Isolated Ficus trees deliver dual conservation and development benefits in a rural landscape.

ABSTRACT: Many of the world's rural populations are dependent on the local provision of economically and medicinally important plant resources. However, increasing land-use intensity is depleting these resources, reducing human welfare, and thereby constraining development. Here we investigate a low cost strategy to manage the availability of valuable plant resources, facilitated by the use of isolated Ficus trees as restoration nuclei. We surveyed the plants growing under 207 isolated trees in Assam, India, and categorized them according to their local human-uses. We found that Ficus trees were associated with double the density of important high-grade timber, firewood, human food, livestock fodder, and medicinal plants compared to non-Ficus trees. Management practices were also important in determ

SUBMITTER: Cottee-Jones HE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4591229 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature