Conservation Carbon Company
Analog Forestry: the key to the puzzle
Analog Forestry preserves natural habitats and biodiversity by making them economically useful to local communities in a sustainable way. It is a complex system in which carbon markets, local communities and leading-edge ecological and forestry expertise interact to the benefit of all parties involved, as well as the planet.
Forests are where Earth’s ‘living skin’ is thickest. In them, life is at its densest and most diverse. Regenerating and extending natural forest cover is one of the most effective ways to restore biodiversity. But forests grow and diversify slowly. Analog Forestry promotes and accelerates the process
Building an Analog Forest
An Analog Forest is a tree-dominated ecosystem similar in structure and ecological function to a neighbouring, fully-developed natural (‘climax’) forest. Essentially, the analog forester seeks to extend and replicate existing forest coverage over a selected region. The choice of what trees to plant, as well as what additional flora and fauna to be introduced and cultivated, is made by experienced biologists and ecologists in consultation with communities resident in the chosen locality. The selected trees and other plants play specific roles within the ecosystem while also providing nutritional, medicinal and other products that community members can use themselves or sell to augment their family’s incomes.
Analog Forestry is based on the the following basic principles:
- Observe and record
- Understand and Evaluate
- Know your land
- Identify levels of yield
- Map out flow and reservoir systems (existing and potential)
- Reduce ratio of external energy in production
- Be guided by landscape and neighbours needs.
- Follow ecological succession
- Utilize ecological processes
- Value Biodiversity
- Respect Maturity
- Respond Creatively
For more information see The International Analog Forestry Network.