecosystem services schemes such as REDD currently compensate landowners and countries for.

I'd be curious to know more about the impacts of these same restoration activities on the forest's water provision and filtration services...

Read more>> 

Read about WWF's efforts to promote responsible forest-based climate protection finance>>
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Saving Tropical Forests Seen As Cost Effective Option For U.S.

How much is it going to cost to save the world's tropical rainforests -- the lungs of the planet and hot spots of the earth's breathtaking biological diversity?

According to this article in the L.A. Times:

Saving the rain forest is no longer just about helping such countries as Brazil and Indonesia preserve their exotic fauna and flora. Now it is about benefiting American corporations too.

A report released today by a blue-ribbon panel estimates that if American companies invest about $9 billion by 2020 in preserving tropical forests in developing countries, they can save about $50 billion that they would have had to spend on cleaning up their own carbon dioxide emissions.

"It is one of the few major sources of emissions that can be addressed cost-effectively now," concludes the Commission on Climate and Tropical Forests, co-chaired by former Sen. Lincoln Chafee (D-R.I.) and John Podesta, head of the Center for American Progress, an energy think tank.

Of course, some of this money has to be invested in enforcement and monitoring -- making sure that the rainforests we invest in protecting are not cut down or burned for local or large-scale agriculture, ranching and timber.

We will keep you posted on the latest as the world works to integrate preservation of forest ecosystem services into the next climate change solutions treaty.
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Saving Tarzan's Home

Good piece by Andy Revkin about saving Africa's Congo rainforests of Tarzan mythology...

I grew up watching Tarzan cartoons and reading probably the first 11 or 12 books in the Tarzan series.  Edgar Rice Burroughs' tales of jungle magic left me mesmerized, and are probably a big reason that I grew up to become so passionate about conservation of the earth's biological diversity.

We have to save these forests, and build the mechanisms required to effectively make sure that African peoples can support their families on the back of conservation.

The legendary rainforests of the Congo are not only the lungs of the planet, but a key part of the Earth's very soul.