Thread by @osen_kristina

1/9 🚨New @Diversity_Turn paper on #tree🌳diversity and stand structure in the #vanilla landscape of northeastern #Madagascar🇲🇬 is finally out in @ApplVegSci
Check this thread for the main takeaways!
#OA paper: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/av…

2/9 Madagascar harbors an exceptionally high diversity of endemic species, especially trees. Many of these species are restricted to the humid Northeast where smallholder vanilla agroforests shape the landscape and support local livelihoods

3/9 Tropical agroforestry has the potential to reconcile biodiversity conservation with production goals. However, agroforests differ in land-use history and this is often neglected in research and policy.
See conceptual paper for more details: doi.org/10.1111/conl.1…

4/9 The vanilla orchid needs trees as climbing structures and sun protection. What is the state of tree diversity in the vanilla landscape of northeastern Madagascar and which role does agroforest land-use history play?

5/9 We studied tree stand structure, diversity and composition in vanilla agroforests of contrasting land‐use history and other tree-dominated land-use types in the smallholder mosaic landscape of northeastern Madagascar

6/9
Forest-derived agroforests contribute to maintain stand structure & tree diversity. Fallow-derived agroforests offer tree cover rehabilitation opportunities on historically forested land.
-> Land-use history is relevant to align landscape management with conservation goals

7/9 However: Agroforests represent a degradation and a structural simplification in comparison to old-growth forests. If old-growth forests continue to decline, agroforests cannot replace theses habitats!

8/9 Huge thanks to the field team @ThorienR, Jean Chrys Bevao and Patrice Antilahimena who supported @SoazafyR and me with impressive field skills! Misaotra betsaka!

9/9 Big thanks to my co-authors @SoazafyR, @Dominic_Mart, @annemarie_wu, A. März, H.L.T. Ranarijaona and D. Hölscher!
Also thanks to the @Diversity_Turn team at @uniGoettingen and in Madagascar for support and thanks to @VolkswagenSt and @DAAD_Germany for funding