Bioeconomy is a practice that seeks to use biological resources to drive economic, social and environmental development in a sustainable manner. When associated with bioeconomic principles, forest restoration can generate new opportunities for both the recovery of the environment and the economic growth
This is the conclusion of an article recently published in the journal Sustainability Science.
“Forest restoration is understood today as one of the most viable and effective ways to tackle anthropogenic climate change,” says Pedro Krainovic, first author of the study and FAPESP postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of São Paulo ( IEA-USP).
“When made with native species, it brings multiple positive externalities [efeitos indiretos de uma atividade]with a high capacity for socioeconomic impact. And, best of all, offering these externalities for the long term.”
According to the authors, one of the ways in which forest restoration can bring financial returns is through multifunctional forests.
When regulation and maintenance services are well provided in these forests, it is possible to promote the commercialization of carbon credits or other goods, such as native wood.
It is also possible to obtain biotechnological products for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, in addition to other non-timber forest products.
In the study, conducted within the scope of the Center for Analysis and Synthesis of Nature-Based Solutions (Biota Síntese), the authors present some examples that financially quantify the benefits of projects more aligned with forest restoration.
In certain parts of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, agroforestry systems can be more profitable than cattle ranching or soybean cultivation while restoring ecosystem functions in underutilized and degraded areas.
When comparing profits, a hectare of pasture generates between US$60 (about R$347) and US$120 (about R4,695) per year, while soybean cultivation has its profits fluctuating between US$104 (about R$603) and US$135 (around R$782) (sometimes having negative results).
On the other hand, research data indicates that the harvesting of non-timber products in agroforestry systems can generate an annual profit ranging between US$300 (about R$1,739) and US$650 (about R$3,767) per hectare.
But the authors warn that, when the possibility of exploring restored areas is raised, it is necessary to study ways so that this exploration does not return the restoration work to square one.
There is still no technical coefficient that indicates how to achieve a balance between exploration and restoration. Therefore, researchers defend the need to regulate the production process.
The management of native species and specific ecosystem services offered by these species in biodiverse environments still needs to be better studied.
“It is difficult to measure the exact amount of benefits that these restored forests can bring in climate regulation, soil preservation and the provision of other services, which has not entered the equation today”, ponders Krainovic.
Another challenge pointed out by the author is the natural products market itself, which currently has as its main base some exotic and non-arboreal species considered commodities, that is, they are produced on a large scale, traded internationally and involve technical and technological production processes already very well known.
“This reduces the competitiveness, for example, of a forest product made from a native restoration tree compared to exotic wood products already established on the market”, explains the researcher.
“Another aspect to be considered is the acceptance of the new product by consumers already accustomed to the existing offer. Therefore, it is necessary to think about incentives and regulations that increase the competition potential of these new products with those that are already commonly produced.”
Finally, the authors reinforce that they are pointing out yet another alternative for thinking about forest restoration.
“We launched the term bioeconomic forest restoration with the aim of highlighting that, even with the urgent need to add value to the standing forest, biodiversity and the use of native species are essential, without forgetting the relationship with the people who occupy the territories and the need for public and private incentives in a combination of factors necessary for climate adaptation”, points out Krainovic.
The article emphasizes that bioeconomic restoration is a promising and urgent path, but it requires collaboration between the public and private sectors, alongside local communities, in addition to a commitment to biodiversity and the use of native species.
“This study provides a clear guide to how forest restoration can contribute to both socio-ecological development and nature-based solutions to mitigate the impacts of global climate change,” explains Sergio de Miguel, corresponding author of the article and head of the global ecosystem research group at the Catalan Forestry Technology Center (CTFC).
This content was originally published in Restoring forests can generate economic growth, according to a study on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil