What this paper found
Synthesis of ecosystem restoration outcomes across tropical and sub-tropical Asia, evaluating tree mortality and growth at 176 sites and assessing structural and biodiversity recovery in actively restored versus naturally regenerating forest plots. Provides a rigorous empirical foundation for setting realistic expectations of restoration-based carbon and biodiversity outcomes in the Asian tropics.
How this informs belian.earth’s work
ARR projects in Asia need realistic expectations for tree mortality and growth rates. This synthesis, which Chris co-authored, brings together 176 sites where actively restored and naturally regenerating forest plots were co-located, which is the design needed to measure the difference restoration makes. The same counterfactual logic underpins how belian.earth approaches restoration carbon project claims at scale.
Frequently asked questions
What does the evidence say about tree planting outcomes for restoring tropical and sub-tropical Asian forests?
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This synthesis assesses the contribution of tree planting to ecosystem restoration across tropical and sub-tropical Asia, evaluating evidence on mortality and growth of planted trees at 176 sites and assessing structural and biodiversity recovery of co-located actively restored and naturally regenerating forest plots. Current global policy is driving renewed investment in forest restoration to protect species, sequester carbon, and secure livelihoods, and this review provides a rigorous empirical foundation for setting realistic expectations. For carbon market practitioners, the findings are essential context for evaluating the plausibility of restoration-based carbon project claims in the Asian tropics.
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Citation
Banin, L.F. et al. (2023). The road to recovery: a synthesis of outcomes from ecosystem restoration in tropical and sub-tropical Asian forests. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2021.0090