Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project

The objective of the Hunan Forest Restoration and Development Project for China was to enhance the resilience and environmental function of selected ice storm affected ecological forest plantations in Hunan Province by increasing forest species diversity and vegetative tree cover in those areas. There were two components to the project, the first component being reforestation and rehabilitation of damaged ecological forest plantations. These newly reforested and rehabilitated areas were expected to be developed into multi-storied vegetation communities of uneven-aged stands with a mixture of tree species. Forests developed in this landscape would contribute to a stable forest ecosystem that can be tolerant of future disturbances and change, including those caused by climate change. The long-term management of these forest stands will also promote their sustainability. Finally, the second component was the two-institutional support and technology enhancement. This component includes: nursery upgrading and planting material development, forest cooperatives, research, technical service and extension, project Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), and project management and institutional development. The project enhanced the resilience of ice storm-affected ecological forest plantations in Hunan Province by increasing forest species diversity and vegetative tree cover.