Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR RESTORATION STRATEGIES OF NANANMANGALAM URBAN RESERVE FOREST, CHENNAI, INDIA

Parisutha Rajan, Minakshi Jain and Abdul Razak Mohamed

Abstract

Major countries around the world have an untapped resource opportunity laying within their geographical region: the restoration of forest landscapes. “Forest landscape restoration” is the process of regaining ecological functionality and enhancing human wellbeing across cleared or degraded forest landscapes of the region. It can result in a variety of land use, ranging from vast tracts of dense natural forests, to high yield agroforestry systems, to a mosaic of wooded areas amid productive agricultural fields or dense urban development like urban reserve forest, open space reserves, parklands, avenues, building setbacks, etc. Forest landscape restoration does not call for increasing tree cover beyond what would be ecologically appropriate for a particular selected candidate landscape location. The objective of this technical paper is to explore the use of “The Diagnostic Assessment Tool for restoration strategies of Nanmangalam urban reserve forest, Chennai, India “. The methodology of the tool consists of three questionnaire tabs (Diagnostic - Motivate, Diagnostic - Enable, Diagnostic - Implement) and a summary table called “Key Success Factors”. The three questionnaire tabs help decision-makers and restoration supporters analyze the existence of key success factors within a current or future restoration project. In particular, it helps them focus their efforts on the most important factors to get in place before large amounts of human, financial, or political capital are invested. When applied periodically every few years once a restoration effort is underway, this tool can help implementers adjust and refine their policies and practices as a means of adaptive management.