Attachment B

SUPPORTING MATERIALS
SM.1: SUPPORTING MATERIAL ON DEFINITIONSOF DEGRADATION AND DEVEGETATION.
This Document lists various published definitions used for degradation, devegetation andrelated terms, antonyms, parallelism for complete accounting, and additional terms
needing defining and recommended definitions.

SM1.1 Published definitions relating todegradation and devegetation.
Table 1 lists related forest degradation/devegetation definitions that we have foundthrough web searches and email contacts. We also include definitions of “desertification”
which would be the worse case scenario of forest degradation.
Some definitions specify that the degradation has to be human-induce and some specify
that there have to be a loss of productivity (indicated by “Y” for “ yes,” “N” for “notspecified” and “C” for “could be” in Table 1)1.
While we are sure the list is by no means complete, it does give a good view of the rangeof the types of degradation one could encounter in a forest setting and some of theconcepts that exists2.

http://www.mw.com/dictionary

Degrade – Spoil.

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/cmd_search.asp?dict=B&searchw

12

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/cmd_search.asp?dict=B&searchw
ord=degradation

Productivity LossDegrade - Characterized bydegeneration of structure orfunction
Degrade – Make worthless

Humaninduced

Table 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
SourceNotes

N

N

Dictionary typedefinition
Thesaurus. In forestry,very few areas would
be considered worthlessno matter how badly
they are degraded.
Thesaurus

For definitions of deforestation, see http://home.att.net/~gklund/DEFpaper.htm
See also “What is land degradation” - www.unu.edu/env/plec/l-degrade/D-Ch_2.pdf
25

Degrade - To degenerate; to passfrom a higher to a lower type ofstructure; as, a family of plants oranimals degrades through this orthat genus or group of genera
Degrade – To reduce; todecompose by stages; to wear
away by erosion
Degrade - To wear by erosion or
weathering.
Degrade -To wear down, reduce
to lower quality, by erosion or
reduce the complexity of achemical compound.
Degrade (Degradation) Opposite of aggrade(aggradation) - to erode or
deepen a river channel.
Degradation - A decline to alower condition, quality, or level.
Degradation - A decrease invalue for a designated use.
Degradation - A worsening of
quality or condition.
Degradation - Changing to alower state (a less respectedstate).
Degradation - Diminution or
reduction of strength, efficacy, or
value; degeneration;
deterioration.
Degradation -The act or process

Productivity LossHumaninduced

Table 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
SourceNotes

ord=degradation
http://www.mso.anu.edu.au/~ralph/OPTED/
v003/wb1913_d.html
http://www.bridgingt
hewatershed.org/glossary.html#d
http://www.sitesalive.
com/admin/glossary/s
ectD.html
http://www.epa.gov/g
rtlakes/seahome/housewaste/src/glossary1.
htm#degradation
http://buttecreekwatershed.org/ecr/new/glossary.htm
http://www.dictionary.com/cgibin/dict.pl?term=degradationhttp://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/texaswater/rivers/glossaryleft.htm
http://www.sitesalive.
com/admin/glossary/s
ectD.html
http://lookwayup.com/lwu.exe/lwu/d?s=f&
w=degradation
http://www.mso.anu.edu.au/~ralph/OPTED/
v003/wb1913_d.html
WWWebster

Dictionary typedefinition

N

C

Dictionary typedefinition

N

C

Dictionary typedefinition

N

N

Dictionary typedefinition

N

C

AntonymC

Dictionary typedefinitionC

Dictionary typedefinition. Noteemphasis on value.
Dictionary typedefinition

C

N

C
C

Dictionary typedefinitionC

Dictionary typedefinitionN

Dictionary type26

Productivity LossHumaninduced

Table 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
SourceNotesof degrading (lowering to an
inferior level)
Degradation - The process bywhich something is made worse,
esp. the quality of land

Dictionary

Degradation - The process ofdegeneration.

