Trees, Forests and People最新文献

{"title":"Comparative systematic review on abundance and composition of selected soil microbial communities in degraded and restored forests","authors":"Yonela Kipi ,&nbsp;Alen Manyevere ,&nbsp;Ndivhuwo Ramatsitsi ,&nbsp;Chuene Victor Mashamaite","doi":"10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101042","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101042","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Land degradation is a rising environmental challenge driven by climate change, spread of invasive species, wildfires, and anthropogenic activities such as deforestation. Mitigating land degradation through ecological restoration is critical not only for the preservation of soil microbial communities but also for the recovery of the broader ecosystems they support. Ecological restoration is widely recognised as a strategy for reversing land degradation, enhancing biodiversity, and improving soil health. Soil microbial communities are integral to these processes, facilitating nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and ecosystem resilience. In this paper, the abundance and composition of key soil microbial taxa in degraded and restored forest ecosystems were systematically reviewed, with a focus being on fungal and bacterial communities as well as soil enzymatic activities. A structured literature search across Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar databases, identified 1100 studies, of which 32 met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that microbial diversity and abundance were significantly reduced in degraded forests compared to restored sites, with ecological restoration promoting the reestablishment and restructuring of functionally important microbial assemblages. Soil physicochemical properties, vegetation characteristics, and restoration methodologies emerged as primary determinants of microbial composition and recovery dynamics. However, microbial reassembly is a protracted process, contingent on site-specific environmental factors and restoration approaches. The review also highlighted critical research gaps, particularly the need for long-term microbial monitoring and region-specific investigations, especially in tropical and sub-Saharan African forest ecosystems. Understanding of microbial responses to forest restoration can help create more effective, evidence-based strategies for enhancing soil health and ensuring ecosystem sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36104,"journal":{"name":"Trees, Forests and People","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101042"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Understanding factors impacting adoption and use of silvopastoral systems with native trees in the Cerrado: evidence from the northern of Minas Gerais, Brazil","authors":"Felipe Corrêa Ribeiro ,&nbsp;Carlos Moreira Miquelino Eleto Torres ,&nbsp;Eleydiane Maria Gomes Vale ,&nbsp;Dietrich Darr ,&nbsp;Aldicir Scariot ,&nbsp;Anderson Cassio Sevilha ,&nbsp;Silvio Nolasco de Oliveira Neto ,&nbsp;Kathrin Meinhold ,&nbsp;Lucas Abreu Kerkoff","doi":"10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101040","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101040","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Brazilian Cerrado faces increasing pressure for land cover change from expanding livestock farming and monoculture agriculture practices. In this context, silvopastoral systems (SPS) using native trees present a promising alternative for sustainable land use. However, the adoption and intensification of these systems depend on various influencing factors. This study, conducted in the northern mesoregion of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, seeks to understand the impact of production, environmental, technical, socioeconomic, and farm-related variables on the use of SPS. Using the Seemingly Unrelated Regressions (SUR) model, estimated through the Full Information Maximum Likelihood (FIML) method, we developed three equations to assess the adoption of SPS and the intensification of their use, assessed by the intensity of production and commercialization efforts. We found that 12 variables of five impacting factors influence the adoption and intensification of SPS. Water resources are one of the most important variables that positively impact the intensification of SPS, but not the adoption of them. In contrast, the farmer's age positively influences adoption but not their intensification. While farm size and number of productive land uses impact all equations positively, the distance from the farmer's house to the production area shows an inverse effect. Based on our findings, we suggest differentiated policies and support measures addressing “Adopters” and \"Not-yet-adopters\" to successfully promote silvopastoral systems with native trees in the region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36104,"journal":{"name":"Trees, Forests and People","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101040"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145266146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Community-based conservation in mountain forests: Patterns, challenges, and policy implications","authors":"Voichita Timis-Gansac ,&nbsp;Lucian Dinca ,&nbsp;Nicu Constantin Tudose ,&nbsp;Cristinel Constandache ,&nbsp;Gabriel Murariu ,&nbsp;Gabriel Cheregi ,&nbsp;Petrică Tudor Moțiu ,&nbsp;Laura Melinda Derecichei","doi":"10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101041","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101041","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High mountain forests are characterized by diverse ecological conditions and species composition, shaped by latitude, altitude, and climatic factors. These forests provide essential ecosystem services—including water regulation, biodiversity conservation, and cultural value—not only to mountain populations but also to downstream communities. Local communities are deeply interconnected with these forests, depending on them for resources, livelihoods, and identity. However, climate change, deforestation, and policy gaps have increasingly threatened both ecological integrity and traditional practices.