Abstract
High-quality, suitably adapted tree seed at volume is a key component for the implementation and long-term success of forest landscape restoration (FLR). We analysed the tree seed systems in four Asian countries—the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and India—which have committed to restore in total over 47.5 million hectares of degraded lands by 2030. We assessed the national seed systems using an established indicator framework, literature review and expert surveys and interviews. Additionally, we surveyed 61 FLR practitioners about their challenges in acquiring seed to understand how the strengths and weaknesses identified at the national level were reflected in FLR projects on the ground. Identified key constraints common to the studied countries are (i) a mismatch between the growing demand for priority native species and the limited seed supply in terms of quantity and quality, (ii) lack of effective quality control for seed of native species and (iii) lack of information about the effects of climate change on native species to guide species selection and seed sourcing and to improve the resilience of restored ecosystems. We discuss options to strengthen seed systems for native tree species both in terms of quality and volume to enable them to effectively respond to the national FLR commitments and make recommendations on promising technical solutions.
Highlights
This article is an open access articleReversing ecosystem loss and the related global biodiversity and climate crises has never been more urgent than
The scorings of the national tree seed systems against the indicator framework are presented in Figure 1, indicating the readiness of the systems to support Forest landscape restoration (FLR)
This study provides the first comparative analysis of the national tree seed systems for FLR in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and India
Summary
Reversing ecosystem loss and the related global biodiversity and climate crises has never been more urgent than now. Reversing ecosystem loss and the related global biodiversity and climate crises has never been more urgent than This is being emphasised by the United Nations’ Decade on Ecosystem Restoration’s aim to halt and reverse ecosystem degradation by 2030 [1]. Through international agreements such as the Bonn Challenge and the New York Declaration on Forests, various governments, private actors and civil society organisations distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons. Forest landscape restoration (FLR) aims to re-establish ecological integrity in deforested or degraded areas and improve forest-based livelihoods [5,6,7]. To date many of the ambitious FLR initiatives have failed to deliver the intended benefits that are required to tackle the biodiversity and climate crises, such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity recovery and sustainable livelihoods [10,13,14]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
