Restoration priorities: Integrating successional states and landscape resilience in tropical dry forest compensation projects in Colombia

Ecological conservation and restoration are global strategies for halting biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. However, Infrastructure projects in Colombia have not yet fully incorporated successional dynamics and the identification of priority areas to improve restoration efficiency. We evaluated the dynamics of change in successional trajectories and restoration performance of the Tropical Dry Forest at the El Quimbo Hydroelectric Power Plant during the period from 2008 to 2019. We identified areas with three different levels of resilience based on their connectivity and habitat percentage and used a synthetic Zonal Prioritization Index for focal landscapes with intermediate resilience (ZPI) to identify priority areas for restoration processes. The results showed a predominance of advanced and early intermediate successional trajectories, a 12.5% net change in the overall successional trajectories, and slow ecosystem recovery. Habitat availability was a stronger determinant of resilience types than connectivity. Water availability and proximity to areas with advanced succession trajectories were the determining factors for ZPI. We conclude that the landscape resilience approaches are a first step in the identification of suitable areas for ecological restoration. We also consider that intermediate resilience areas may be more suitable for restoration actions in infrastructure projects, where it crucial to optimize on investment.

Automated summary

Infrastructure projects in Colombia need to incorporate successional dynamics and prioritize restoration areas. A case study at El Quimbo Hydroelectric Power Plant showed a predominance of advanced and early intermediate successional trajectories, slow ecosystem recovery, and identified priority areas for restoration based on resilience levels. Habitat availability and proximity to areas with advanced successional trajectories were important factors for restoration prioritization. The study highlights the importance of landscape resilience approaches in identifying suitable areas for ecological restoration in infrastructure projects.