Legal protection of forests

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 3
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

50%
Certainty

20%
Harms

0%

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Background information and definitions

Legal protection of forests is considered the best way to protect habitats as it can prevent habitat destruction and biodiversity loss.

Study locations

Key messages

Two site comparison studies in Nigeria and Iran found that legal protection of forest increased tree species richness and diversity and the density of young trees. One replicated, paired site study in Mexico found no effect of forest protection on seed density and diversity of trees and shrubs.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A site comparison study in 2005 in temperate broadleaf forest in Iran (Alijanpour & Mahmoudzadeh 2007) found that forest protection increased the density of young trees. Thirty years after an area was protected, the average number of new trees was higher in protected (530/ha) than in unprotected areas (390/ha). New tree density was monitored in 77 plots (0.1 ha) in one protected and one unprotected forest sites (485 ha each).
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Alijanpour A. & Mahmoudzadeh A. (2007) Investigation and comparison of natural regeneration structure of forest stands in protected and non-protected areas in Arasbaran. Pakistan journal of biological sciences: PJBS, 10, 1697-1702.
A replicated, paired sites study in 1993-2005 in tropical dry forest in Mexico (Ceccon & Hernández 2009) found no effect of forest protection on seed density or diversity of trees and shrubs. The total number of tree and shrub seeds was similar in protected (422/m²) and in disturbed sites (377/m²), as was the number of species/plot (18 in both) and species diversity (Shannon index disturbed: 1.51; protected: 1.66). Two 10 x 20 m treatment plots were replicated at eight sites: disturbed (intensive cattle grazing, fire wood extraction of >160 ton/year; 0.8 ha) and protected (exclusion of human disturbances since 1993). Viable seeds of trees and shrubs were identified using five seed traps in each treatment plot, which were emptied at monthly intervals in 2004-2005.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Ceccon E. & Hernández P. (2009) Seed rain dynamics following disturbance exclusion in a secondary tropical dry forest in Morelos, Mexico. Revista de Biología Tropical, 57, 257-269.
A site comparison study in tropical moist forest in Nigeria (Adekunle, Olagoke & Ogundare 2010) found that legal protection of forest increased trees species richness and diversity. The number of tree species observed was 46 vs 24, the number of tree families observed was 21 vs 14, and trees diversity (Shannon index) was 3.16 vs 3.04 in a protected forest compared with a logged forest. Trees were sampled in eight 20×20 m plots in one protected forest (constituted as strict nature reserve by the forestry research institute of Nigeria) and one logged forest (where active logging activities are in progress).
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Adekunle V.A., Olagoke A.O. & Ogundare L.F. (2010) Logging impacts in tropical lowland humid forest on tree species diversity and environmental conservation. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 29, 517-538.

Please cite as:

Agra, H., Schowanek, S., Carmel, Y., Smith, R.K. & Ne’eman, G. (2020) Forest Conservation. Pages 323-366 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Forest Conservation

Related Actions

Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
Adopt protected species legislation (impact on forest management) Action Link	No evidence found (no assessment)	0	Synopsis Link
Adopt community-based management to protect forests Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	3	Synopsis Link
Legal protection of forests Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	3	Synopsis Link