The Amazonian tree Aniba rosaeodora Ducke, whose wood provides commercial essential oil for perfumery houses, is at risk of extinction and listed by CITES. An alternative source of this oil would be to trim leaves of young plants and steam distill them to obtain the essential oil. Four-year-old plant material could provide an oil that can both be an economical source and eventually a replacement for wood oil in perfumery. A characterization of the essential oil from these leaves has been obtained by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography. The two-dimensional analytical technique was able to separate and identify about three times more compounds than is the case with conventional gas chromatography, leading to a more complete essential oil chemical characterization.
The achievement of international forest restoration goals requires economically viable land‐use options. The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is a priority area for ecosystem restoration, as it is widely deforested to make place for intensive agriculture and one of the most threatened biodiversity hotspots in the world. We systematically reviewed existing scientific literature on the biome to highlight the evidence on economic benefits and costs of forest restoration. A total of 15 publications were identified that quantify costs and/or economic benefits of forest restoration. We observed that most studies (11) [Correction added on 15 May 2024, after first online publication: In the preceding phrase, (12) was corrected to (11) in this version.] were published after 2018 and that research on the topic was biogeographically biased as 12 publications referred to study sites in Brazil's Southeast Region. Given its beneficial natural conditions, the Atlantic Forest is predestined for a wide range of restoration‐related opportunities, yet economic benefits of restoration are underexplored (seven studies). Moreover, benefits from a multifunctional use of restored forests are almost absent in the literature with only three studies presenting primary data. Elaboration of restoration costs is also limited to 10 studies that focus predominantly on active restoration. Thus, we argue that the economic costs and benefits of forest restoration are not well understood. Clarity thereon is, however, critical for policy formulation and to mobilize private investments. We therefore call for studies to fill in the knowledge gap on restoration economics in the Atlantic Forest biome, and to study restoration economics in other biomes as well.
26 April 2024 in Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation