Tropical forest restoration

The objective of the course is to provide the student with knowledge on how to design and implement tropical forest restoration programmes that are adapted to local biophysical and social situations. The course focuses on the initial restoration phase and shall provide the students with thorough knowledge on wise choice of methods, species and propagation techniques in relation to given restoration objectives and with participation of rural people in the implementation.

Knowledge
- Describe the diversity of objectives for tropical forest restoration programs
- Explain the characteristics of tropical forest across the tropics
- Describe the principal scenarios for the combined impact of climate change and human influence on the distribution of vegetation types across the tropics
- Explain the potential and actual roles of rural people in implementation of restoration
- Explain the major ecological dynamics (fire, succession, gap-dynamics, seed dispersal and pollination) determining natural and managed forest development
- Explain the major tropical forest restoration methods
- Classify tree seed sources by genetic quality criteria
- Classify tropical forest tree based on species' regeneration strategies
- Classify tree seed based on physiological and morphological adaptations.
- Describe major international forest restoration initiatives and their funding mechanisms.
- Describe environmental services - carbon and biodiversity - from tropical forest restoration in the tropics, natural forest, agroforests, and plantations
- Explain indicators for monitoring of forest restoration activities

Skills
- Analyse recurrent stress factors like fire, grazing and extractivism that limits the recovery and development of forest vegetation
- Identify target species in restoration, given defined objectives, ecological, social, and economic and management conditions
- Use key characters for selecting target tree species for specific restoration methods
- Identify types of seed sources and their management by rural people in restoration programmes
- Select suitable seed sources to ensure genetic diversity of tree species in restored vegetation
- Assess seed maturation, storability and need for pre-treatments to overcome seed dormancy based on fruit and seed characteristics
- Select suitable parameters to be monitored in relation to meeting restoration objectives
- Explain advantages and limitations in use of nursery raised seedlings, cuttings, wildlings and direct seeding.
- Explain major elements and their linkages in the Logical Framework Approach (LFA) planning system described by a Logical Framework Matrix.

Competences
- Determine appropriate objectives and strategies for restoration of tropical forests and landscapes that balance both ecology and local livelihoods of people
- Analyse the condition of a potential restoration area and propose ecological methods for restoration, and propose specific roles for local people in implementation of restoration
- Design suitable restoration models (methods) for tropical forest restoration based on the initial biophysical conditions of a restoration site and the objective of restoration, and using suitable indigenous or exotic species
- Design a genetic management plan including guidelines on selection of seed trees and seed sources and including prediction of pollination and seed dispersal in restored vegetation
- Recommend suitable use of regeneration/propagation methods depending on species-specific features and restoration objectives
- Recommend measures to cope with recurrent stress including invasive species
- Design a project for tropical forest restoration using Logical Framework Approach (LFA), including selection/definition of relevant indicators for success of project implementation.