Comment on “The Extent of Forest in Dryland Biomes”
Authors
Daniel M. Griffith, Oregon State University
Caroline E. R. Lehmann, University of Edinburgh, Centre for African Ecology, University of the Witwatersrand
Caroline A. E. Strömberg, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington
Catherine L. Parr, University of Liverpool, University of the Witwatersrand, University of Pretoria
R. Toby Pennington, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, University of Exeter
Mahesh Sankaran, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, University of Leeds
Jayashree Ratnam, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Christopher J. Still, Oregon State University
Rebecca L. Powell, University of DenverFollow
Niall P. Hanan, New Mexico State University
Jesse B. Nippert, Kansas State University
Colin P. Osborne, University of Sheffield, Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures, University of Sheffield
Stephen P. Good, Oregon State University
T. Michael Anderson, Wake Forest University
Ricardo M. Holdo, University of Georgia
Joseph W. Veldman, Texas A&M University, Instituto Boliviano de Investigación Forestal
Giselda Durigan, Assis State Forest, Forestry Institute of São Paulo State
Kyle W. Tomlinson, Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences
William A. Hoffmann, North Carolina State University
Sally Archibald, Centre for African Ecology, University of the Witwatersrand, Natural Resources and the Environment, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
William J. Bond, South African Environmental Observation Network, National Research Foundation, University of Cape Town
Publication Date
11-16-2016
Organizational Units
Geography and the Environment
Keywords
Forest, Ecosystem, Biotic composition, Management policies
Abstract
Bastin et al (Reports, 12 May 2017, p. 635) infer forest as more globally extensive than previously estimated using tree cover data. However, their forest definition does not reflect ecosystem function or biotic composition. These structural and climatic definitions inflate forest estimates across the tropics and undermine conservation goals, leading to inappropriate management policies and practices in tropical grassy ecosystems.
Publication Statement
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Recommended Citation
Griffith, Daniel M, et al. “Comment on ‘The Extent of Forest in Dryland Biomes.’” Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), vol. 358, no. 6365, 2017, p. eaao1309. doi: 10.1126/science.aao1309.
