Afforestation or intense pasturing improve the ecological and economic value of abandoned tropical farmlands

Thomas Knoke, Jörg Bendix, Perdita Pohle, Ute Hamer, Patrick Hildebrandt, Kristin Roos, Andrés Gerique, María L. Sandoval, Lutz Breuer, Alexander Tischer, Brenner Silva, Baltazar Calvas, Nikolay Aguirre, Luz María Castro Quezada (), David Windhorst, Michael Weber, Bernd Stimm, Sven Günter, Ximena Palomeque, Julio Mora, Reinhard Mosandl and Erwin Beck
Additional contact information
Jörg Bendix: Laboratory for Climatology and Remote Sensing (LCRS), Faculty of Geography, University of Marburg
Perdita Pohle: Institute of Geography, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg
Ute Hamer: Institute of Soil Science and Site Ecology, Dresden University of Technology
Patrick Hildebrandt: TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München
Kristin Roos: University of Bayreuth
Andrés Gerique: Institute of Geography, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg
María L. Sandoval: Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, FLACSO
Lutz Breuer: Institute for Landscape Ecology and Resources Management, Justus Liebig University Giessen
Alexander Tischer: Institute of Soil Science and Site Ecology, Dresden University of Technology
Brenner Silva: Laboratory for Climatology and Remote Sensing (LCRS), Faculty of Geography, University of Marburg
Baltazar Calvas: TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München
Nikolay Aguirre: Biodiversity, Forestry and Ecosystem Services Research Program, National University of Loja
David Windhorst: Institute for Landscape Ecology and Resources Management, Justus Liebig University Giessen
Michael Weber: TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München
Bernd Stimm: TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München
Sven Günter: Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE)
Ximena Palomeque: TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München
Julio Mora: TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München
Reinhard Mosandl: TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München
Erwin Beck: University of Bayreuth

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Increasing demands for livelihood resources in tropical rural areas have led to progressive clearing of biodiverse natural forests. Restoration of abandoned farmlands could counter this process. However, as aims and modes of restoration differ in their ecological and socio-economic value, the assessment of achievable ecosystem functions and benefits requires holistic investigation. Here we combine the results from multidisciplinary research for a unique assessment based on a normalization of 23 ecological, economic and social indicators for four restoration options in the tropical Andes of Ecuador. A comparison of the outcomes among afforestation with native alder or exotic pine, pasture restoration with either low-input or intense management and the abandoned status quo shows that both variants of afforestation and intense pasture use improve the ecological value, but low-input pasture does not. Economic indicators favour either afforestation or intense pasturing. Both Mestizo and indigenous Saraguro settlers are more inclined to opt for afforestation.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6612

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