The drivers of tree cover expansion: Global, temperate, and tropical zone analyses. (15th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rudel, Thomas K.; Sloan, Sean; Chazdon, Robin; Grau, Ricardo
• Is Part Of: Land use policy. Volume 58(2016:15 Dec.)
• Page Start: 502
• Page End: 513
• Publication Date: 2016-12-15
• Subjects: Reforestation -- Forest transition -- Logging -- Tropical forests -- Deforestation; Land use -- Periodicals; Land use -- Government policy -- Periodicals; Sol, Utilisation du -- Périodiques; Sol, Utilisation du -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 333.7305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2016.08.024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-8377

Abstract

Highlights: Poor, populous peasant populations reduce the amount of new tree cover. Forest losses and humid climates increase new tree cover in a place. Tree plantations specialize in rationalized, treadmill like tree replacement. High crop yields encourage tree cover expansion on other tracts of land. Forest transitions encourage tree cover expansion. Abstract: This paper uses new, high resolution satellite-derived data to explore recent cross-national differences in expanding tree cover. Increases in tree cover have concentrated in nations with recent histories of extensive deforestation, humid climates, high crop yields, and small numbers of farm workers. The associations of expanded tree cover with high yields for cereal crops and small populations of cultivators suggests a dynamic, sometimes referred to as a forest transition, in which urbanization and industrialization promote a long-term expansion in tree cover on certain types of land. The association of tree cover gains with tree cover losses and humid climates suggests a second dynamic, a churning, treadmill-like production of wood products from lands subjected to recurring harvests of wood products followed by tree cover gains in the recently harvested areas. The forest transition dynamic suggests that many smallholders would allow tree cover to expand on their lands if payments for environmental services were available. The salience of the treadmill dynamic of tree cover losses followed by tree cover gains underscores the importance of questions about the implications of commercial tree monocultures for biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and social justice.