Whither the forest transition? Climate change, policy responses, and redistributed forests in the twenty-first century

• Published in: Ambio Vol. 49; no. 1; pp. 74 - 84
• Main Authors: Rudel, Thomas K., Meyfroidt, Patrick, Chazdon, Robin, Bongers, Frans, Sloan, Sean, Grau, H. Ricardo, Van Holt, Tracy, Schneider, Laura
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Science + Business Media 01.01.2020; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: abandoned land; Agricultural land; Atmospheric Sciences; Biodiversity; Carbon sequestration; Climate Change; Climate effects; Climate policy; Conservation of Natural Resources; Deforestation; Drought; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Environment; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Environmental Management; floods; Forest effects; Forest gains; Forest growth; Forest management; Forest transitions; Forestry; Forests; historical records; issues and policy; Land degradation; Latecomer effects; loci; Physical Geography; planting; Reforestation; REVIEW; Tree plantations; Tree planting; Trees; Tree plantations; Latecomer effects; Forest transitions; Forest gains
• ISSN: 0044-7447; 1654-7209; 1654-7209
• DOI: 10.1007/s13280-018-01143-0

Forest transitions occur when net reforestation replaces net deforestation in places. Because forest transitions can increase biodiversity and augment carbon sequestration, they appeal to policymakers contending with the degrading effects of forest loss and climate change. What then can policymakers do to trigger forest transitions? The historical record over the last two centuries provides insights into the precipitating conditions. The early transitions often occurred passively, through the spontaneous regeneration of trees on abandoned agricultural lands. Later forest transitions occurred more frequently after large-scale crisis narratives emerged and spurred governments to take action, often by planting trees on degraded, sloped lands. To a greater degree than their predecessors, latecomer forest transitions exhibit centralized loci of power, leaders with clearly articulated goals, and rapid changes in forest cover. These historical shifts in forest transitions reflect our growing appreciation of their utility for countering droughts, floods, land degradation, and climate change.