NI: FOR-RESTOR - A network for evidence-based tropical FORest RESTORation

Lead Research Organisation: UK CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY & HYDROLOGY
Department Name: Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects

Abstract

Regenerating degraded tropical forests is a key approach for mitigating future climate change and restoring essential ecosystem services, including water cycling and biodiversity conservation. The Bonn Challenge sets two key targets: to restore 150 million hectares of degraded lands by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030, with the aim of re-instating ecological integrity alongside human well-being into degraded areas based on the forest and landscape restoration approach. Currently, the policy environment is conducive to restoration as countries have made significant commitments to restoring their forests in order to help meet their obligations under the Paris climate change agreement and the Bonn Challenge directly.

There is significant opportunity for restoring natural forests in tropical Southeast Asia; whilst they have been extensively degraded by logging, fragmentation and industrial Oil Palm cultivation, mature natural forests in SEA have a capacity to store and cycle the largest quantities of above-ground carbon per unit area in the world (Banin et al. 2014; Sullivan et al. 2016), and therefore reinstating natural forests offers substantial ecosystem service benefits if long-term restoration can be achieved (Lewis et al. 2019). However, devising successful forest restoration strategies for tropical forests involves careful, evidence-based decision-making, at various spatial scales and working with multiple stake-holders. To ensure the long-term success of restoration efforts, our project initiates a new multidisciplinary network focussing on regeneration of Southeast Asian (SEA) logged and degraded forests.

Our research will be delivered through two work packages. In work package 1, project partners will provide standardised data unavailable in the literature to deliver a new published synthesis of site-level evidence providing insights into post-restoration ecological processes (carbon accumulation and community dynamics). This work will provide a basis for a sustained long-term restoration experiment network. In work package 2, we host an interdisciplinary workshop which will use the Heart of Borneo project area as a transboundary case study to (i) identify the barriers, constraints and opportunities for forest landscape restoration and (ii) develop an agenda of research and data needs for spatial prioritization for landscape-level restoration These activities will be delivered through interactive engagement between academic and practitioner stakeholders, including key policy-makers, at a workshop in Malaysia, which will contribute to our broader, long-term goal of linking ecological and social science research to policy and practice in restoration decision-making.

The proposed FOR-RESTOR project will be a new collaboration between the NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), Universities of Aberdeen, Exeter, Oxford and RSPB in the UK and international partners from Australia, Italy, Sweden, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia & Singapore. The team uniquely brings together expertise in carbon cycling, functional ecology, biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships, conservation genetics, genetic resources and seed systems, ecological restoration, forest landscape restoration and forest science-policy and science-practice interfaces.

Planned Impact

This project will initiate a network of linked research sites where long-term restoration projects have been established in logged or degraded Southeast Asian tropical forests. As well as catalysing new synthetic analyses of data-sets shared across these sites, the network will provide a platform for future research and the delivery of related impact activities. The immediate impact of the project will be new knowledge obtained from meta-analyses across sites, which will be published and then delivered to relevant stakeholders at a conference that brings together academics, forest managers and policy makers annually in the Heart of Borneo project area. Site-level descriptions and meta-data for these sites will be recorded in the Forestoration Global Forest Landscape Restoration Case Study Databank and Atlas, a pan-tropical resource for sharing methods and tools, filling a gap in the information currently available for the Southeast Asia region and stimulating engagement with a broader community of tropical forest restoration ecologists. A workshop will be convened to bring together academic researchers, land managers, conservation practitioners, local communities and government agencies with an interest in the potential for forest landscape restoration in the Heart of Borneo region. At this workshop we will conduct an assessment of the information and research needs required to implement forest landscape restoration within the HoB region, including a demonstration of spatial prioritization approaches. The lessons learned during the workshop will be summarised in a research needs document that will be disseminated through electronic media and on the Heart of Borneo website, as well as a peer-reviewed publication. A policy brief will be prepared to sit alongside the publication and interpret its contents for policy-makers.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Title FOR-RESTOR Logo 
Description Logo to represent the FOR-RESTOR network, our outreach and outputs. 
Type Of Art Artwork 
Year Produced 2020 
Impact We wanted to create a logo so that the network has a sense of permanence and point of cohesion. 
 
Description A major output of this project is a synthesis of restoration outcomes for low-latitude SE Asian forests. We compiled data from over 170 sites. We estimated mean seedling mortality at different ages since planting and found that survival of planted trees was highly variable amongst sites. Variability is not necessarily well predicted by environmental conditions, but survival tends to be lower and growth higher in open degraded sites (as opposed to degraded forest or plantation sites). Plantings are typically low in diversity, which may limit future resilience, and plantings are monitored for short time spans so we need improved information on long-term outcomes. Combined monitoring of planted trees and naturally regenerating or extant stems is especially rare in the literature but much needed, because together this will tell us much more about vegetation recovery. We find some evidence for enhanced structural recovery in sites with planting versus natural regeneration, but impacts of active restoration may vary with location and over time.
Exploitation Route Our findings provide a basis for understanding restoration outcomes in Asian forests and provide a pathway for improved monitoring and design of future restoration projects, as well as highlighting risks and uncertainties in restoration, demonstrating for the coupled need for protecting in tact and naturally recovering forests.
Sectors Agriculture

Food and Drink

Environment

URL https://www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/projects/about-for-restor
 
Description We found that there has been a strong media and public interest in our synthesis paper. People are really keen to understand what may cause restoration projects to fail or indeed succeed. In response to the paper's media coverage, we have been contacted by a number of practitioners and reporters considering issues on project impacts at different locations across South and Southeast Asia. We continue to grow our network of researchers and practitioners to enhance forest restoration best practice.
First Year Of Impact 2022
Sector Agriculture, Food and Drink,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Environment
Impact Types Societal

Economic

Policy & public services

 
Description Darwin Initiative Main Grant
Amount £515,000 (GBP)
Funding ID 29-020 
Organisation Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 05/2022 
End 03/2025
 
Description Options for Net Zero Plus and Climate Change Adaptation
Amount £9,440,200 (GBP)
Funding ID NE/X006247/1 
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2022 
End 03/2026
 
Title Plot-level forest structure, carbon density and tree species richness data from restoration sites in South and Southeast Asia 
Description This dataset consists of structure, biomass (carbon density) and biodiversity (plant species richness) from forest inventory plots at forest restoration sites in South and Southeast Asia and the code for the analyses of these data as conducted in Banin, Raine et al (2023). The recorded data consists of plot level censuses carried out up to May 2021 collated from published studies, grey literature and data provided by co-authors. This represents the collation of data from 11 sites in areas where disturbance had led to the clearance or degradation of natural forest. Plots where tree seedlings were planted (active restoration) and plots where no seedling planting took place (natural regeneration) were censused for structure, biomass and/or biodiversity. Some of the sites in the dataset also recorded data at old growth forest plots for reference, and/or provided repeat measures of forest metrics over time. The dataset also includes the code used for analysis of this plot level data, used to compare the outcome of different restoration approaches. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact This dataset is associated with publication Banin, Raine et al. (2023) Phil Trans Royal Soc B. The lead author of the paper has also received notes of interest from people wishing to incorporate the data in their analyses. 
URL https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/id/3d3b1d09-9e7a-4144-b8a1-b09a3c573466
 
Title Survival and heights of trees planted for forest restoration in South and Southeast Asia 
Description This dataset consists of survival and heights of trees planted for forest restoration in South and Southeast Asia and the associated analytical code. The data consists of tree censuses collated from published studies, grey literature and data provided by co-authors, up to/including May 2021. Data are collated from 176 sites in areas where disturbance or clearance of the natural forest had occurred and where trees were then planted and monitored over time. The analyses included here model height growth, extract annual size-standardised growth rates and test the effects of biophysical and climatic conditions and planting regimes on survival and growth. This dataset was created to represent the current state of knowledge on forest restoration outcomes in South and Southeast Asia. This is the full dataset for the survival and height analysis. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact This dataset is associated with publication Banin, Raine et al. (2023) Phil Trans Royal Soc B. The lead author of the paper has also received notes of interest from people wishing to incorporate the data in their analyses. 
URL https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/id/935781e1-9119-4673-bd09-3fc76ae627d5
 
Description Indonesia Peatland 
Organisation Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation
Country United States 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Our project and network is leading a synthesis of SE Asian restoration studies. We offered the partner the opportunity to be involved in this and the associated outputs.
Collaborator Contribution Our collaborator at Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation has agreed to contribute data to our synthetic analysis.
Impact Our data synthesis is ongoing and outputs will be forthcoming.
Start Year 2020
 
Description Royal Society Special Issue 
Organisation University of the Sunshine Coast
Country Australia 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Contributed to the development of a successful proposal to edit a Special Issue dedicated to forest restoration for the internationally renowned journal, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. This is closely aligned to the aims of the present funded project (FOR-RESTOR) - drawing together evidence for improved restoration practice.
Collaborator Contribution The collaborator is lead editor for the Special Issue and invited involvement.
Impact Successful proposal for special issue on the theme of forest restoration.
Start Year 2020
 
Description Conference presentation, Sabah Climate Change International Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I presented our research synthesis at the conference, attended by approximately 150 delegates from a range of stakeholder groups. It has enhanced links between UK science and practitioners/policymakers in Sabah and helped the outputs reach practitioner audiences, generating impact.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://epd.sabah.gov.my/index.php/explore/latest-news-and-events/epd-news/384-sabah-climate-change-...
 
Description Interview for article on forest restoration in Sabah, Malaysia for Mongabay 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Media interview for online outlet that focuses on conservation and environmental issues, with a strong focuses on tropical regions and developing nations.
The article raises awareness about approaches for restoration in Sabah, Malaysia and potential barriers to success, including land acquisition.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://news.mongabay.com/2023/07/nursing-oil-palm-plantations-back-to-nature-in-malaysian-borneo/
 
Description TV, radio and online/print media 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact We prepared a press release for Banin, Raine et al (2023) Phil Trans paper. As a result I was interviewed by BBC World Service on radio and TV. The news story was also reported in Independent newspaper and various other outlets. I collaborated with Science magazine on an editorial piece on the paper, and our broader Phil Trans special issue. I was interviewed either on email or on video conferencing for other media outlets (e.g. Mongabay, Al Jazeera, Popular Science, Globe SEA).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023
URL https://www.science.org/content/article/reforestation-means-just-planting-trees
 
Description Twitter account @for_restor 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Creating a project and network specific twitter account has allowed us to disseminate relevant information, engage with online discussions and identify new opportunities for future collaboration.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020,2021,2022
URL https://twitter.com/for_restor?lang=en
 
Description Virtual discussions with Sabah stakeholders 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact We coordinated two virtual stakeholder discussions to learn more about policy and practice in forest restoration in Sabah. These initial discussions and relationship-building feed into Work Package 2 of our project which will continue in 2022.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022