Abstract
With the increase in demand for landscape restoration and the limited resources available, there is need for economic analysis of landscape restoration to help prioritize investment of the resources. Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is a commonly applied tool in the economic analysis of landscape restoration, yet its application seems limited and varied. We undertake a review of CBA applications to understand the breadth, depth, and gaps. Of the 2056 studies identified in literature search, only 31 met our predefined criteria. Three studies offered a global perspective, while more than half were conducted in Africa. Only six countries benefit from at least 2 CBA studies, including Brazil, Ethiopia, Kenya, Vietnam, South Africa, and Tanzania. About 60% focus on agroforestry, afforestation, reforestation, and assisted natural regeneration practices. Only 16% covered all cost categories, with opportunity costs being the least covered. Eighty-four percent apply direct use values, while only 16% captured the non-use values. Similarly, lack of reliable data due to predictions and assumptions involved in data generation influenced CBA results. The limited number of eligible studies and the weaknesses identified hereinabove suggest strong need for improvements in both the quantity and quality of CBA to better inform planning, policies, and investments in landscape restoration.
Highlights
There is a growing demand for restoration globally aimed at stopping further degradation and reversing degradation
2, Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) studies we reviewed were conducted for biofuel different types of restoration options/strategies,the including: reforestation & afforestation, agroforestry, agroforestry, As shown in studies we reviewed were conducted for different types of restoration options/strategies, including: reforestation &
One of the most comprehensive CBA study we reviewed was conducted in Kenya by Reference [31] and compared returns for several landscape restoration strategies, including: afforestation or reforestation of degraded natural forests, rehabilitation of degraded natural forests, agroforestry in cropland, commercial tree and bamboo growing on potentially marginal cropland and un-stocked forest plantation forests, tree-based buffer zones along water bodies and wetlands, tree-based buffer zones along roads, and restoration of degraded rangelands
Summary
There is a growing demand for restoration globally aimed at stopping further degradation and reversing degradation. According to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services [1], 75% of the global land surface is significantly degraded, 66% of the ocean area is experiencing increasing cumulative impacts, and over 85% of wetlands have been lost. On the other hand, involves human involvement in a range of ways and involves a considerable cost in terms of labor and time [14] It may require planting of nursery-grown seedlings, direct seeding, and/or the manipulation of disturbance regimes (for example, thinning and burning) to speed up the recovery process. This is often at a high cost to establish the vegetation structure, reassemble local species composition, and/or catalyze ecological succession
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