Journal article
Balancing the environmental benefits of reforestation in agricultural regions
SC Cunningham, R Mac Nally, PJ Baker, TR Cavagnaro, J Beringer, JR Thomson, RM Thompson
Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics | Published : 2015
Abstract
Reforestation is an important tool for reducing or reversing biodiversity loss and mitigating climate change. However, there are many potential compromises between the structural (biodiversity) and functional (carbon sequestration and water yield) effects of reforestation, which can be affected by decisions on spatial design and establishment of plantings. We review the environmental responses to reforestation and show that manipulating the configuration of plantings (location, size, species mix and tree density) increases a range of environmental benefits. More extensive tree plantings (>10. ha) provide more habitat, and greater improvements to carbon and water cycling. Planting a mixture o..
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Awarded by Environment Protection Authority Victoria
Funding Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the Australian Research Council Linkage Programme (LP0990038), Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment Victoria, Goulburn-Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA), Victorian EPA, Kilter Pty. Ltd and the North Central CMA. Jason Beringer, Patrick Baker, Tim Cavagnaro and Ross Thompson were supported in part by ARC Future Fellowships (FT110100602, FT120100715, FT120100463 and FT110100957, respectively). Ralph Mac Nally was supported in part by an ARC DORA Fellowship (DP120100797). We thank the two reviewers for their fresh perspectives on the topics covered by this review.