http://www.gn.apc.or
g/LivingEarth/Rainfo
restDB/glossary.ae.html#climax_forest
http://www.forestry.u
toronto.ca/ac_staff/e
meritus/My%20Webs/english.htm
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?
key=degrade*2+0
http://www.unu.edu/e
nv/plec/ldegrade/index-toc.
html

N

N

N

C

N

N

(Sargent andLowcock 1991)

N

C

http://www.unu.edu/e
nv/plec/ldegrade/indextoc.html

NC

Dunster & Dunster
1996

N

C

Degradation - The reduction ingrade, quality, yield, etc.
Degradation - To spoil ordestroy the beauty or quality of
Degradation (Biological) - A
type of soil degradationconsisting of the mineralizationof humus and an increase in theactivity of micro-organisms
responsible for organic decay,
resulting in an overall decrease inorganic matter.
Degradation (Biological) - Thediminution of biologicalproductivity or diversity.
Degradation (Chemical) - A
number of types of soil
degradation that may involve one
or more of the following
processes: leaching of nutritiveelements; acidification; toxicities,
other than excess of salts.
Degradation (Ecosystem) - Anyprocess or activity that removes
or lessens the viability ofdefinition

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?
key=degradation*1+0

CC

Dictionary typedefinition. Noteemphasis on land
quality
Dictionary typedefinition
Dictionary typedefinition
Dictionary typedefinition
Focuses on microorganisms.

27

Degradation (Environment) The process by which theenvironment is progressively
contaminated, overexploited anddestroyed.
Degradation (Environmental) Exhaustion or destruction of apotentially renewable resourcesuch as air, water, forest, or
wildlife by consuming it at a rate
faster than it is naturally
renewed. If such use continues,
the resource can become
nonrenewable or nonexistent on ahuman time scale. Also seesustainable yield.
Degradation (Forest - Seminatural) - A subset of seminatural forests with some of theprinciple characteristics and key
components of native
ecosystems; a return to a seminatural forest is unlikely to occur
in a reasonable amount of time(i.e., decades) without humanintervention.
Degradation (Forest) - A
reduction of the canopy cover orstocking within the forest.
Explanatory note: For the
purpose of having a harmonized

Productivity Lossecosystem functions andprocesses, and hence biodiversity
Degradation (Ecosystem) Processes or activities thatweaken an ecosystem, adversely
affecting biological diversity.

Humaninduced

Table 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
SourceNotes

http://www.nature.np
s.gov/nrbib/HTML%
20files/32.htm#3152

NN

http://oaspub.epa.gov/
trs/trs_proc_qry.alphabet?p_term_nm=D

YC

http://www.geog.ouc.
bc.ca/conted/onlineco
urses/enviroglos/e.ht
ml

N

N

Note, by this definition,
human intervention to
restore the environment
is not considered.

http://www.fscus.org/
html/about_fsc/who_
we_are/glossary_of_t
erms.html#dN

N

Human intervention isrequired for restoration.

FAO 2000

NN

Taken literally, theremoval of one tree
could be considered
degradation since thecanopy cover andHigh grading andremoving certain
species can affectbiological diversity, but
the carbon productivity
may not be affected.

28

set of forest and forest change
definitions, that also ismeasurable with conventional
techniques, forest degradation isassumed to be indicated by the
reduction of canopy cover and/or
stocking of the forest throughlogging, fire, windfelling or otherevents, provided that the canopy
cover stays above 10% (cf.
definition of forest).
Degradation (Forest) Biological, chemical or physicalprocesses which result in the lossof the productive potential ofnatural resources in areas coveredby forests and/or used byagriculture. Degradation may bepermanent, although some forest
areas may recover naturally orwith human assistance
Degradation (Forest) - Change
of forest class (from closed toopen forest) which negatively
affects the stand or site andlowers production capacity.
Degradation is not reflected in
the estimates of deforestation
Degradation (Forest) - Changes
within the forest class which
negatively affect the stand or siteand, in particular, lower the
production capacity. Thus
degradation is not reflected in theestimates of deforestation.
Degradation (Forest) - Changes
within the forest class, forexample, from closed to open

Productivity LossHumaninduced

Table 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
SourceNotes

stocking are reduced.
Reductions in canopy
and stocking are easily
measured.

http://europa.eu.int/co
mm/dg08/forests/en/en4_6.htm andhttp://yahwood.com/glossary_uk.htm

NY

Human recovery is
acceptable.

http://europa.eu.int/co
mm/dg08/forests/en/en4_6.htm

NY

http://faov02.fao.org:
70/0gopher_root%3a[
fao.fra]def_uk.txt

NY

Generally this is
reducing the overstory
to less than 40%.
Removing part of theoverstory will
temporarily reduce
what the land is
producing.
Essentially the same asabove, but slightly
different wording.

FAO 1997

N

Y

Same as above.

29

Humaninduced

Productivity LossTable 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
SourceNotes

http://www.wri.org/p
df/indoforest_glossar
y.pdf

N

C

Removal of trees may
temporarily reduce theproducts available fromthe forest.

Grainger 1996

N

C

Degradation (Forest) - The
degradation of forest
environments, through processes
such as destructive logging,burning, or invasion of disturbed
habitats by weedy or less usefulexotic species.

http://www.spcforests.org/Library/usestatus/usestatus.htm

C

N

This definition includes
the word “or” so there
are a variety ofsituations that may beconsidered“degradation.”
Species invasion may
be natural or humaninduced. Some species
invasion may increasecarbon sequestrationsuch as the invasion of
Melaleuca in Florida.

Degradation (Forest) - The
degradation or impoverishmentof forests, measured in terms ofloss of biodiversity (which
includes genetic, species andecosystem diversity) andeconomic, cultural and ecologicalutility and stability, resulting
from the selective removal oftrees or other forest plant andanimal species …
Degradation (Forest) - The

http://www.spcforests.org/Library/usestatus/usestatus.htm

NC

Here the emphasis is on
biodiversity that may or
may not affect ability tostore carbon. Selective
removal of plants may
be done naturally aswell as by humans.

http://www.usask.ca/aYC

Taken literally, theforest, which negatively affectthe stand or site and, inparticular, lower the production
capacity. These lands are
considered apart fromdeforestation.
Degradation (Forest) Generally defined as a reduction
in tree density and/or increased
disturbance to the forest that
results in the loss of forest
products and forest-derived
ecological services.
Degradation (Forest) Temporary or permanent
reduction in the density,
structure, species composition or
productivity of vegetation cover30

ecologically deleterious depletionby human activity of standing
woody biomass and organic
matter in forests, often associatedwith over-utilization of the forest
for fuel or timber.

Degradation (Forest) - Thelong-term reduction of the overall
potential supply of benefits fromthe forest, which includes wood,biodiversity and any otherproduct or service.
Degradation (Forest) (Bolivia) Degradación: Proceso que
consiste la transformación de unsistema, orden, estructura osustancia compleja, a un nivel
inferior. así tenemos ladegradación biológica, de losbosques.

Degradation (Forest) (Canada BC) - The diminution of
biological productivity or
diversity.
Degradation (Forest) (Italy) Degradation concerns only
human-induced damages or site
alterations. The origin of thesedamages become by ongoing or

griculture/caedac/dba
ses/glossary.htm,
http://www.climateservices.com/glossary.htm,
http://www.undp.org/
seed/forest/pdf/Innov
atForesFinanc.pdf,
andhttp://www.teleport.c
om/~taa/glossary.htm
FAO 2000

Productivity LossHumaninduced

Table 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
SourceNotes

woody biomass andorganic material has tobe affected. No mention
is made of the soil.

N

Y

Legislation can reduce
the potential supply ofwood products from anarea by making thelands unavailable for
harvesting.
The emphasis is on
reducing biodiversity.

Source: Luis Castello
faopaf@caoba.enteln
et.bo Adjunto sírvase
encontrar la versión
no oficial ypremilinar delGlosario Forestal
elaborado por el
Proyecto de Apoyo ala Coordinación e
Implementación delPlan de Acción
Forestal para Bolivia
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/pab/publctns/glo
ssary/glossary.htm

N

C

N

C

Biodiversity or
productivity may be
reduced.