</div><div>This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric and systematic analysis of the global scientific literature published between 1987 and 2024, focusing on the roles, perceptions, and impacts of local communities in conserving high mountain forests. We conducted a dual-stage analysis using Web of Science and Scopus databases, identifying 192 publications for bibliometric review and 422 for systematic synthesis. The results were categorized into four main research areas: community roles in conservation, empirical impacts of engagement, biodiversity linkages, and perception-based studies.</div><div>Findings show that most research originates from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, with significant emphasis on participatory conservation models, cultural ecosystem services, and payment for ecosystem services schemes. Challenges such as gender inequality, governance complexity, and local ecological knowledge gaps were also identified.</div><div>By combining quantitative and qualitative methods, this study highlights how community-based conservation enhances both ecological and social resilience. It provides valuable insights for policymakers, forest managers, and researchers seeking to promote inclusive, sustainable forest management practices in mountain regions globally.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36104,"journal":{"name":"Trees, Forests and People","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101041"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The synergistic effect of species diversity and functional diversity in subtropical naturally regenerating forests promotes environmental adaptability of biomass accumulation","authors":"Ruibin Cao ,&nbsp;Hui Wang ,&nbsp;Yu Zhu ,&nbsp;Min Yi","doi":"10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101037","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101037","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ecological ground-based monitoring is essential for understanding the interactions between biodiversity and carbon sequestration, providing insights to address biodiversity loss and improve forest quality. This study aimed to explore the synergies and driving mechanisms of carbon sequestration and biodiversity in subtropical naturally regenerating and planted forests of different ages or successional stages. Based on 326 forest ecosystem plots, we quantified the spatial-temporal heterogeneity of tree species biodiversity and biomass, as well as the driving effects of environmental factors and stand structure, using Mantel test, multiple linear regression model, partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM), and Hot-spot analysis. Our findings revealed that species richness in subtropical forests of Hunan ranged from 5.04 to 5.71. Mantel test indicated that stand structure and environmental factors influenced biodiversity by enhancing environmental heterogeneity and niche differentiation. The planted forests (93.41 ± 3.87 Mg·ha^-1) exhibited higher biomass than naturally regenerating forests (88.21 ± 4.60 Mg·ha^-1), but were more directly influenced by environmental factors due to reduced environmental adaptation. PLS-PM results revealed that in naturally regenerating forests, species diversity (standardized path coefficient: 0.19, <em>p</em>&lt; 0.05) and functional diversity (0.24, <em>p</em>&lt; 0.05) combined with soil (0.43, <em>p</em>&lt; 0.001) promoted biomass accumulation. This study explored how niche theory and complementarity effects drove biomass accumulation in naturally regenerating forests by enhancing environmental adaptation. Hot-spot analysis advocated the need for forest management to prioritize naturally regenerating forests, ensuring the sustainability of biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Our study emphasized the adoption of a dual strategy of optimizing planted forests structure and protecting naturally regenerating forests to enhance subtropical forest ecosystems’ role in addressing global change and regional sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36104,"journal":{"name":"Trees, Forests and People","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101037"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145266141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of deforestation on ecosystem functions of Ecuador's tropical dry forest under different protection status","authors":"Jaime Maza-Maza ,&nbsp;Emilio Rodríguez-Caballero ,&nbsp;Borja Rodríguez-Lozano ,&nbsp;Yolanda Cantón","doi":"10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101032","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101032","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The highly diverse equatorial dry forests are among the most threatened ecosystems on Earth due to the alarming rates of deforestation, and are currently classified as \"critically endangered\" according to IUCN criteria. Understanding the causes of its deforestation and its impacts on local communities is essential for its management and conservation. In this study, we used public information in geographic information systems (GISs) from 1990–2020 together with remote sensing data and local expert knowledge to assess the drivers of deforestation and the provision of regulatory ecosystem services (ESs) through the Nature’s Contributions to People (NCP) framework in the Arenillas and Zarumilla watersheds (Province of El Oro, Ecuador). Our results clearly identify the expansion of agricultural and rangelands as the main driver of deforestation, especially starting in 2000. The reduction in area of equatorial dry forest by more than 42,224.45 ha implies a broad reduction of carbon storage and water regulation, and increased erosion. As a consequence, the ESs associated with air quality regulation (NCP3), control of harmful organisms (NCP10), climate regulation (NCP4), pollination (NCP2) and habitat maintenance (NCP1) all declined over the study period. The protected areas in the study region were insufficient to stop this trend and preserve ESs. More precisely, one of the two protected areas in the region, BP-Tahuín, presented levels of provision of services similar to non-protected areas. Our study highlights the urgency to identify alternative conservation measures, which respond to social needs and valorize regulatory services to stop deforestation due to agricultural and rangeland expansion.