Opportunities for biodiversity gains under the world’s largest reforestation programme

Fangyuan Hua (), Xiaoyang Wang, Xinlei Zheng, Brendan Fisher, Lin Wang, Jianguo Zhu, Ya Tang, Douglas W. Yu () and David S. Wilcove ()
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Fangyuan Hua: Program in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University
Xiaoyang Wang: State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xinlei Zheng: College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University
Brendan Fisher: Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont
Lin Wang: State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jianguo Zhu: State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Ya Tang: College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University
Douglas W. Yu: State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
David S. Wilcove: Program in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Reforestation is a critical means of addressing the environmental and social problems of deforestation. China’s Grain-for-Green Program (GFGP) is the world’s largest reforestation scheme. Here we provide the first nationwide assessment of the tree composition of GFGP forests and the first combined ecological and economic study aimed at understanding GFGP’s biodiversity implications. Across China, GFGP forests are overwhelmingly monocultures or compositionally simple mixed forests. Focusing on birds and bees in Sichuan Province, we find that GFGP reforestation results in modest gains (via mixed forest) and losses (via monocultures) of bird diversity, along with major losses of bee diversity. Moreover, all current modes of GFGP reforestation fall short of restoring biodiversity to levels approximating native forests. However, even within existing modes of reforestation, GFGP can achieve greater biodiversity gains by promoting mixed forests over monocultures; doing so is unlikely to entail major opportunity costs or pose unforeseen economic risks to households.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12717

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