THE USE OF SECONDARY FOREST SPECIES IN REHABILITATION OF DEGRADED FOREST LANDS

Abstract

Extensive and expanding areas of degraded lands, including degraded forest lands, occur in Southeast Asia. Rehabilitation programmes are integral to development programmes in the region, although the rate of deforestation is outpacing that of rehabilitation. This paper reviews methods of rehabilitation using secondary forest species. Assisted natural regeneration, a method of reforestation which exploits the natural processes of vegetation recovery, is a potentially rapid, efficient, and cost-effective means of reforestation. Several community reforestation strategies are also outlined. Directions for future research and the need for information reviews are indicated.