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Tropical Dry Forest Restoration in an Era of Global Change: Ecological and Social Dimensions

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Social Ecology and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2022) | Viewed by 25956

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Julio Campo

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Guest Editor

Institute of Ecology, Universidad National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Interests: disturbance and ecosystem dynamics; land-use: nutrient cycling: food nexus; restoration ecology in tropical forest landscapes

Prof. Christian P. Giardina

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

U. S. Forest Service, Hilo, Hawaii, HI 96720, USA
Interests: ecosystem ecology and global change; tropical forest restoration; fire ecology

Prof. Rodolfo Dirzo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
Interests: tropical ecology; biodiversity science; conservation biology and ecological restoration in tropical moist and dry forests

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) is a critical tropical forest ecosystem given its global distribution, biodiversity and the services it provides to humanity. It covers 42% of the tropical forest biome and is found in five of the eight biogeographic realms of the world. However, indicators of their status show that SDTF areas remain significantly threatened by land use and cover change, pollution, exotic invaders, fires and climate change, with negative consequences for the environmental services that the ecosystem provides. Such goods and services vary considerably in terms of rates and sensitivity to global environmental changes compared to its humid counterpart, thus their recovery requires different approaches to management and restoration. The magnitude of the anthropogenic impact on SDTF demands a move beyond conservation to develop an SDTF restoration science leading to the sustainable maintenance of these areas. Indeed, despite the urgent and clear need for ecosystem-specific, evidence-based knowledge to support tropical dry forests management and restoration practices, much of the relevant information is absent or incomplete. The Special Issue of “Tropical Dry Forest Restoration in an Era of Global Change: ecological and social dimensions” of the journal Sustainability, focuses on documenting the ecological and socioeconomic complexity of tropical dry forest regions and the evidence needed to underpin restoration and conservation practices. Papers will be framed within the socioecological context of restoration including the indicators for measuring success in the practice for the recovery of the ecosystem function and the ecosystem services that biodiversity provides. This Special Issue will offer findings that address the challenge for a sustainable restoration practice of tropical dry forest landscapes for the benefit and joy of future generations. Beyond review papers, manuscripts describing new research, methodological approaches to their restoration and new theories are also welcome.

Prof. Julio Campo
Prof. Christian P. Giardina
Prof. Rodolfo Dirzo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

biodiversity
ecosystem function
ecosystem services
restoration outcomes
socioecological indicators of restoration practice

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

5 pages, 491 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Tropical Dry Forest Restoration in an Era of Global Change: Ecological and Social Dimensions

by Julio Campo, Christian P. Giardina and Rodolfo Dirzo

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3052; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043052 - 8 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2288

Abstract

In 2019, the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed 2021 to 2030 to be the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Dry Forest Restoration in an Era of Global Change: Ecological and Social Dimensions)

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Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

14 pages, 1418 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Pacific Drought Knowledge Exchange: A Co-Production Approach to Deliver Climate Resources to User Groups

by Ryan J. Longman, Abby G. Frazier, Christian P. Giardina, Elliott W. Parsons and Sierra McDaniel

Sustainability 2022, 14(17), 10554; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141710554 - 24 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2342

Abstract

Drought is a growing threat to hydrological, ecological, agricultural, and socio-cultural systems of the tropics, especially tropical islands of the Pacific where severe droughts can compromise food and water security. Overcoming barriers to knowledge sharing between land managers and researchers is a critical cross-sector strategy for engaging and mitigating or adapting to drought. Here we describe the establishment and functioning of the Pacific Drought Knowledge Exchange (PDKE), which provides users with easier access to: (1) sector- and geography-specific climate information; (2) better and more comprehensive information; (3) improved technical assistance; and (4) a more collaborative information-transfer environment through participation in knowledge co-production. We focus on our collaborative work with managers of important tropical dryland ecosystems from three distinct geographies to pilot the collaborative development of climate change, climate variability, and drought “portfolios” featuring site-specific historical and forecasted future information. This information was then used to collaboratively produce factsheets that partners used to: (i) better understand past and projected climate for specific management units; (ii) integrate new climate knowledge into management planning; and (iii) support climate-focused educational and outreach efforts. This pilot effort demonstrates the successful application of climate-focused co-production in dry tropical landscapes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Dry Forest Restoration in an Era of Global Change: Ecological and Social Dimensions)

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24 pages, 46901 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Functional Diversity in Woody Organs of Tropical Dry Forests and Implications for Restoration

by Julieta A. Rosell, Mark E. Olson, Cristina Martínez-Garza and Norberto Martínez-Méndez

Sustainability 2022, 14(14), 8362; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148362 - 8 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2292

Abstract

Tropical dry forests (TDFs) represent one of the most diverse and, at the same time, most threatened ecosystems on earth. Restoration of TDFs is thus crucial but is hindered by a limited understanding of the functional diversity (FD) of original communities. We examine the FD of TDFs based on wood (vessel diameter and wood density) and bark traits (total, inner, and outer bark thicknesses) measured on ~500 species from 24 plant communities and compare this diversity with that of seven other major vegetation types. Along with other seasonally dry sites, TDFs had the highest FD, as indicated by the widest ranges, highest variances, and largest trait hypervolumes. Warm temperatures and seasonal drought seem to drive diverse ecological strategies in these ecosystems, which include a continuum from deciduous species with low-density wood, thick bark, and wide vessels to evergreen species with high-density wood, thin bark, and narrow vessels. The very high FD of TDFs represents a challenge to restoring the likely widest trait ranges of any habitat on earth. Understanding this diversity is essential for monitoring successional changes in minimal intervention restoration and guiding species selection for resilient restoration plantings in the context of climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Dry Forest Restoration in an Era of Global Change: Ecological and Social Dimensions)

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17 pages, 5038 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Pantropical Overview of Soils across Tropical Dry Forest Ecoregions

by Anaitzi Rivero-Villar, Marinés de la Peña-Domene, Gerardo Rodríguez-Tapia, Christian P. Giardina and Julio Campo

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6803; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116803 - 2 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2702

Abstract

Pantropical variation in soils of the tropical dry forest (TDF) biome is enormously high but has been poorly characterized. To quantify variation in the global distribution of TDF soil physical and chemical properties in relation to climate and geology, we produced a synthesis using 7500 points of data with gridded fields representing lithologic, edaphic, and climatic characteristics. Our analyses reveal that 75 TDF ecoregions across five biogeographic domains (Afrotropical, Australasian, Indo-Malayan, Neotropical, and Oceanian) varied strongly with respect to parent material: sediment (57%), metamorphic (22%), volcanic (13%), and plutonic (7%). TDF ecoregions support remarkably high variability in soil suborders (32), with the Neotropical and Oceanian realms being especially diverse. As a whole, TDF soils trend strongly toward low fertility with strong variation across biogeographic domains. Similarly, the exhibited soil properties marked heterogeneity across biogeographic domains, with soil depth varying by an order of magnitude and total organic C, N, and P pools varying threefold. Organic C and N pool sizes were negatively correlated with mean annual temperature (MAT) and positively correlated with mean annual precipitation (MAP). By contrast, the distribution of soil P pools was positively influenced by both MAT and MAP and likely by soil geochemistry, due to high variations in soil parent material across the biogeographic domains. The results summarized here raise important questions as to how climate and parent material control soil biogeochemical processes in TDFs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Dry Forest Restoration in an Era of Global Change: Ecological and Social Dimensions)

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16 pages, 3387 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Stemmed Habit in Trees Contributes Climate Resilience in Tropical Dry Forest

by Ian M. Ware, Rebecca Ostertag, Susan Cordell, Christian P. Giardina, Lawren Sack, Camila D. Medeiros, Faith Inman, Creighton M. Litton, Thomas Giambelluca, Grace P. John and Christine Scoffoni

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6779; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116779 - 1 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1867

Abstract

Understanding how environmental adaptations mediate plant and ecosystem responses becomes increasingly important under accelerating global environmental change. Multi-stemmed trees, for example, differ in form and function from single-stemmed trees and may possess physiological advantages that allow for persistence during stressful climatic events such as extended drought. Following the worst drought in Hawaii in a century, we examined patterns of stem abundance and turnover in a Hawaiian lowland dry forest (LDF) and a montane wet forest (MWF) to investigate how multi-stemmed trees might influence site persistence, and how stem abundance and turnover relate to key functional traits. We found stem abundance and multi-stemmed trees to be an important component for climate resilience within the LDF. The LDF had higher relative abundance of multi-stemmed trees, stem abundance, and mean stem abundance compared to a reference MWF. Within the LDF, multi-stemmed trees had higher relative stem abundance (i.e., percent composition of stems to the total number of stems in the LDF) and higher estimated aboveground carbon than single-stemmed trees. Stem abundance varied among species and tree size classes. Stem turnover (i.e., change in stem abundance between five-year censuses) varied among species and tree size classes and species mean stem turnover was correlated with mean species stem abundance per tree. At the plot level, stem abundance per tree is also a predictor of survival, though mortality did not differ between multiple- and single-stemmed trees. Lastly, species with higher mean stem abundance per tree tended to have traits associated with a higher light-saturated photosynthetic rate, suggesting greater productivity in periods with higher water supply. Identifying the traits that allow species and forest communities to persist in dry environments or respond to disturbance is useful for forecasting ecological climate resilience or potential for restoration in tropical dry forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Dry Forest Restoration in an Era of Global Change: Ecological and Social Dimensions)

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15 pages, 1348 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Shifting Limitations to Restoration across Dryland Ecosystems in Hawaiʻi

by Erin J. Questad, Amanda Uowolo, Samuel Brooks and Susan Cordell

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5421; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095421 - 30 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1653

Abstract

Hawaiian dryland ecosystems are important for global biodiversity conservation and contain numerous species threatened with extinction. Over the past century, wildfire frequency and size have increased dramatically because of invasion by fire-promoting non-native invasive species, greatly threatening these ecosystems. Native species restoration is a tool that can disrupt the cycle of increased fire and invasion in lowland dry forest communities, but restoration prescriptions have not been studied systematically in other dryland plant communities. We examined the restoration of three Hawaiian dryland plant communities (a high-productivity Diospyros sandwicensis and Metrosideros polymorpha lowland dry forest (HP), a moderate-productivity Myoporum sandwicense and Sophora chrysophylla dry forest/woodland (MP), and a low-productivity Dodonaea viscosa shrubland (LP)), using a community-assembly framework to understand the abiotic and biotic constraints to species establishment and growth in each community. Because active restoration methods are often needed, at both high and low levels of productivity, we also examined restoration treatments and outcomes across the three sites, which spanned a gradient of rainfall and substrate age. At each site, we used the same factorial field experiment with three factors: habitat quality (high or low), weed control (yes or no), and species addition (none, seeding, or outplanting). Outplants (cohort 1) and seeds were added in the winter of 2009–2010, and outplants were added again in March 2011 (cohort 2). Dispersal limitation was apparent at the LP and HP sites, but was not observed in the MP site, which had, overall, greater native diversity and abundance. Outplant survival was greater in high-quality habitats at the HP site, likely due to reduced abiotic stress. Invasive species were found in greater abundance in certain types of microsites at the LP and MP sites, suggesting that shade or topography can be used to plan restoration and weed-control activities. Overall, active restoration methods improved restoration outcomes at the high- and low-productivity sites, and less so at the moderately productive site. Weed removal and outplanting were effective restoration prescriptions at the LP and HP sites, and habitat quality could also be used to increase survival at the HP site. Active restoration could be a lower priority for moderately invaded, moderate-productivity communities, which have the capability to maintain a native ecosystem state. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Dry Forest Restoration in an Era of Global Change: Ecological and Social Dimensions)

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24 pages, 1721 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modelling Climate Change Impacts on Tropical Dry Forest Fauna

by Kimberly Stephenson, Byron Wilson, Michael Taylor, Kurt McLaren, Rick van Veen, John Kunna and Jayaka Campbell

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4760; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084760 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2133

Abstract

Tropical dry forests are among the most threatened ecosystems in the world, and those occurring in the insular Caribbean are particularly vulnerable. Climate change represents a significant threat for the Caribbean region and for small islands like Jamaica. Using the Hellshire Hills protected area in Jamaica, a simple model was developed to project future abundance of arthropods and lizards based on current sensitivities to climate variables derived from rainfall and temperature records. The abundances of 20 modelled taxa were predicted more often by rainfall variables than temperature, but both were found to have strong impacts on arthropod and lizard abundance. Most taxa were projected to decrease in abundance by the end of the century under drier and warmer conditions. Where an increase in abundance was projected under a low emissions scenario, this change was reduced or reversed under a high emissions climate change scenario. The validation process showed that, even for a small population, there was reasonable skill in predicting its annual variability. Results of this study show that this simple model can be used to identify the vulnerability of similar sites to the effects of shifting climate and, by extension, their conservation needs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Dry Forest Restoration in an Era of Global Change: Ecological and Social Dimensions)

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16 pages, 4025 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Hawaiian Tropical Dry Forest Regenerates: Natural Regeneration of Endangered Species under Biocultural Restoration

by Reko Libby, Aimee Y. Sato, Lehua Alapai, Wilds Pihanui Brawner, Yvonne Yarber Carter, Keoki Apokolani Carter, Kekaulike Tomich and Tamara Ticktin

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1159; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031159 - 20 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1955

