1. Restoration trials and management in a highly degraded site
in southern Europe:
Benefits of a functional approach
for dryland restoration
Alice Nunes, Graça Oliveira, Teresa Mexia, Adelaide Clemente,
Patrícia Correia, Cristina Branquinho & Otília Correia
University of Lisbon, Faculty of Sciences
Center for Environmental Biology
UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

2. Desertification and Land Degradation (DLD) in drylands
Dry sub-humid Semi-arid Arid
• Loss of biological or economic productivity resulting from various
factors, including climatic variations and human activities
Biodiversity and ecosystem Loss of ecosystem
functionality loss services
• Likely to expand substantially with climate change and population growth
UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

3. DLD versus Restoration
RETROGRESSIVE SUCCESSION SUCCESSION
Desertification and Land Degradation Restoration
Functional
pattern
Functional status
Time or space
Functionality loss Restore functionality
UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

4. DLD versus Restoration
A functional approach may be used both to understand DLD and to
improve restoration planning and monitoring of highly degraded areas
RETROGRESSIVE SUCCESSION SUCCESSION
Desertification and Land Degradation Restoration
Functional
pattern
Functional status
Time or space
Functionality loss Restore functionality
Cross restoration thresholds, providing high
benefit at low restoration cost
UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

5. How to measure functionality?
Functional diversity: groups species according to common response to the
environment and/or common effects on ecosystem processes/functions
Species richness
Functional richness
• Has been shown to relate with several environmental constraints (e.g.
nutrient availability, grazing, fire, etc.)
• Independent from local communities composition - potential to be universal
Díaz, S. & Cabido, M. (2001); Lavorel, S. et al. (2007) UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

6. Restoration
Goals: Ecological restoration
Reclamation Original Ecosystem
Ecosystem functioning
Mostly done with
rehabilitation
eco-technological
tools to promote
plant cover
Natural processes
Degraded (sucession)
Ecosystem
Ecosystem structure and diversity
Constraints • Focused on a few species performance (e.g. fast-growing
species or late-successional shrubs)
• Undesired or unpredicted outcomes
• Scarce monitoring and cost/benefit estimation
Challenges • Restoration target focused on ecosystem functioning and
provision of ecosystem services
• Integrate resilience to climate change projections
Adapted fromCallow (1998) UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

7. Highly degraded areas – a test for dryland restoration
Small-scale research trials in a limestone quarry in a dry sub-humid area after
ecosystem destruction by vegetation and soil removal
Serra da Arrábida Natural Park
N
Spain W E
Lisbon S
Secil-Outão quarry
Main constrains to recovery:
Lack of soil and/or poor plantation substrate, water shortage, steep slopes
(erosion), lack of propagules,fire recurrence
UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

8. Highly degraded areas – a test for dryland restoration
Restoration of quarry platforms and slopes has been done through plantations
(woody) and seeding (herbaceous) of several native and naturalized species
P1 (1983)
P2 (1986)
20 m
P3 (1989)
P4 (1992)
20 m
P5 (1995)
UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

9. 1. Aleppo pine thinning effect on the understory of a mixed
plantation: consequences for ecosystem functioning
Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) has been widely used in reforestation as a
pioneer facilitative species
Mixed plantation in the • Low diversity, increasing
quarry terraces vulnerability
• Became dominant in height and
attained 40-60% relative cover
• Main difference from surrounding
vegetation (Correia et al. 2001)
• High competition and slow growth rates due to exhaustion of limited resources
• Hindered incoming of spontaneous species due to canopy closure
Would pine thinning enhance biodiversity and ecosystem
functional recovery?
Research supported by a protocol between SECIL &FFCUL/CEBV – (2002 -2007) UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

10. 1. Aleppo pine thinning – experimental design
Platform 1, 15 yrs-old N
D
4 blocks C
B A S
Control Thinned
Platform 2 , 10 yrs-old
Control
Thinned plots
6x
Table 1. Characteristics of Pinus halepensis dimensions and pine density and cover before and
after the thinning treatment (Mean ± SD)
Treatment Initial density Final density Removed Removed pine Initial pine
(pines.m-2) (pines.m-2) density (%) cover (%) height (m)
P1 Control 0.21 ± 0.12 0.21 ± 0.12 ─ ─ 4.7 ± 1.5
Thinned 0.25 ± 0.10 0.17 ± 0.07 33.5 ± 5.8 28.5 ± 11.0 5.5 ± 1.7
P2 Control 0.82 ± 0.40 0.82 ± 0.40 ─ ─ 3.5 ± 1.4
Thinned 0.87 ± 0.36 0.55 ± 0.23 36.6 ± 4.5 40.4 ± 4.4 3.4 ± 1.1
UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

11. 1. Allepo pine thinning effect on richness and diversity
9
P1 No effect
Richness change (2002-2004)
Ctrl
7 Thinned
5
3
1
-1
8
-1
P3
Baro
Ectozo
Geo
No
Facult
Yes
Endozo
Ter
Anem
Seed
Hem
Respr
Richness change (2002-2004)
6
Fire (woody) Life form (herbs) N-fixing Dispersal
4
2
0
-2
Facult
Anem
Respr
Yes
Endozo
No
Ectozo
Hem
Ter
Seed
Baro
Geo
Fire (woody) Life form (herbs) N-fixing Dispersal
Relevant traits considered
UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

12. 1. Allepo pine thinning effect on relevant traits: Fire Resilience
5
Spont. shrubs (N.m-2)
P1 Control Thinned P2
4
* *
3
2
1
Planted species mainly
0
8
S S resprouters (R)
Post-fire strategy (N.m-2)
R R
6 RS RS
***
4 ***
Increase in
seeder species (S)
2
0
2002 2003 2004 2002 2003 2004
Burned terrace Seeder species Burned natural vegetation
UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

