Connecting Landscape Fragments Through Riparian Zones

Abstract

Restoring forest ecosystem goods and services to agricultural landscapes can be a daunting challenge that stems from the unfeasibility of converting large tracts of food-producing land back into forest and of converting farmers and farming communities into forest managers. Natural science principles suggest that a resolution may be possible through restoration of forest in riparian zones. Riparian zones occupy a small portion of landscapes, but can yield high levels of multiple ecosystem goods and services. Success, however, will require application of social science principles that govern whether farmers, landholders, and communities accept and implement riparian forest restoration. Conducting a multi-scale planning process is important for integrating both natural and social science principles in a way that produces effective restoration plans and encourages their implementation.KeywordsEcosystem ServiceGeographic Information SystemRiparian BufferRiparian ZoneAgricultural LandscapeThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.