Conclusion: applying South East Asia Rainforest Research Programme science to land-use management policy and practice in a changing landscape and climate

Abstract

The context and challenges relating to the remaining tropical rainforest are briefly reviewed and the roles which science can play in addressing questions are outlined. Key messages which articles in the special issue, mainly based on projects of the Royal Society South East Asia Rainforest Research Programme (SEARRP), have raised of relevance to policies on land use, land management and REDDþ are then considered. Results from the atmospheric science and hydrology papers, and some of the ecological ones, demonstrate the very high ecosystem service values of rainforest (compared with oil palm) in maintaining high biodiversity, good local air quality, reducing greenhouse emissions, and reducing landslide, flooding and sedimentation consequences of climate change-and hence provide science to underpin the protection of remaining forest, even if degraded and fragmented. Another group of articles test ways of restoring forest quality (in terms of biodiversity and carbon value) or maintaining as high biodiversity and ecological functioning levels as possible via intelligent design of forest zones and fragments within oil palm landscapes. Finally, factors that have helped to enhance the policy relevance of SEARRP projects and dissemination of their results to decision-makers are outlined.

A review of the ecosystem functions in oil palm plantations, using forests as a reference system

“…The establishment of oil palm plantations is likely to increase the probability of shallow landslides, whereas large, deep landslides (>3 m soil depth) are mostly influenced by geological, topographic, and climatic factors and should not be affected by land use (Ramsay, ; Bruijnzeel, ). It is known that forests reduce the probability of shallow landslides by stabilizing the top metres of soil with their roots (Starkel, ; O'Loughlin, ), while deforestation increases the risk of landslides on steep terrain (Imaizumi, Sidle & Kamei, ; Walsh et al ., ). In addition, soil stability is generally lower in plantations and agricultural land because there is less ground cover and soil structure than in forests (Sidle et al ., ).…”

“…To prevent landslides, Walsh et al . () suggest leaving areas with slopes >25% with their natural forest cover intact. Finally, the enforcement of laws against the use of fire to clear land should be improved.…”

A Novel Approach for Multi-Domain and Multi-Gene Family Identification Provides Insights into Evolutionary Dynamics of Disease Resistance Genes in Core Eudicot Plants

“…In contrast to near-exponential growth of the human population, access to arable land is limited and often diminishes irretrievable resources (such as rainforest) when increased (Walsh et al 2011). Genetic modification (GM) of crop plants to increase yields with the remaining land has therefore become a well-established strategy for feeding the planet without destroying it.…”

The future of South East Asian rainforests in a changing landscape and climate

“…Mercado et al [11] ask to what degree variability in the rate of above-ground woody biomass production across Amazonia can be explained by differences in photosynthetic carbon fixation rates and the underpinning supply of key nutrients, notably phosphorus. Walsh et al [12] consider longer term effects of land use and climate change on rainforest erosion processes. They use a combination of long-term monitoring and sediment dating and fingerprinting techniques to assess how erosional impacts at different spatial scales in the Segama catchment in Sabah have varied with logging methods, terrain steepness and climatic change over the past 22-50 years.…”