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Forest Restoration

  • By: Joy A. Fritschle
  • In: Encyclopedia of Geography
  • Edited by: Barney Warf
  • Subject:General Geography, Earth & Environmental Science

The widespread destruction of habitats and the associated loss of species have resulted in the development of ecological restoration projects worldwide. The restoration of degraded ecosystems can serve to improve not only the conservation of species but also ecosystem productivity and the welfare of human communities affected by those ecosystems. The Society for Ecological Restoration International defines the practice of ecological restoration as “the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed.” Forest restoration represents a particular type of restoration practice.

The Need for Forest Restoration

An extensive body of scientific evidence indicates that preservation of biological reserves is not enough to stem the current biodiversity crisis. While preservation of forests in parks, reserves, and wilderness areas is critical, these ...

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