Restoring Forests and Trees for Sustainable Development: Policies, Practices, Impacts and Ways Forward

Although global rates of deforestation are lower than when the term ‘sustainable development’ was first defined in the Brundtland Report of 1987, there are few countries where forest coverage has increased. Global Forest Watch data indicates that there has been a 12% reduction in tree cover worldwide so far this century.

We are currently midway through the United Nations’ Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, which makes this collaborative work of 68 world-respected scientists timely. Reversing deforestation and degradation is heavily influenced by social, economic, institutional, political and cultural factors. Indeed, conservation projects that focus on isolated drivers rarely reach their goals, so the multidisciplinary approach of this text makes it all the more valuable.

A proximate driver for a number of restoration successes has been recognising the need to support local livelihoods and economies, achievable by adopting a people-centred approach. The authors dig deep to explore how barriers have been addressed, taking perspectives such as environmental justice into account and engaging a wide range of stakeholders. They also discuss trade-offs and synergies that arise in environmental projects.

This book is a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners and policymakers who are aiming to restore forests that provide ecosystem services enabling the health and wellbeing of people and planet.

Dr Alexander Waller FRSB

Reviewed by Dr Alexander Waller FRSB, visiting professor of science education and environmental ethics at the American University of Sovereign Nations