Economics of using water use efficient forest landscape restoration tree species

Abstract

This paper is about ecophysiology and economics. It aims to assess the water use efficiency (WUE) of commonly planted diptercarps and fast growing species such as those used for landscape restoration. It also attempts to undertake an economic assessment of the benefits and costs of using these species with relatively higher water use efficiency as restoration materials in forest landscape. In the absence of empirical data, economic assessment was based on hypothetical assumptions of comparative water requirements of different forest restoration species ecophysiologically tested for WUE if planted in a forest area. The results of the economic assessment imply that it is wise to invest in the ecophysiological testing of restoration species with a view of determining those with high WUE values. © 2007, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.