Sustainable Renaturation in Desertification Control: Expediting the Natural Succession of Large-Scale Vegetation in Drylands

Huebner, Lorenz; Al-Quraishi, Ayad M. Fadhil; Branch, Oliver; Gaznayee, Heman Abdulkhaleq A.

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-86803-1_5

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 34 publications

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“…Even when the most effective dormancy alleviation treatments are known, the transition from seeds to established seedlings in natural environmental conditions represents a critical filter for dryland ecological restoration (James et al 2011; Gerlein‐Safdi et al 2020). An example of extreme difficulties for direct seeding can be seen in arid lands (Abella et al 2012; Huebner et al 2022). These extensively distributed regions around the world are water limited ecosystems characterized by low and unpredictable rainfall (Noy‐Meir 1973) where recruitment flushes are infrequent and can lead to low levels of plant regeneration (Arkle et al 2014; Abella et al 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From seed germination to established seedlings: a comparative evaluation in five shrub species and implications for seed‐based restoration in arid lands

Pérez

2023

Restoration Ecology

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In a context of global desertification, direct seeding of native species is emerging as a hopeful technique to achieve large‐scale arid land restoration. Although low percentages of establishment have been reported for direct seeding in arid lands, it has been more cost‐effective than outplantings for some species. Therefore, in order to determine the most suitable species for direct seeding we evaluated potential germination in laboratory trials (ex situ), and seedling emergence and establishment in the field (in situ) for five shrub species from the most arid region of Argentina called “Monte.” Direct seeding was performed in three alternative environmental conditions: (1) abandoned oil‐drilling platforms, (2) bare soil patches, and (3) under the canopy of shrubs patches in cattle ranching areas. In the three cases, four soil treatments were applied: hydrogel, soil enrichment with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and clay pot irrigation. Seedling emergence and establishment after the first period of extreme weather conditions (summer) were higher in severely degraded sites (oil‐drilling platforms). In this particular condition, seedling emergence and establishment presented the highest values for Ephedra ochreata (64.8–82.8% and 26.8–46.4%, respectively) and the lowest values for Larrea divaricata (6.78–24.8% and 2.8–6.4%, respectively). These results show that direct seeding offers potential possibilities to restart processes of assisted succession in arid lands and that species selection is a key stage/phase in direct seeding success.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From seed germination to established seedlings: a comparative evaluation in five shrub species and implications for seed‐based restoration in arid lands

Pérez

2023

Restoration Ecology

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Desertification in China: Role of Natural Succession in the Sustainable Revegetation of Drylands

Huebner¹,

Al-Quraishi

2022

Earth and Environmental Sciences Library

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New approaches: Use of assisted natural succession in revegetation of inhabited arid drylands as alternative to large-scale afforestation

Huebner¹,

Al-Quraishi

Branch

et al. 2022

SN Appl. Sci.

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It is a great concept to let nature do the work of revegetation, however in semi-arid and arid regions the process of natural succession, if it occurs at all, typically requires many years of undisturbed development until an increase in biomass becomes measurable, hence it rather is applied to remote, sparsely populated regions and may be underrated as a measure to restore native vegetation, particularly in inhabited arid areas. What are the factors that make arid successional processes successful, how to expedite, and how to enable their use for the ecological revegetation of densely populated drylands? We review restoration methods that combine the planting of shelterbelt compartments with successional revegetation of the internal area, protected from wind and drought. Various measures of assisted natural succession can be applied to greatly accelerate the revegetation, including soil tillage, amendment with organic matter and the inoculation with cyanobacteria or lichens to form biocrusts. The aim is to initiate the development of native, water-saving savanna with biodiversity, resilience and adaptability to climate change. A narrow twin shelterbelt module could facilitate the use of natural succession within inhabited and peri-urban areas, also serving as protective greenbelt for cities. A pilot is planned in a peri-urban area of Northern Iraq, with a successional area of 125–150 m between shelterbelts. Land-use of agriculture, gardening and recreation can be integrated within the successional area, which also generates engagement of residents in the maintenance work. Planting of shelterbelts is required on 10–25% (not 100%) of the restoration area, therefore the use of assisted succession within protective compartments is expected to have both, ecological and economic advantages over large-scale afforestation.

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Sustainable Renaturation in Desertification Control: Expediting the Natural Succession of Large-Scale Vegetation in Drylands

Cited by 3 publications

References 34 publications

From seed germination to established seedlings: a comparative evaluation in five shrub species and implications for seed‐based restoration in arid lands

From seed germination to established seedlings: a comparative evaluation in five shrub species and implications for seed‐based restoration in arid lands

Desertification in China: Role of Natural Succession in the Sustainable Revegetation of Drylands

New approaches: Use of assisted natural succession in revegetation of inhabited arid drylands as alternative to large-scale afforestation

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