Reforestation reversals and forest transitions

Forest transitions in Latin America have long been presumed to be characterized by progressively stable, expansive reforestation. Numerous studies note a dynamism surrounding reforestation, however, including associations with forest loss. Such apparent contradictions were recently underscored by descriptions of Latin American 'reforestation reversals' - marked declines in forest cover following net reforestation. Reversals arguably challenge classical perspectives on forest transitions while predominating within regional foresttransition epicenters. Potential reversal dynamics, still subject to speculation, bring into focus the shortcoming of recent forest-transition scholarship, particularly its reliance on generic satellite observation and neglect of land-use transitions shaping, and sustaining, reforestation. To catalyze research in this domain, I explore reversals in relation to land-change dynamics commonly linked to reforestation. I further frame reversals as inherent features of emergent tropical forest transitions, advancing a 'pulsed' forest-transition model and emphasizing that apparent reversals may not entail waning reforestation trajectories. A greater embrace of systematic, historical case studies parsing reforestation between land use and disuse is key to a fuller understanding of both forest transitions and reversals.

Automated summary

Forest transitions in Latin America have experienced "reversals", marked by significant declines in forest cover following reforestation. These reversals challenge traditional forest transition theories and are predominant in regional forest transition epicenters. Systematic historical case studies are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of forest transitions and reversals.