Forest restoration can boost people, nature and climate simultaneously - University of Exeter

Forest restoration can benefit humans, boost biodiversity and help tackle climate change simultaneously, new research suggests.

Restoring forests is often seen in terms of “trade-offs” – meaning it often focuses on a specific goal such as capturing carbon, nurturing nature or supporting human livelihoods.

The new study, by the universities of Exeter and Oxford, found that restoration plans aimed at a single goal tend not to deliver the others.

However, “integrated” plans would deliver over 80% of the benefits in all three areas at once.

It also found that socioeconomically disadvantaged groups would benefit disproportionately from this approach.

The researchers used a framework called Nature’s Contribution to People (NCP), which emphasises a holistic relationship between restoration and benefits to humanity, including equity.

It applied this to large areas of India, examining the benefits of natural regeneration of native forest in suitable places that aren’t currently forest.

“Restoration projects sometimes have a narrow focus, which can lead to trade-offs,” said Dr Trisha Gopalakrishna, from the University of Exeter and formerly at Oxford.

“For example, if you focus on carbon storage, you might plant particular tree species and fence the forests off to protect them.”