Castellani, C., et al
1983.

Y

Y

Here the site index orsoil capacity is reduced.

31

Productivity Lossmade in the past human actions
and refers to irrational forest
harvesting, fire, grazing, etc.,
which usually reduce
permanently the site index andmay negatively affect the stand.
Degradation (Forest) (Morocco
and Yemen) - An aggression on
the forest as ecosystem, leading
to a negative change in all its
biotope (fauna, flora, soil,
micro/meso climate). The
productivity of the wholeecosystem is lower. Degradation
could lead to erosion, drought,
desertification and othercalamities.
Degradation (Genetic) Deleterious change in a native
taxon's gene pool due to additionof non-local genes. The gene
source can be plants of a) thesame genus or species, but a nonlocal Californian taxon, ecotype
or cultivar; b) the same genus,
but a foreign taxon.
Degradation (Land) - The
decline in condition or quality of
the land as a consequence of
misuse or overuse, involving
changes to soil, flora, fauna,water quality and quantity, visualquality and production levels byhumansDegradation (Land) - The
decline in condition or quality of
the land as a consequence ofhuman activities.
Degradation (Land) - The

Humaninduced

Table 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
Source
Notes

Mohammed Ellatifi,
m.ellatifi@ellatifi.8m
.com

N

Y

http://www.cnps.org/
archives/landscaping.
htm

N

N

http://www.epa.nsw.g
ov.au/soe/95/28.htm

YY

Requires a multitude ofchanges to be made. A
loss of productivity
alone would notconstitute degradation if
taken literally.

http://www.emrc.org.
au/res/glossary.html#t
erms

Y

Y

A measure or indicatorof quality is notprovided

http://www.adb.org/pN

Y

Does not have to be
human-induced.

32

Productivity Lossdeterioration or total loss of the
productive capacity of land forpresent and future use. Such loss
occurs mainly because of various
forms of soil erosion (by wind
and water) and of chemical andphysical deterioration.
Degradation (Land) - The
erosional removal of materials
from one place to another, which
lowers the elevation of
streambeds and floodplains.
Degradation (Land) - The
temporary or permanent loweringof the productive capacity ofland.
Degradation (Land) -The
"reduction or loss, in arid, semiarid and dry sub-humid areas, ofthe biological or economic
productivity and complexity ofrainfed cropland, irrigatedcropland, or range, pasture, forest
and woodlands resulting fromland uses or from a process or
combination of processes,
including processes arising fromhuman activities and habitation
patterns, such as: (i) soil erosion
caused by wind and/or water; (ii)deterioration of the physical,
chemical and biological or
economic properties of soil; and(iii) long-term loss of naturalvegetation"
Degradation (Log) -Any defectthat lowers the grade or quality ofa log

Humaninduced

Table 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
SourceNotes

Dunster & Dunster.
1996.

N

N

http://www.unu.edu/e
nv/plec/ldegrade/indextoc.html
http://yahwood.com/glossary_uk.htm

N

Y

Y

C

Note – this definition islimited to the drier
areas.

http://forestry.about.c
om/library/glossary/bl
forgld.htm andhttp://www.pfmt.org/

NC

The defects could bephysical (sweep, crook,etc.) or biological(insect, fire damage,

rojects/PRC_GEF_Pa
rtnership/LD_definiti
on.pdfThis would be soil orland erosion.

33

Degradation (Natural Habitat)- Modifications which
substantially reduce a habitat’s
ability to maintain viable
populations of its native species.
Degradation (Natural
Resources) - Any decline in thequality of natural resources
commonly caused by humanactivities.

