Changes in concepts and tools in dryland ecological restoration: A review

Transcription

1 COST ES WG Meeting April 2015, Thessaloniki, Greece Changes in concepts and tools in dryland ecological restoration: A review Alejandro Valdecantos, Teresa Mexia, Cristina Branquinho a.valdecantos@ua.es; tmmexia@fc.ul.pt

2 Introduction Drylands Dry-subhumid, semi-arid and arid 41% continental earth surface 1/3 world population annual mean potential evapotranspiration > annual mean precipitation (0,05 < Aridity Index < 0,65) (MEA 2005) Major constraints to restoration: high seedling mortality due to drought, inconstant climatic conditions and landscape heterogeneity

3 Introduction Our aim: How did dryland reforestation changed over the last twenty years? How the restoration goals changed? How the ecotechnology changed? What are the differences (if any) between dryland areas all over the world?

4 Introduction Our approach: Bibliographic search: Period 1995 and 2015 IsiWeb search keywords: planting AND plant establishment AND seedling survival Total: 205 papers 107 from drylands Main goals Techniques Site physical alterations Nursery Limiting resources and conditions: Water and nutrients Temperature and radiation Biotic interactions Planting (without any treatment)

5 Introduction Work in progress: nº publications / dryland area

6 Changes in dryland reforestation objectives Traditional objectives: Hydrology regulation Sand dune fixation Improving forest productivity Improving rural economies

7 Reforestation objectives - traditional approach Large afforestations since the end of XIX century Watershed protection SIERRA ESPUÑA 1885 SIERRA ESPUÑA 2004

8 Reforestation objectives - traditional approach (ha x 1000) Reforestation in the Mediterranean Basin Conifers / Total Reforested Surface ,8 millions ha ( ) Conifers Total million ha (>1970) 500 0

9 Reforestation objectives - traditional approach AFFORESTATION STRATEGY The traditional approach: THIS APPROACH HAS BEEN APPLIED BY DEFAULT TO RESTORE DEGRADED LANDS FOR DECADES

10 Reforestation objectives - traditional approach Effects of the Spanish National Reforestation Plan ( ) on employment 8000 FOREST PLANTATIONS VS. UNEMPLOYMENT BADAJOZ PROVINCE (SPAIN) REFORESTATION GENERAL PLAN (1939) 8000 PLANTED AREA (Ha) Planted area (Ha) Unemployment r = UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE YEAR (Pemán et al. 2010; Sierra-Vigil, 2010)

11 Reforestation objectives - traditional approach Reforestations with Pinus halepensis (Elche, Alicante, Spain)

12 Reforestation objectives - traditional approach Reforestations with Pinus halepensis processionary caterpillar infestation

13 Reforestation objectives - traditional approach Reforestations with Pinus halepensis Tomicus sp. infestation Orihuela, Alicante, Spain (January 2015)

14 Reforestation objectives - traditional approach Reforestations with Pinus halepensis mortality due to drought

15 Reforestation objectives - traditional approach HAUTE PROVENCE (1850) Photo taken from D. Vallauri, REACTION project (

16 Changes in dryland reforestation objectives Traditional objectives: Hydrology regulation Sand dune fixation Improving forest productivity Improving rural economies New objectives: Biodiversity Combating desertification Mitigating (and adapting to) climate change Fire prevention Recreational and cultural use

17 Reforestation objectives new approach Species diversification Pistacia lentiscus Arbutus unedo Rhamnus alaternus

18 Reforestation objectives new approach Importance of life traits to species selection Water-use strategies and response to drought Adaptation to drought, fire prone habitats Quercus coccifera Rhamnus alaternus Phyllirea angustifolia Quercus ilex Olea europaea Lavandula latifolia Myrtus communis Pistacia lentiscus Cistus clusii Ceratonia siliqua Arbutus unedo Pinus halepensis Rhamnus lycioides Pinus nigra Cistus albidus Rosmarinus officinalis Pistacia terebinthus Cistus monspeliensis Leaf water deficit at turgor loss (1-RWC, %) Cistus albidus Lavandula latifolia Cistus monspeliensis Cistus clusii Rosmarinus officinalis Quercus ilex Ceratonia siliqua Rhamnus lycioides Genista scorpius Pistacia lentiscus Olea europaea Pinus halepensis Quercus coccifera Anthyllis cytisoides Myrtus communis Arbutus unedo Rhamnus alaternus Phyllirea angustifolia Pistacia terebinthus Stomatal conductance (mmol -1 m -2 s -1 ) Vilagrosa et al., 2009; Hernández, 2010

19 End XX century: a new paradigm Towards an ecosystemic perspective Increase of species diversity (native) Less agressive planting techniques Considering biotic interactions Genetic restoration

20 Towards an ecosystemic perspective Increase of nursery production of native species 30 SEEDLING PRODUCTION Guardamar Public Nursery (Alicante, SE SPain) Number of species produced Native and Naturalised Alien n.d. n.d NURSERY YEAR F. Gil (comun. pers.)

21 Towards an ecosystemic perspective Increase of the proportion of non-conifers species in plantations 50 EU-CAP OLD-FIELD FORESTATION ANDALUCÍA SURFACE AREA (Ha x 1000) Q. ilex P. halepensis O. europaea Q. suber P. pinea SPECIES C. siliqua Other J. regia MAPA, 2006

22 Towards an ecosystemic perspective Improvement of nursery procedures: Effect of nutritional hardening on seedling establishment STANDARD FERTILIZATION -N AUTUMN Trubat et al. (2008)

23 Towards an ecosystemic perspective Improving ecotechnologies in forest plantations (Valencia Region) 1st year seedling mortality r 2 = r 2 = Seedling Mortality (%) Drought period (days)

24 Future challenges in dryland restoration Little knowledge on the causes of the success of plantations Participative and integrative management Monitoring adaptive management Funding

25 Reforestation objectives new approach Plantation success: Different survival four years after outplanting - Albatera project, P 280 mm Survival(%) Oq Qc Ph Rl Ch Pl Cs Taf Ta Sg Jo Oe Ef No So Ls St Abbreviations: Qc: Quercus coccifera, Cs: Ceratonia siliqua, Pl: Pistacia lentiscus, Ta: Tetraclinis articulata, Ef: Ephedra fragilis, Rl: Rhamnus lycioides, Oe: Olea europaea sylvestris, Ph Pinus halepensis, Oq: Osyris quadripartita, Jo: Juniperus oxycedrus, Sg: Salsola genistoides, No: Nerium oleander, Taf: Tamarix africana, Ch : Chamaerops humilis, So: Salsola oppositifolia, Ls: Lygeum spartum, St: Stipa tenacissima.

26 Current challenges Plantation success: Treatment vs. Site effect on establishment Cortina et al. J. Arid. Environ. 2011

27 Current challenges Participative and Integrated management Reforestation projects Popular actions - Network of pilot projects - Network of demonstration projects

28 Work in progress... Conclude collected papers review Reinforce search, if necessary Establish connections with researchers from less documented areas (e.g. Africa, South America) Thank you for your attention

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30 Reforestation objectives - traditional approach REFORESTED SURFACE AREA (X 1000 ha) ANNUAL RATE OF REFORESTATION (X1000 ha) OBJECTIVES OF THE SPANISH NATIONAL REFORESTATION PLAN ( ) Timber production Hydrologic control, soil protection Employment Fight against guerrillas after Civil War ANNUAL ACCUMULATED PLANTED AREA (Ha) FOREST PLANTATIONS VS. UNEMPLOYMENT BADAJOZ PROVINCE (SPAIN) REFORESTATION GENERAL PLAN (1939) Planted area (Ha) Unemployment r = UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE (Ortuño 1990) YEAR (Pemán et al. 2010; Sierra-Vigil, 2010)

31 Towards an ecosystemic perspective ha Common agricultural policy afforestation Afforestation of agricultural land in Spain 120, ,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20, Broadleaves Conifers Mixture

32 Towards an ecosystemic perspective Integration of afforestation in rural planning & rural economies EU COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY : AFFORESTATION OF MARGINAL AGRICULTURAL LANDS

33 Current challenges Species selection: Species pool and climate change Stability of vascular plant sp 2050 New vascular plant sp 2050 Bakkenes et al. (2002)

34 Current challenges Tools for an Integrated management ECOSYSTEM SERVICES SEMI-ARID LANDSCAPE (VENTÓS EXP. AREA, SE SPAIN) RICHNESS VASCULAR PLANTS (Nº OF SPECIES) Stipa tenacissima steppe Shrubland Pinus halepensis plantation WATER PRODUCTION (%) Pasture Dryland crop SOIL ORGANIC CARBON (%) 4 5 M. Derak (unpubl.)

35 Current challenges Participative and Integrated management REFORESTATION PROJECTS Forest Services Rigorous Tecnichal Quality Establishment of plant cover POPULAR ACTIONS Participative Enjoyable Motivating

36 Current challenges The best project is not the one that achieve the initial goals by chance but the one that improve the efficiency of future actions - Network of pilot projects Tools for an Integrated management - Network of demonstration projects