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Ecological and social bases for the restoration of a high andean cloud forest: Preliminary results and lessons from a case study in northern Ecuador

Abstract:

The High Andean cloud forests of northern Ecuador have been exploited by humans for centuries. Presently, ecological restoration is urgently needed to enhance biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem processes and services. This chapter presents the basis for a strategy that integrates ecological knowledge and local people's perspectives on the utilization of biodiversity for the restoration and management of a High Andean landscape. The objectives were: (i) to evaluate the restoration needs of the landscape, (ii) to identify groups within society that are interested in forest restoration, (iii) to select the species of plants with potential for forest restoration, and species of mammals for managed production, and (iv) to provide recommendations for integrating groups within society to achieve participative restoration. It was found that: (i) upper montane cloud forests (2900–3400 m.a.s.l.) are most in need of restoration, (ii) more affluent groups within the society are more willing to use biodiversity, with gender and ethno-biological knowledge influencing these trends, and (iii) seven species of plants and five species of mammals have the highest potential for restoration and management. Thus, an initial phase for a restoration project should encourage and guide the more affluent parts of society to restore their lands first. Less affluent people are likely to become interested in restoration once they can explore concrete examples of the uses they can make of local biodiversity, and if support for these activities is available through participatory learning. […]