Restoring Tropical Forests: Lessons Learned from Case Studies on Three Continents

This chapter synthesizes key lessons learned from tropical forest restoration through long-term case studies across three continents: Costa Rica (Central America), Thailand (Asia), and Australia. It outlines major constraints, including ecological factors such as seed dispersal limitations and soil degradation, as well as socioeconomic challenges like high labor costs and agricultural opportunity costs.

The case studies highlight diverse restoration interventions: Applied Nucleation in Costa Rica, which proves cost-effective while promoting heterogeneity ; the Framework Species Method in Thailand, which significantly accelerates carbon sequestration and biodiversity recovery; and the establishment of a Wildlife Corridor in Australia to facilitate faunal movement and genetic exchange. The findings emphasize that successful restoration must prioritize the protection of existing forests, match management strategies to the specific level of site degradation, and ensure meaningful stakeholder participation throughout the entire process.