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The Role of Plantations in Restoring Degraded Lands in Hong Kong
Published in M.H. Wong, J.W.C. Wong, A.J.M. Baker, Remediation and Management of Degraded Lands, 2018
The study of natural forest succession showed that grassland on degraded lands of Hong Kong can develop into closed-canopy secondary forest through natural succession in the absence of disturbance, over about 30–40 years (Zhuang, 1993). However, the time span required is longer on more degraded sites. Planting of fast-growing species can facilitate forest restoration on degraded lands. Therefore, plantation is an active and important restoration approach, especially in severely degraded areas. However, most of the commonly planted species used in plantation are exotic species, such as Pinus, Eucalyptus, and Acacia species. All these species produce dry fruits which cannot be used by local animals. Planting indigenous fast-growing, bird-dispersed species can promote the rehabilitation of native forest and improve the ecological function of plantations.
Urban forest restoration ecology: a review from Hamilton, New Zealand
Published in Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 2019
Kiri Joy Wallace, Bruce D. Clarkson
Forest restoration is fully achieved when both forest structure and function are re-instated. In this context, function encompasses any ecological processes or ecosystem services. Restoration work often focuses exclusively on plant community structure or richness, without consideration of restoring functional processes (Montoya et al. 2012; Wortley et al. 2013). This is unfortunate, as forest restoration is a valuable tool for recovering degraded ecological functions. When successful in an urban setting, the benefits are twofold: support of native biodiversity and ecosystem service provision for urban citizens (Alberti 2005).