Forest Restoration Potential in a Deforested Mountain Area: An Ecosociological Approach towards Sustainability

Forest Restoration Potential in a Deforested Mountain Area: An Ecosociological Approach towards Sustainability

Forest degradation worldwide stimulates efforts to restore forests. In particular, in mountain areas, where livestock agriculture and grazing have led to deforestation and a strong decrease in forest ecosystem services over centuries, it is necessary to develop sustainable strategies for the restora...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forest science Vol. 66; no. 3; pp. 326 - 336
Main Authors: Zerbe, Stefan, Pieretti, Lorenzo, Elsen, Susanne, Asanidze, Zezva, Asanidze, Iveri, Mumladze, Levan
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Bethesda Oxford University Press 01-06-2020
Subjects:
19th century
Agricultural land
Agriculture
Biodiversity
Case studies
Cattle
Community
Deforestation
Development policy
Ecosystem services
Ecosystems
Environmental economics
Environmental policy
Environmental restoration
Forest degradation
Forest ecosystems
Forest management
Forests
Households
Land degradation
Land use
Livestock
Local communities
Mountains
Perception
Restoration
Stakeholder analysis
Stakeholders
Sustainability
Sustainable development
Sustainable forestry
Terrestrial ecosystems
Traditions
Southern Caucasus
Caucasus
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Summary:Forest degradation worldwide stimulates efforts to restore forests. In particular, in mountain areas, where livestock agriculture and grazing have led to deforestation and a strong decrease in forest ecosystem services over centuries, it is necessary to develop sustainable strategies for the restoration of multifunctional forest ecosystems. We investigate the case study of the Javakheti Highland in the Southern Caucasus (Georgia), which is largely deforested because of long-lasting agricultural land use. We take into consideration the natural potential of forest development, the multifacetted potential of forest use, and those stakeholders directly and indirectly, respectively, involved in forest restoration. We show that neither the natural ecological site factors nor the potential of forest use, considering traditional and modern use, pose a limitation on forest restoration. Traditional ecological knowledge is still present, however hardly activated nowadays. However, social, cultural, and political obstacles have to be addressed for the development of a sustainable forest-management policy, which is rooted in the local communities. Environmental policy favoring forest development in Javakheti Highland should integrate national forest development policy with the perception, requirements, and traditions of local people.
ISSN:0015-749X
1938-3738
DOI:10.1093/forsci/fxz081