Economic and social constraints on reforestation for climate mitigation in Southeast Asia

Yiwen Zeng (), Tasya Vadya Sarira (), L. Roman Carrasco (), Kwek Yan Chong, Daniel A. Friess, Janice Ser Huay Lee, Pierre Taillardat, Thomas A. Worthington, Yuchen Zhang and Lian Pin Koh ()
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Yiwen Zeng: National University of Singapore
Tasya Vadya Sarira: The University of Adelaide
Kwek Yan Chong: National University of Singapore
Daniel A. Friess: National University of Singapore
Janice Ser Huay Lee: Nanyang Technological University of Singapore
Pierre Taillardat: GEOTOP, Université du Québec à Montréal
Thomas A. Worthington: University of Cambridge
Yuchen Zhang: National University of Singapore
Lian Pin Koh: National University of Singapore

Nature Climate Change, 2020, vol. 10, issue 9, 842-844

Abstract: Abstract As climate change continues to threaten human and natural systems, the search for cost-effective and practical mitigation solutions is gaining momentum. Reforestation has recently been identified as a promising nature-based climate solution. Yet there are context-dependent biophysical, financial, land-use and operational constraints to reforestation that demand careful consideration. Here, we show that 121 million ha of presently degraded land in Southeast Asia, a region noted for its significant reforestation potential, are biophysically suitable for reforestation. Reforestation of this land would contribute 3.43 ± 1.29 PgCO2e yr−1 to climate mitigation through 2030. However, by taking a combination of on-the-ground financial, land use and operational constraints into account, we find that only a fraction of that mitigation potential may be achievable (0.3–18%). Such constraints are not insurmountable, but they show that careful planning and consideration are needed for effective landscape-scale reforestation.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0856-3

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