Abstract
Key messageWe propose a silvicultural-ecological, participatory-based, conceptual framework to optimize the socioeconomic-ecological services provided by dryland afforestation, i.e. addressing the limited resources in arid areas while minimizing the harm to the environment. The framework applies the following criteria to select multifunctional tree species: (a) drought resistance, (b) minimal disruption of ecosystem integrity, and (c) maximization of ecosystem services, including supporting community livelihoods.ContextDryland afforestation projects frequently aim to combine multiple ecological and economic benefits. Nevertheless, plant species for such projects are selected mainly to withstand aridity, while other important characteristics are neglected. This approach has resulted in planted forests that are drought-resistant, yet harm the natural ecosystem and provide inadequate ecosystem services for humans.AimsWe suggest a comprehensive framework for species selection for dryland afforestation that would increase, rather than disrupt, ecological and socio-economic services.MethodsTo formulate a synthesis, we review and analyze past and current afforestation policies and the socio-ecological crises ensuing from them.ResultsTo increase afforestation services and to support human-community needs, both native and non-native woody species should be considered. The framework suggests experimental testing of candidate species for their compliance with the suggested species selection criteria. Furthermore, regional stakeholders are involved in evaluating, ranking, and prioritizing the candidate species according to experimental results and stakeholders’ values and needs. We exemplify our approach by describing our ongoing research project, aimed to evaluate several native and exotic Ziziphus species in the Middle East region.ConclusionThe employment of our proposed framework forms a novel community of native and non-native woody species. We discuss the ecological context of this proposal.
Highlights
Drylands are characterized by scarce water resources ( 0.65 (UNEP 1992)), with a high spatial and temporal variability in precipitation that increases with aridity
Unsustainable land use practices, adverse climatic conditions, and population increases in many dryland regions contribute to land degradation, which impairs ecosystem services and contributes to food insecurity, carbon
We argue that in drylands, in particular, these guidelines are insufficient in the following aspects: (1) We argue that it is cardinal to develop agendas and protocols to test and select woody species for dryland afforestation based both on their contribution to the local human communities and on their impacts on nearby ecosystems
Summary
Drylands are characterized by scarce water resources ( 0.65 (UNEP 1992)), with a high spatial and temporal variability in precipitation that increases with aridity. Travelers in the 19th century described the vegetation in the area as dwarf shrublands with a few forest patches of Pinus halepensis Miller and Quercus calliprinos Webb (Paz 1979) These landscapes resulted from a long history of economic pressures and heavy grazing, which depleted the woody species populations of the native woodland and shrubland ecosystems (Pignatti 1983). A recent example is Pinus halepensis, native to the Eastern Mediterranean, which has spread from afforestations into ecosystems that the species does not inhabit naturally, including semi-arid grasslands, shrublands, and woodlands. Drought-tolerant plants are traditionally considered suitable for dryland afforestation Some of these species, such as Eucalyptus spp. and Prosopis spp., pose an ecological risk because of their allelopathic traits. The above examples emphasize the multidimensional response of an ecosystem to converting a shrubland into a forest
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