Beyond fixes that fail: identifying sustainable improvements to tree seed supply and farmer participation in forest and landscape restoration

Abstract

Growing evidence suggests that constraints to the availability and quality of tree seed can undermine the success of forest and landscape restoration efforts and the delivery of associated benefits such as mitigating climate change and halting biodiversity loss. Past experiences to promote tree seed supply have frequently shown limited outcomes over time, partly because of unexpected, deleterious dynamics that emerged from the interventions themselves. In this study, we used a dynamic system approach to understand the interrelated problems that constrain the supply of good quality and site-adapted tree seeds to meet smallholders' and other stakeholders' demand in Burkina Faso and the Philippines, and to identify leverage points for intervention. Causal loop diagrams were constructed for each country, based on a framework of indicators of effective tree seed supply systems, literature review, semistructured interviews, and expert validation. The diagrams illustrate the complex interactions between planned interventions and their expected and unexpected effects that frequently lead to adverse outcomes. For example, the high turnover of forestry officers in municipalities to combat corruption in Burkina Faso combined with limited resources to support smallholders undermined the officers' ability to strengthen local capacities in seedling production and sustainable forest management. In the Philippines, the imposition of rigid requirements for seedling survival rates as a condition for funding, in the absence of adequate time and resources for the production of quality seedlings and monitoring, resulted in exaggerated survival rates during reporting, which in turn hampered the detection and addressing of shortcomings. A dynamic system approach can help stakeholders recognize the broader impacts of their actions and jointly identify appropriate interventions, from developing more context-specific approaches to reconsidering investment criteria to balance benefits.

Seeding Resilient Restoration: An Indicator System for the Analysis of Tree Seed Systems

“…This includes the origin of the material, predicted suitability for a restoration site, and its genetic diversity [19,21]. Seed harvesting and production can involve a wide variety of stakeholders, including indigenous and local communities, farmers, private landowners, protected areas, and public and private sector actors [22].…”

Indigenous and local communities can boost seed supply in the UN decade on ecosystem restoration

“…Local communities can have high species ecological knowledge, but they frequently lack access to technical information on legal requirements and market opportunities for participating in seed supply for restoration (Brancalion et al 2012 ; Silva et al 2016 ). Participatory approaches for activating community-based systems rely on meaningful and long-lasting relationships between multiple stakeholders, including seed suppliers and users (Valette et al 2020 ). Organizations with expertise in ecosystem restoration—such as government agencies, NGOs, and universities—play a crucial role in identifying seed market demands or stimulating restoration projects (Richards et al 2015 ).…”

“…Community networks rely on complex relationships between multiple stakeholders responsible for exchanging skills, knowledge, and resources to operate the seed production chains (Valette et al 2020 ). Coordinating the various interactions among local members and stakeholders outside the communities requires clear understanding of roles, rights, and responsibilities (Atkinson et al 2018 ).…”

“…Agreements and contracts should also be established between stakeholders outside the community groups to ensure their roles within the network. Although decentralized operations and power devolution are essential components to promote local engagement (Valette et al 2020 ), the state has the vital role of enforcing laws and creating incentives to support local participation and benefits (Ribot et al 2006 ). These processes are not a result of signed contracts but rely on the capacity to effectively negotiate a clear understanding and respect of the unique perspectives that shape the place-specific community organization.…”

Are Tree Seed Systems for Forest Landscape Restoration Fit for Purpose? An Analysis of Four Asian Countries

“…The tree seed framework consists of a mix of a 'state-run' and 'incentives-led' model, as the government both produces and distributes seed through its 11 regional mechanised nurseries and incentivises and contracts stakeholders such as People's Organisations (local community organisations), academia and private enterprises to produce seed for implementing the eNGP. Similarly, according to regulations, accredited seed sources can be established on both public and private lands [55,56].…”