Abstract

Tropical dry forests (TDFs) are among the most at-risk ecosystems globally. In Hawai‘i, more than 45% of TDF species are threatened or endangered. Despite decades of active TDF restoration, there remains limited information on the potential for long-term success, since there are few studies of natural regeneration. We assess natural regeneration of endangered plants at Ka‘ūpūlehu dryland forest, a Hawaiian biocultural restoration initiative. Drawing on 6 annual censuses we (1) assess rates and patterns of natural regeneration across species and as a function of rainfall and (2) identify bottlenecks. Our surveys document natural recruits of 11 of the 12 endangered species first outplanted 15–20 years ago. Higher annual rainfall increased the number of new recruits per year and growth, but decreased survival of larger recruits. The total number of natural recruits increased three-fold over the study period and varied across species. For nearly half of the species, we documented a second generation of recruits. Successes appear to be a function of time, including a changing microclimate and adaptive management practices. Remaining bottlenecks include lack of seed dispersal, and seed predation and herbivory by introduced species. The success at Ka‘ūpūlehu highlights the potential for TDF restoration and the value of a biocultural approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Dry Forest Restoration in an Era of Global Change: Ecological and Social Dimensions)

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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

10 pages, 1236 KiB

Open AccessReview

Opportunities for Integrating Social Science into Research on Dry Forest Restoration: A Mini-Review

by Jennifer S. Powers

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7351; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127351 - 16 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1821

Abstract

Seasonally dry tropical forest ecosystems have been greatly reduced in areas through conversions to alternate land uses such as grazing and crop production. The U.N. Decade on Restoration has focused attention on both restoration globally, and also regional attention on tropical dry forests, as they are excellent candidates for regeneration and reforestation. As such, the science of how we restore dry forests is advancing; however, few studies of dry forest restoration include collaborations with social scientists. This is unfortunate, because restoration projects that embrace a people-centered approach have the highest chances of success. Here, I review recent studies that have incorporated aspects of social science and human dimensions into the study and design of dry forest restoration practices. I focus on three key topics that merit a closer integration of restoration research and practice and social science: (1) recognizing that local people are central to project success, (2) cost benefit or effectiveness analyses that evaluate the relative costs of alternative management strategies, and (3) identification of land-use tradeoffs, synergisms and priority mapping. I conclude that closer collaborations among dry forest restoration researchers and a wider group of partners including social scientists, local communities, environmental educators, and geographers will increase the value of restoration research and the likelihood that such projects achieve multiple ecological and societal benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Dry Forest Restoration in an Era of Global Change: Ecological and Social Dimensions)

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22 pages, 2550 KiB

Open AccessReview

Restoring Mexican Tropical Dry Forests: A National Review

by Natalia Mesa-Sierra, Marinés de la Peña-Domene, Julio Campo and Christian P. Giardina

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 3937; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14073937 - 26 Mar 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3014

Abstract

Deforestation is the dominant threat to tropical dry forests (TDFs) in Mexico. Its causes include agriculture, tourism, and mining. In some cases, unassisted forest regeneration is sufficient to return diverse forest cover to a site, but in other cases, changes in land use are so severe that active restoration is required to reintroduce tree cover. The ecological and social constraints on TDF restoration in Mexico are poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we synthesized relevant restoration literature for Mexico published between January 1990 and February 2020. We examined 43 unique articles about TDF restoration practices in Mexico to identify (1) the national distribution of TDF restoration projects, (2) restoration objectives, and (3) factors contributing to TDF restoration success or failure. The largest number of restoration sites were in the Yucatan Peninsula, and the most common objective was to restore dry forest vegetation on lands that had been used for agriculture or impacted by fires. Planting seedlings was the most widely reported restoration strategy, and plant survival was the most frequently monitored response variable. Maximum annual temperature and the Lang Aridity Index were the best predictors of plant survival, which ranged from 15% to 78%. This synthesis highlights how national restoration inventories can facilitate the development of a restoration evaluation framework to increase the efficacy of restoration investments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Dry Forest Restoration in an Era of Global Change: Ecological and Social Dimensions)

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21 pages, 3569 KiB

Open AccessReview

Ecological and Social Limitations for Mexican Dry Forest Restoration: A Systematic Review

by Cristina Martínez-Garza, Eliane Ceccon and Moisés Méndez-Toribio

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 3793; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14073793 - 23 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2245

Abstract

In Mexico, dry forests are one of the ecosystems in major need of restoration intervention. Here, we explored the ecological and social limitations on the restoration of Mexican dry forests from the perspective of restoration practitioners and researchers. We included three data sources: (i) projects included in a national evaluation (1979–2016), (ii) a systematic review of scientific literature (1979–2021), and (iii) restoration projects included in two governmental programs. The national evaluation and the systematic review coincided in identifying the establishment of plantings as the most important ecological limitation and low social participation as the most important social limitation. There were three times more publications addressing ecological limitations than those addressing social limitations. We did not find research to resolve the problems faced by practitioners related to invasive species, unpredictable climate, and poor soil quality. Governmental programs promoting the restoration of ecosystems need to include measurable indicators to document the socioecological limitations faced by local practitioners to restore Mexican dry forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Dry Forest Restoration in an Era of Global Change: Ecological and Social Dimensions)

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