So, you want to grow a forest? There's more to it than just planting trees ...
Restoring degraded forest to the levels of biomass, structural complexity, biodiversity and ecological functioning characteristic of the reference forest ecosystem type, is a complex process, involving various tasks that require diverse skills and knowledge. Click on the cards below for basic advice on each topic and for links to more detailed information. If you need hands-on training, FORRU provides a variety of training experiences, customized to meet the needs of different stakeholders. If you are near Chiang Mai, you are welcome to join our volunteer events. Volunteering is a great way to gain practical experience of field or nursery work. Our multilingual training manuals are freely available, providing generic concepts and procedures, applicable throughout the tropics, including species & habitat-specific information for SE Asian countries and experimental protocols for researchers. If you don't find what you need here, then please drop a message into our "Contact Us" enquiry form.
Do you need a professional consultancy service? The Next Forest is a company, established by former FORRU students and staff. It provides professional consultancy services to assist organizations with planning and implementing restoration. The company's services include assistance with site surveys by drone, tree planting, maintenance, monitoring tree performance, biodiversity recovery and carbon accumulation. Please contact the company through their FaceBook page.
Forest Ecology
Knowing how forests regenerate naturally (forest dynamics) can help you plan restoration projects – click here to learn about forest types, succession and phenology.
Forest Degradation
Different methods are used to restore forests at different stages of degradation. Learn how to recognize degradation stages here.
Restoration Strategies
To plant or not to plant? Active vs passive restoration strategies? Find out what is appropriate for your restoration site here.
Species Selection
If you opt to plant trees, what species to select? Click here for help with this crucial decision.
Genetics
Genetic diversity within species is just as important as species diversity. Learn how to maintain genetic diversity during forest restoration projects here.
Seed Collection, Storage & Banking
Click here, if you opt to grow planting stock from seed - when to collect seeds; how to handle and store them until needed and how to bank them for conservation.
Nursery Techniques
How to set up and manage a small- scale tree nursery, to produce planting stock by the optimum planting time. Nursery procedures and production schedules.
Tree Planting & Maintenance
How to plant trees and care for them afterwards. Fertilizer application, weeding and mulching.
Direct Seeding
Direct seeding is easier than planting trees, but it doesn’t always work. Learn the technique and when it is likely to be successful here.
Fire
In seasonally dry climates, fire is the great destroyer of restoration projects. Learn how to prevent fire and what to do if your plots do burn.
Field Performance of Planted Trees
Monitoring is essential for adaptive management. Click here to learn how to measure tree survival and growth and find out if your restoration plan is working.
Biomass, Carbon Accumulation & Climate Change
About half the biomass of a growing forest is carbon – that means forest restoration can help to mitigate global climate change. Learn more here.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity recovery is one of the main aims of forest restoration - but what to measure? Plants? Birds? Mammal? Learn simple monitoring techniques here.
Socio-Economic Aspects of Restoration
Restoration won’t work without the support of all stakeholders and incentives, to sustain their commitment. Learn about the social side of restoration here.