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36104,"journal":{"name":"Trees, Forests and People","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101032"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unlocking pathways to livelihood improvement through valuation of ecosystem services in Kakamega Forest, Kenya","authors":"Erick O. Osewe ,&nbsp;Bogdan Popa ,&nbsp;Harald Vacik ,&nbsp;Joram K. Kagombe ,&nbsp;Ibrahim Osewe ,&nbsp;Ioan Vasile Abrudan","doi":"10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101031","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101031","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Overdependence on tropical forest ecosystems in the Global South continues to drive deforestation and environmental degradation. The non-conformity of ecosystem service (ES) values with conventional economic models limits effective resource management policies. ES valuation provides comparable metrics for the economic inclusion of natural capital in decision-making for livelihood improvement. This research assessed how forest dependent communities derive economic and cultural value from Kakamega Forest Ecosystem (KFE) in Kenya by (i) identifying the most frequently used forest products, (ii) evaluating the contribution of foraged forest products to local livelihoods, and (iii) determining their perceptions and willingness to pay (WTP) for cultural ES. This research used survey methods to collect primary data by distributing mixed-format questionnaires to 631 households across five sub-counties bordering KFE. Statistical analyses of collected data were conducted in R studio. Firewood at 49% was the most frequently used forest product of the total foraged products. The total annual monetary valuation for tangible ES was US$ 283,362, which comprised vines <em>(Mondia whitei)</em> at US$ 74,786, firewood at US$ 73,513, fruits (<em>Persea americana</em>) at US$ 72,860, medicinal plants US$ 39,320, timber US$ 12,801, and mushrooms <em>(Auricularia auricula-judae)</em> at US$ 8015. For the intangible ES, 93% of the respondents had WTP within the price range of US$ 0.55 to US$ 2.17 with an average of 70% positive perceptions expressed for cultural ES at forest sacred groves. The findings on both economic and cultural dependencies on KFE enabled Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scenarios in livelihood improvement. This research recommends PES schemes and socially inclusive interventions for sustainable forest management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36104,"journal":{"name":"Trees, Forests and People","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101031"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145266142","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Native and non-native monumental trees in cultural landscapes: a spatially heterogeneous source of biodiversity","authors":"Nicola Menon ,&nbsp;Giuseppe Brundu ,&nbsp;D. Johan Kotze ,&nbsp;Nicola La Porta ,&nbsp;Maria Cristina Monteverdi ,&nbsp;Yoan Paillet ,&nbsp;Paolo Semenzato ,&nbsp;Tommaso Sitzia ,&nbsp;Thomas Campagnaro","doi":"10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101030","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101030","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Monumental trees hold considerable ecological, cultural, and socio-economic values, providing crucial ecosystem services. Updated catalogues of monumental trees represent an essential starting point for the study and appropriate management of these entities. This study offers comprehensive insights into the composition, distribution, and ecological significance of the Italian monumental tree community. We used the Italian monumental trees inventory (4657 spatially explicit records) provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry. While native species dominate the monumental trees community, the noteworthy presence of non-native trees highlights ecological and historical dynamics at the national scale. Non-native species dominate the urban monumental trees community. Spatial analysis reveals clustering of monumental trees at provincial and local levels, suggesting the existence of biodiversity and cultural hotspots (e.g., parks, churches, historic villas, and royal palaces). We showed discrepancies concerning the application of monumentality criteria between native and non-native species, which also depend on their surrounding environment (e.g., urban settings favoring historical and architectural significance criteria). Native species are positively associated with criteria used to identify monumental trees such as age, circumference, crown size, shape, and ecological value, while non-native species are linked with historical, landscape, architectural, and botanical rarity values. Our findings highlight the multifaceted nature of the monumental tree community.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36104,"journal":{"name":"Trees, Forests and People","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101030"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145266144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Temporal dynamics and environmental drivers of nocturnal sap flow in a Populus popularis plantation in an arid area with shallow groundwater","authors":"Xiaoqin Dai ,&nbsp;Jiali Du ,&nbsp;Zailin Huo","doi":"10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101027","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101027","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Emerging evidence demonstrates that nocturnal sap flow (<em>Q_n</em>) is a nonnegligible component among many tree species, and depends on the climate and water conditions. We investigated <em>Q_n</em> dynamics for <em>Populus popularis</em>, a main tree species in China’s farmland shelterbelts, in arid climate and shallow groundwater environments. Tree water use of the <em>P. popularis</em> stand was quantified using sap flow measurements during the growing seasons of 2018–2021. Leaf area index (<em>LAI</em>), nighttime vapor pressure deficit (<em>VPD_n</em>), nighttime wind speed