Why Are Diverse Native Tree Species Essential for Landscape Restoration?
Landscape restoration is the process of returning degraded or damaged land to its former, or even better, ecological state. This can involve a variety of activities, such as planting trees and other vegetation, restoring soil health, and managing water resources.
One of the most important aspects of landscape restoration is using diverse species of native trees. Native trees are those that have evolved in a particular region and are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions. They are also essential for supporting local biodiversity and ecosystem function.
We believe that these are some of the benefits of using diverse native tree species in landscape restoration projects:
Increased resilience: Diverse tree plantings are more resilient to disturbances such as pests, diseases, and extreme weather events. This is because different species have different vulnerabilities and strengths. For example, if one species is affected by a pest outbreak, other species may be able to resist the pest.
Improved ecosystem function: Diverse tree plantings provide a variety of ecosystem services, such as water filtration, air purification, and erosion control. They also provide habitat for a wide range of wildlife, including birds, insects, and mammals.
Cultural and economic benefits: Native trees can also provide cultural and economic benefits to local communities. For example, they can be used for traditional medicine, food, and . Native-species forests can also attract tourists and support eco-tourism businesses.
Verdanta is dedicated to restoring landscapes and promoting biodiversity. We use a variety of native tree species in our restoration projects, and we work with local communities to ensure that their needs and preferences are considered.
For example, Verdanta is currently working on a project to restore the degraded forests near the Rift Valley escarpment in Southern Tanzania. We are planting a variety of native tree species, including Red Mahogany trees, and Waterberry Trees, Wild Jackfruit Trees and Snakebean trees. The project is also providing substantial employment and training opportunities for people living in nearby villages, as well as boosting long term sustainable development through carbon and nature credit revenue sharing agreements.
In addtion to the biodiversity and community benefits, mixed species forests are more likely to sequester carbon in the long term than monoculture plantations for a number of reasons:
More efficient use of resources: Mixed species forests can more efficiently use the available resources, such as light, water, and nutrients. This is because different tree species have different niches and can occupy different levels in the forest canopy. This allows the forest to produce more biomass, which stores more carbon.
Longer lifespan: Mixed species forests tend to have a longer lifespan than monoculture plantations. This is because different tree species have different lifespans. This means that there is always a mix of young and old trees in the forest, which helps to ensure that the forest continues to sequester carbon over time.
A number of studies have shown that mixed species forests store more carbon than monoculture plantations. For example, a study published in the journal Nature found that mixed species forests in China stored twice as much carbon as monoculture plantations. (Lu X., Liang X., Zhang J., Cao J., Lin P., Peng C., Wang Z., Liu C., Fu W., Yan J. (2018). Tree species richness enhances aboveground biomass carbon storage in subtropical forests. Nature Communications, 9, 2564.)
By planting mixed-species forests Verdanta is not only helping to restore degraded landscapes but also provide natural carbon-sinks that will improve the Earth’s atmosphere for decades to come.