Project properties
Title Planting strategies for reforestation of dryland areas
Group Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group
Project type thesis
Credits 24-39
Supervisor(s) FEM group: Prof.dr. Koen Kramer, Prof.dr.ir. Frits Mohren
Land Life Company: Harrie Lovenstein
Examiner(s) Prof. Dr. Ir. Frits Mohren
Contact info koen.kramer@wur.nl (www.wur.nl/en/Persons/Koen-prof.dr.-K-Koen-Kramer.htm)
frits.mohren@wur.nl (www.wur.nl/en/Persons/Frits-prof.dr.ir.-GMJ-Frits-Mohren.htm)
https://landlifecompany.com/
Begin date 2019/09/01
End date
Description Topic ia also suitable for more students, or as an Internship

Reforestation of dryland areas is a major challenge the coming decade. If natural regeneration is not an option or too slow, planting may be necessary. Key questions are then:
• Under what conditions (both abiotic and biotic) is planting the best option?
• Which are then the best planting strategies, taking into account:
o Selection of tree species and provenances
o (functional) diversity in species and provenances
o Planting densities
o Spatial distribution of planted saplings, irt slope, access to water, orientation.
o Protection of newly planted trees
• How to monitor growth, vitality, success rate?
• How should newly established plantations in dry areas be managed?

[Forest restoration and succession /Modelling/Europe/ America's/ Africa /Asia/Tropical zone]
Used skills Literature search, data analyses, measurements in the field, interviews, collaboration
Requirements FEM-30306 Forest Ecology and Forest Management; REG-31806 Ecological Methods I;