at 2 m height (<em>u</em>₂<em>_n</em>), soil water content in the 0–30 cm soil layer (<em>SWC</em>_0–30 _cm), and groundwater table depth (<em>GTD</em>) were involved in this study. Results indicated that mean daily <em>Q_n</em> and daily proportion of <em>Q_n</em> to sap flow were 0.11–0.26 kg m^-2 d^-1 and 6 %–9 % in four years, respectively. The mean daily proportion of <em>Q_n</em> to sap flow was higher in May and September than in other months. Compared with clear nights under similar <em>VPD_n</em> and <em>GTD</em> conditions, rainy nights prompted a significant increase in normalized nocturnal sap flow (<em>Q_n/LAI</em>, derived by dividing <em>Q_n</em> by <em>LAI</em>) after midnight as stem refilling accelerated. <em>SWC</em>_0–30 _cm and <em>GTD</em> were the primary factors determining <em>Q_n/LAI. Q_n/LAI</em> could be depressed by <em>VPD_n</em> under low <em>SWC</em>_0–30 _cm. Rising <em>u</em>₂<em>_n</em> promoted slightly <em>Q_n/LAI</em> over four years. The increase in <em>GTD</em> induced a reduction in daytime sap flow, thereby elevating <em>Q_n/LAI</em> over four years, except for 2018. <em>Q_n</em> in <em>P. popularis</em> stand could be used for stem water recharge under physiological regulation. Our results reveal species-specific water use strategies, thereby understanding nocturnal water uptake of plantations and refining silvicultural techniques in similar climatic zones worldwide.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36104,"journal":{"name":"Trees, Forests and People","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101027"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145220582","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Urban tree planning: Can MCDA-driven approaches help improve current practices? A Canadian case study","authors":"Alexandre Rioux ,&nbsp;Sandrine Lacroix ,&nbsp;Martijn Kuller ,&nbsp;Françoise Bichai ,&nbsp;Danielle Dagenais","doi":"10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101029","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101029","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Canadian cities are striving to address climate change by setting ambitious goals for tree planting and increasing urban canopy cover. However, urban tree planning is complex, involving multiple objectives like reducing heat islands, improving public health, and minimizing costs, while balancing the interests of various stakeholders. To manage this complexity, a spatial suitability model for tree planting was developed using GIS-MCDA. This model was co-created with stakeholders in Montreal, Canada, and aims to improve upon traditional urban tree planning methods by combining territorial opportunities and needs. A comparison was made between the model's recommendations for tree planting sites and the sites previously planned by municipal institutions in three Montreal boroughs. The analysis, which considered both the entire study area, and a subset comprised of public land, showed a significant discrepancy between the areas prioritized by the model and those selected by the boroughs, with little overlap between the two. This difference may stem from the model's broaderscale approach, while the boroughs focused on individual tree pits at a finer scale. Despite these differences, the framework provides an opportunity for municipal institutions to consider a wider range of planting sites and take into account a more complete set of decision criteria. By using this model, cities can optimize tree planting efforts to provide needed ecosystem services to the local populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36104,"journal":{"name":"Trees, Forests and People","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101029"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From forest to future: A sustainable perspective on bamboo’s nexus with biodiversity, indigenous knowledge, ecological resilience, and current status in Northeast India","authors":"Chandramohan Singh,&nbsp;Vinod Prasad Khanduri,&nbsp;Bhupendra Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101028","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101028","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bamboo is a multifunctional and ecologically significant plant species, has garnered increasing research attention in recent years. Northeast India, recognized as a global hotspot of bamboo diversity, harbors 22 genera and 103 species, with the highest richness in Arunachal Pradesh (58 species), followed by Meghalaya (48), Manipur (40), and Assam (38). A systematic review of literature related to bamboo was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. This review synthesizes evidence on bamboo’s role in sustaining biodiversity, enhancing ecological resilience, and supporting community livelihoods. The findings highlight that bamboo forests contribute substantially to soil stabilization, watershed protection, and carbon sequestration, thereby mitigating the impacts of climate change. Bamboo also functions as a keystone species, supporting diverse flora and fauna, while serving as a renewable resource for food, medicine, construction, and handicrafts. Despite accounting for over 50 % of India’s bamboo species, the region faces persistent challenges, including habitat degradation, limited market access, and weak policy frameworks. The review identifies three key outcomes: (i) bamboo-based industries and community-led management can enhance rural economies while conserving biodiversity; (ii) integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific approaches strengthens resource governance and ecological restoration; and (iii) policy interventions tailored to regional contexts are essential for balancing conservation with development. Collectively, these insights establish bamboo as a cornerstone of sustainability in NER and demonstrate its potential as a global model for aligning biodiversity conservation with cultural and economic resilience.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36104,"journal":{"name":"Trees, Forests and People","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 101028"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145265643","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}