New research by the universities of Exeter and Oxford suggests that concentrating on just one objective when restoring forests can be a potential pitfall. In this article we will briefly go over why that is the case.
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Why Single-Goal Forest Restoration Plans Fall Short
Traditionally, forest restoration projects have focused on achieving a single goal, such as capturing carbon, supporting local communities, or protecting wildlife. However it turns out that integrated restoration plans can achieve multiple objectives more effectively than those focused on just one.
For example, planting trees solely to capture carbon may involve tree species that don’t support local wildlife, whereas prioritizing human needs might neglect the environmental impact. The study found that these narrowly focused plans often lead to trade-offs like these, where achieving one goal comes at the expense of others.
However, restoration plans designed to simultaneously address multiple goals—can deliver over 80% of the benefits associated with each goal. This approach creates a multifunctional landscape that supports climate change mitigation, biodiversity, and societal needs all at once. Remarkably, this method also benefits socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, who are often the most vulnerable to environmental changes.
The study
For their study, the research team utilized a framework known as Nature’s Contribution to People (NCP), which emphasizes the interconnected benefits of restoration activities for both nature and society. The framework was then applied to extensive areas in India, focusing on the natural regeneration of native forests in regions that are currently non-forested but suitable for restoration.
By using an optimization algorithm, detailed maps were generated, covering almost 4 million hectares, carefully avoiding regions like grasslands and agricultural land to ensure the feasibility and relevance of the restoration.
The researchers then compared the outcomes of single-goal restoration plans against integrated plans, revealing that the latter provided substantial benefits across all targeted areas, particularly benefiting socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.
While the study focused on natural regeneration of native forests in India, the team suggest that this holistic approach can inform conservation policies in other countries, helping to meet ambitious climate and environmental goals with minimal trade-offs and maximum benefits for all.
If you are interested in reading more about the study be sure to check out the article published in the peer-reviewed Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences listed below.
Sources and further reading:
Optimizing Restoration: holistic spatial planning to deliver Nature's Contributions to People with minimal tradeoffs and maximal equity (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)
High-value opportunities exist to restore tropical rainforests around the world – here’s how we mapped them (Universal-Sci)
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