13. 1. Allepo pine thinning effect on relevant traits: Life cycle and N-fixing
ability
35
Control Thinned
Higher litter
Herb life-form (N.m-2)
30
*** Ter Ter
25 Hem Hem turnover
Geo Geo
20 ***
15
nutrient
10
recycling
5
00
14
Tot Tot
N-fixing species (N.m-2)
12
Herb Herb ***
10 Soil
8 ** improvement
6
4 ***
2
**
0
2002 2003 2004 2002 2003 2004
UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

14. 1. Allepo pine thinning effect on relevant traits: Dispersal
18
P1 Control Thinned P2
Non zooc. dipersal (N.m2)
15 a a
** b b ** Higher
12
***
density of
***
9 species with
6 wind and
3
gravity
dispersal
0
0
18
Zoochory dispersal (N.m2)
ec ec
15 en en
12
* No effect on
9
ns animal
6
dispersed
ns
ns species
3
0
2002 2003 2004 2002 2003 2004
UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

15. 1. Allepo pine thinning effect - Conclusions
 No effect on species richness and diversity
 Promoted the incoming and density increase of N-fixing
species, terophytes, spontaneous shrubs (mainly seeder species) and species
with anemochorous and barochorous dispersal
Relevant traits in the restoration in highly degraded areas, contributing to
nutrient cycling, soil improvement, biotic fluxes and to ecosystem’s resilience in
a climate change scenario
• Proved to be an important management tool to alleviate pine competition
in mixed plantations
The management of pine plantations are of interest and utility to a broad
audience of researchers and managers dealing with P. halepensis plantations to
foster their transition to more diverse and resilient ecosystems
UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

16. 2. Species mixtures for hydroseeding: do they promote ecosystem
recovery?
Main goals: establish plant cover, detain erosion and/or foster
succession
UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

17. 2. Species mixtures for hydroseeding: do they promote ecosystem
recovery? Seeded species Origin % Nativ % Gener
Avena sativa A/C 5 -
Applied in January 2007 Dactylis glomerata A/C 15 8,3
Lolium perenne A/C 15 19,3
Generalist Native Festuca arundinacea C - 8,7
Festuca ovina C - 4
Festuca rubra C - 3,7
Lolium multiflorum C - 4
Eurocontrol + Prado New mixture with Lolium westerwoldicum C 10 -
Sadino + shrubs, no micorhyza + NPK (N9: Psoralea bituminosa A 12 -
Lotus corniculatus A/C 3 -
micorhiza + NPK (N12: P20: K8) – 7g/m2
Cytisus grandiflorus C - 4,9
P25: K12) – 15g/m2 Medicago sativa C 15 4,3
Retama monosperma C - 13
Sparteum junceum C - 5,1
Both mixtures with relative seed weight of Trifolium incarnatum C 5 1
45% for Gramineae, 45% for Leguminosae Trifolium pratense C - 3,3
Trifolium repens C 8 1,7
and 10% for other families Trifolium subterraneum C 4 4,3
Juniperus phoenicea A - 1,8
Lavandula luisieri A - 1,6
Myrtus communis A - 2,9
Phillyrea angustifolia A - 2,3
Rosmarinus officinalis A - 1
Sanguisorba minor A/C 8 0,7
Lavandula latifolia C - 0,8
UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

18. 2. Mixtures for hydroseeding – experimental design and monitoring
Marl slope Limestone cliff
Nativ Gener
Gener Nativ
Nativ Gener
Nativ Gener
Marl quarry 10 parcelas
10 quadrats
* *
Block
* *
*
Nativ Gener * *
10
quadrats
10 parcelas
* *
Limestone
quarry
Monitored at May 2007, 2009 and 2010
(1-3 years): presence, cover, density
UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

19. 2. Mixtures for hydroseeding – HS success and effect on cover
Cover (%) HS success index
120 1,2
Amended marl slope Amended marl slope
100 1,0
80 0,8
60 0,6
40 0,4
Gener Gener
20 Nativ 0,2 Nativ
100
0 0
0,0
1,0 Limestone cliff
2007 2009 2010 2nd year Limestone cliff
3rd year
80 0,8
60 0,6
40 0,4
20 0,2
00
Marl slope
100 0,0
0
1,0
1st year 2nd year 3rd year 2nd year 3rd year
Marl slope
80 0,8
60 0,6
40 0,4
20 0,2
Hydroseeding success index:
0 0,0 hydroseeded species cover/ tot cover
1st year 2nd year 3rd year 2nd year 3rd year
UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

20. 2. Mixtures for hydroseeding – Conclusions
Diferent outcomes depending on abiotic conditions of target site
Amended marl slope
100% cover of seeded species 3 years
after hydroseeding: undesired
trajectory
Limestone cliff
low cover (< 30%) dominated by
spontaneous species: useless effort
Marl slope
50% cover with gaps and native
mixture with better results
Promotion of functional recovery
UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

21. Final remarks
 A functional approach to restoration monitoring may be more revealing
than a classical one, based uniquely on species richness and/or diversity
 Species selection (and densities definition) based on their functional
complementarity/redundancy along with morpho-functional
advantages and provenance can be more cost-effective for ecosystem
restoration
 post-restoration monitoring to check ecosystem trajectory and
evaluate its functional status and management to redirect it, if
necessary
General conclusions and guidelines apply to drylands worldwide
UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference – April 2013

22. Serra da Arrábida Natural Park
Acknowledgments:
COST Action ES1104 – Arid lands restoration and combat of desertification: setting up a
drylands and desert restoration hub
FCT-MEC (PTDC/AAC-CLI/104913/2008, SFRH/BD/51407/2011)