The role of tropical dry forests for biodiversity, carbon and water conservation in the neotropics: lessons learned and opportunities for its sustainable management.

Published in Regional Environmental Change, v. 15(6):1039-1049 
Authors

Portillo-Quintero, C., Sánchez-Azofeifa, G.A., Calvo-Alvarado, J.C., Quesada, M. and do Espirito Santo, M.M.

Publication year 2015
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-014-0689-6
Affiliations
  • Center for Earth Observation Sciences (CEOS), Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E3, Canada
  • Escuela de Ingenieria Forestal, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago, Cartago, Costa Rica
  • Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas (CIECO), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico
  • Departamento de Biologia Geral/CCBS, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, CP 126, Montes Claros, MG, CEP 39401-089, Brazil
IAI Program

CRN3

IAI Project CRN3025
Keywords

Abstract

In this paper, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of the current regional literature associated with tropical dry forest (TDF) along three main axes: biodiversity, carbon and water conservation in the neotropics. Our analysis provides three key findings: (1) from the biodiversity point of view, we document that high degrees of endemism, diversity of plant life forms and ecophysiological types as key elements for their conservation across the Americas, (2) from the carbon storage point of view, we found that if the world&rsquos TDFs were restored they whole ecosystem would comprise 22 P g of carbon in aboveground biomass. In the Americas alone, TDF restoration could potentially add 8 P g of carbon to the potential total ecosystem carbon stock, (3) we found that at least 66 % of water reservoirs in the neotropics are located within dry forest ecoregions therefore, the conservation of the quality of freshwater sources for human consumption in the neotropics is directly dependent on the sustainable management of TDF-dominated landscapes. In this paper, we stress that advocacy for conservation and sustainable management of TDF will benefit from integrating it&rsquos value in biophysical terms (e.g. carbon, biodiversity) with key ecosystem services and uses (e.g. its impact on hydrological dynamics and its potential for fostering ecotourism initiatives and entrepreneurship). By doing this, support and awareness could be wider and more effective in the long term, especially from national and local communities.