Degradation (Natural
Resources) – The result of the
cumulative activities of farmers,
households, and industries, alltrying to improve their socioeconomic well being.
Degradation (Natural
Resources) - Any decline in thequality of natural resources or theviability of ecosystems, caused
directly or indirectly by humanactivities.
Degradation (Range) - The
degeneration of a site caused bybiotic or abiotic factors, which
results in a lowered successional
status to the point that ecologicalpotential is changed
Degradation (Soil) - A decreasein soil quality as measured bychanges in soil properties andprocesses, and the consequentdecline in productivity in terms

glossary/d.htm.
http://www.ifc.org/en
viro/enviro/Review_P
rocedure_Main/Revie
w_Procedure/Glossar
y_of_Terms/glossary.
htm
http://www.emrc.org.
au/res/glossary.html#t
erms andhttp://www.epa.nsw.g
ov.au/soe/95/28.htm

Productivity LossHumaninduced

Table 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
Source
Notes

N

C

Y

N

http://oaspub.epa.gov/
trs/trs_proc_qry.alphabet?p_term_nm=D

YN

http://www.contacttru
st.org.za/Biodiversity
Network/webpage/do
cs/glossary.htm

YC

Www.plantmaterials.nrcs.usda.g
ov/pubs/idpmctn2801
01.pdf andhttp://www.roseworthy.adelaide.edu.au/~ic
ooper/glossary/r.htm
http://www.unu.edu/e
nv/plec/ldegrade/indextoc.html

N

Y

N

Y

etc).
Productivity is limited
to native species

Species diversity makeup may be considered aquality. The
establishment ofplantations may
increase carbon storage,
but may decrease the“quality” of the area.
Interesting spin on thedefinition.

34

Degradation (Soil) - Loss offriability or fertility of soil
resulting from leaching.

Degradation (Soil) - The decline
in a soil's fertility as a result ofloss of organic matter, erosion bywind or water, compaction,salinization, contamination, or
acidification.
Degradation (Soil) -Thechanging of a soil to a more
highly leached and weatheredstate, usually accompanied bymorphological changes such as
the development of an eluviated,
light-colored A (Ae) horizon.
Degradation (Species) - The

Productivity Lossof immediate and future
production.
Degradation (Soil) - A set oftypes of soil degradation
involving one or more of thefollowing processes: loss of soil
physical structure; sealing andcrusting of soil surface; reductionin permeability; compaction of
depth; increase in macroporosity;
limitations to rooting.
Degradation (Soil) - Anysignificant reduction in thefertility of a soil.
Degradation (Soil) - Generallowering of land surfaces by
erosion.

Humaninduced

Table 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
SourceNotes

http://www.unu.edu/e
nv/plec/ldegrade/indextoc.html

NN

http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/r
hgiles/appendices/glo
ssd.htm
http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/r
hgiles/appendices/glo
ssd.htmN

Y

Need threshold for what
is considered significant

NC

Humans could remove
soil but that would notcount according to thisdefinition.

NY

http://glossary.garden
web.com/glossary/np
hind.cgi?scrug=16677&k=degradation&b=a
nd&r=whole&s=terms
http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/nature/nhns2/glossary.htm

http://sis.agr.gc.ca/ca
nsis/glossary/degradation.html

http://www.mso.anu.eN
35

Degraded - Having the typicalcharacters or organs in a partiallydeveloped condition, or lacking
certain parts.
Degraded – Reduced in worth orvalue or worn by erosion or
weathering

Productivity Lossstate or condition of a species orgroup which exhibits degraded
forms; degeneration.
Degradation (Streambed) - A
progressive lowering of thechannel bed due to scour.
Degradation is an indicator thatthe stream's discharge and/or
sediment load is changing. The
opposite of aggradation.
Degradation (Streambed) - The
general lowing of the streambed
by erosive processes, such as
scouring by flowing water.
Degradation (Water) Deterioration in water quality due
to contamination or pollution;
makes water unsuitable for otherdesirable purposes.
Degradation (Wood) Reduction in wood quality
resulting from insect damage,fungal decay or fungal staining

Humaninduced

Table 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
SourceNotes

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/texaswater/rivers/glossaryleft.htm

NN

http://www.orst.edu/
Dept/owrri/directory/
glossary.htm#~D~

NN

http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/pae/glossary/glossaryd.mhtml

NN

http://216.239.51.100/search?q=cache:GlSJ
PPoeSDUC:www.nre.vic.gov.au/web/root/
domino/inf.
Series/infsheet.nsf/ec
560317440956e24a25
68e3000bb3d9/5d033
a7c16fbff3c4a25679c
002137f4/%24FILE/
AG0798.pdf+degrade+forest+glossary&hl=
enhttp://www.mso.anu.edu.au/~ralph/OPTED/
v003/wb1913_d.html

NC

http://www.sitesalive.
com/admin/glossary/s
ectD.html

NC

du.au/~ralph/OPTED/
v003/wb1913_d.html

Note while this may
degrade the wood, it
may improve thebiological diversity of
the area.

36

Degraded Forest Stand - A
forest stand that has suffereddamage to natural composition,

Productivity LossDegraded Forest - A secondary
forest that has lost, throughhuman activities, the structure,function, species composition or
productivity normally associatedwith a natural forest type
expected on that site. Hence, adegraded forest delivers a
reduced supply of goods andservices from the given site andmaintains only limited biologicaldiversity. Biological diversity of
degraded forests includes many
non-tree components, which may
dominate in the under canopy
vegetation.
Degraded Forest (Africa only) Degraded forest are areas inAfrica where human activity isvisible. Due to the land use
patterns, including selective
logging, differentiation between
deforestation/revegetation/agricul
ture is not currently possible.
Generally discernible fromnatural forest, the true extent may
only be determined throughground verification.
Degraded Forest (Slovenia) Forest in which the growth rate,or the fertility of forest land, isreduced, or other possibilities for
it to perform its function as aforest are reduced by negative
outside influences.

Humaninduced

Table 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
SourceNotes

http://www.biodiv.or
g/programmes/areas/forest/definitions.asp

YC

http://www.geog.umd.edu/tropical/per80v1
41READMEY

N

Slovenian LAW ON
FORESTS - Milan
SINKO
milan.sinko@UNILJ.SI via "Maksym
Polyakov"
mpoliak@pcomp.usa
u.kiev.ua
http://www.web.net/~
fscca/standard.htm#anchor88641

N

Y

Y

C

Taken literally, only
secondary forests canbe degraded. This may
be linked to thedefinition of primary
forest. Any humanintervention in a
“Primary” forest may
make it a secondary
forest.

37

Desertification - A process bywhich fragile, semiarid
ecosystems lose productivity
because of loss of plant cover,soil erosion, salinization, or
waterlogging. Usually associatedwith human misuse.
Desertification - A process ofland degradation initiated byhuman activity, particularly in thezones along the margins ofdeserts
Desertification - A process whereby

Productivity Lossstructures, and functions to suchan extent that population levels
and diversity of organisms havebeen changed in an unnaturalmanner, or where structures
required for ecological processes
and populations in later temporalphases have been removed and/or
will not be regenerated due tohuman disturbance.
Degraded Wetland – A wetland
which has been altered by man
through impairment of somephysical property and in which
the alteration has resulted in a
reduction of biologicalcomplexity in terms of species
diversity of wetland-associatedspecies which previously existed
in the wetland areas.
Desertification - A fertile region
that has been made barren by theactivities of human societies

Humaninduced

Table 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
SourceNotes

http://www.wsu.edu/p
mc_nrcs/glossary/ddd.htm#DY

C

http://campus.murraystate.edu/academic/fa
culty/frank.elwell/Pro
b3/glossary/gloss1.ht
m#DECARCERATI
ON
http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/pae/glossary/glossaryd.mhtml

Y

Y

C

Y

http://www.geat.iastate.edu/courses/
Geol_100/glossary.v2
.html

Y

C

http://www.alltel.net/~bsu

YYInteresting thatwaterlogging could
cause desertification

38

Humaninduced

Productivity LossTable 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
SourceNotes

the productivity of drought-prone landdecreases because of factors including
deforestation, over-cultivation, drought,
over-grazing (poor rangeland
management), poor irrigation(waterlogging and salinization), soil
erosion, chemical action and otherpractices.

ndquist1/og6.html#BM6C

Desertification - Conversion ofrangeland, rain-fed cropland todesert-like land, with a drop in
agricultural productivity of 10%
or more. It is usually caused by a
combination of overgrazing, soil
erosion, prolonged drought, andclimate change.
Desertification - Dry land
becoming desert, either through achange in climate or through theactions of humans. Intensive
farming and clearing trees andother vegetation can makedesertification worse.
Desertification - Landdegradation in arid, semi-arid anddry sub-humid areas resulting
from various factors, including
climatic variations and humanactivities.
Desertification - Landdegradation in arid, semi-arid anddry sub-humid areas resulting
mainly from adverse humanimpact (and climatic variations),
and is therefore a sub-set of landdegradation in countries that haveadditional climate zones.
Desertification - Landdegradation in arid, semi-arid,
and dry sub-humid areas

http://ecology.org/bio
d/library/glos_index.h
tml

C

Y

http://www.oxfam.or
g.uk/coolplanet/gloss
ary.htmC

N

Www.asiatpn1.net/glossary.htm
l and
http://www.nyo.unep.
org/action/ap1.htm

CY

http://www.adb.org/p
rojects/PRC_GEF_Pa
rtnership/LD_definiti
on.pdfY

C

http://www.gps.caltec
h.edu/~arid/desert/des
ert.html

Y

C

This definition is good
because it specifies athreshold. However, it
is limited to range andcroplands.

39

Humaninduced

Productivity LossTable 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
SourceNotes

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/
technical/worldsoils/landd
eg/degredation.html

NN

http://www.hwwa.de/Projekte/Forsch_Schwerpunkt
e/FS/Klimapolitik/PDFDo
kumente/Michaelowa,%20Koch%20(2001).pdf

CC

http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/aboutus/annualreport/sect
5.pdf

C

C

http://www.hq.nasa.g
ov/iwgsdi/ISS_SDI_
Climate.html

NC

Desertification - The degradation of http://www.orst.edu/Dept/

Y

C

resulting mainly from adverse
human impact.
Desertification – Land degradation
occurring in the arid, semiarid and dry
subhumid areas of the world. These
susceptible drylands cover 40 percent of
the earth's surface and puts at risk morethan 1 billion people who are dependent
on these lands for survival.
Desertification – Progressive
destruction or degradation of existing
vegetative cover to form desert. Thiscan occur due to overgrazing,
deforestation, drought, and the burningof extensive areas.
Desertification - The (usually) slow
and progressive degradation of land
towards a desert state.

Desertification -The conversionof ecosystems into barren landterrestrial ecosystems as a result of
deforestation, overgrazing, poor soil,
and irrigation management.

owrri/directory/glossary.ht
m#~D~

Desertification - The diminution
or destruction of the biologicalpotential of the land, (which) canlead ultimately to desert-like
conditions.
Desertification - The diminution
or destruction of the biologicalpotential of land, and can lead
ultimately to desert-like
conditions
Desertification - The extensionof the desert into another
ecological system such as into
tropical grasslands.
Desertification - The land

UN Secretariat 1977

N

Y

http://www.gps.caltec
h.edu/~arid/desert/des
ert.html

NC

http://www.kgv.edu.hk/eden/glossary.php

N

N

United Nations

C

Y

Taken literally, theclearing of land for aparking lot may qualify
as a desert.

This sort of puts apositive spin on thechange.

40

Humaninduced

Productivity LossTable 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
SourceNotes

degradation in arid and semi-arid areas,caused by climatic changes and humanimpact"Environment andDevelopment Conference,
Rio de Janeiro in 1992
(Görcelioğlu, 1992). In
this definition it wasemphasised that,desertification was not the
only the problem of aridzones but also semi-aridzones.
http://www.toprak.org.tr/i
sd/isd_53.htm

Desertification - The man-madeor natural formation of desert
from usable land.

http://www.casde.unl.
edu/vn/glossary/earth_d.htm#desertification and http://asdwww.larc.nasa.gov/asd_over/glossary/d.ht
ml andhttp://earthobservatory.nasa.gov:81/Library/glossary.php3?mode=alpha&seg=d
http://www.roseworthy.adelaide.edu.au/~ic
ooper/glossary/d.htm

C

Y

C

N

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=30548&tocid=0

CY

http://www.nrcan.gc.
ca/cfsscf/science/prodserv/
glossary_e.html#23
and

C

Y

Desertification -The process bywhich an area or region becomes
more and through loss of soil andvegetative cover. The process isoften accelerated by excessive
continuous overstocking anddrought.
Desertification - The spread or
encroachment of a desert
environment into arid or semiarid
regions, caused by climaticchanges, human influence, or
both.
Desertification - Thetransformation of onceproductive arid and semi-arid
areas into deserts throughprolonged drought or continued

An interesting aspect
here is that the land has
to be usable initially.

Limited to arid andsemi-arid lands.

41

Desertification -The process ofland degradation which leads to a
drastic reduction of land
productivity. Land is renderedunsuitable for any productive
activity. It is prevalent in arid andProductivity Lossmismanagement of land andwater resources.
Desertification -The (usually)slow and progressive degradationof land towards a desert state.
Desertification -The degradationof terrestrial ecosystems as aresult of deforestation,
overgrazing, poor soil, andirrigation management.
Desertification -The process bywhich lands not formerly deserts
become deserts, because ofchanges in temperature andrainfallDesertification -The process bywhich once productive land isturned into a desert by processes
such as overstocking or removalof protective vegetation.
Desertification -The process of anon-desert ecosystem taking on
the characteristics of a desert(arid, seemingly barren) as aresult of land mismanagement or
climate change.
Desertification -The process of
becoming arid land or desert (asfrom land mismanagement or
climate change).
Desertification -The process ofdesert spread

Humaninduced

Table 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
Source
Notes

N

Y

Y

C

Climate not aconsideration

http://www.solutionssite.org/reference/glo
ssary.htm

NC

Note, changes are notdirectly attributed tohumanshttp://www.epa.nsw.g
ov.au/soe/95/28.htm

CY

http://www.pbs.org/earthonedge/glossary.h
tml

C

Y

http://sol.crest.org/ren
ewables/SJ/glossary/
D.htmlC

N

http://www.learn.co.u
k/default.asp?WCI=U
nit&WCU=7568
http://www.rri.wvu.e
du/WebBook/Briasso
ulis/glossaryterms.ht
m

N

C

C

Y

http://www.fnfp.gc.ca/rep99/gloss-e.htm
http://www.rbgkew.or
g.uk/aboutus/annualre
port/sect5.pdf
http://www.orst.edu/
Dept/owrri/directory/
glossary.htm#~D~

Note the land is“unsuitable for ANY
productive activity.

42Desertification -The progressive
destruction or degradation ofexisting vegetative cover to form
desert.
Desertification -The progressive
destruction or degradation ofexisting vegetative cover to form
desert. This can occur due toovergrazing, deforestation,
drought and the burning ofextensive areas. Once formed,

Productivity Losssemi-arid areas. Its causes areboth natural (dry climate, low
rainfall, water shortage) as wellas anthropogenic (overgrazing,
deforestation, fires, intensive
cultivation).
Desertification -The process
through which a desert takes over
a formerly non-desert area. Whena region begins to undergo
desertification, the newconditions typically include asignificantly lowered water table,
a reduced supply of surface
water, increased salinity innatural waters and soils,
progressive destruction of native
vegetation, and an accelerated
rate of erosion.
Desertification -The process
through which once usable landis turned into desert because ofovergrazing, harmful agricultural
practices, or deforestation

Humaninduced

Table 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
SourceNotes

http://www.iversonso
ftware.com/geology/d/desertification.htm

NN

http://cwabacon.pears
oned.com/bookbind/p
ubbooks/social_ab/chapter4/custom1/delux
econtent.html#desertifi
cationhttp://edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/glossary.
htm#d andhttp://www.ciel.org/P
ublications/climatech
angeglossary.pdf
http://www.ccasia.teri.res.in/gloss/glossary.
htm

N

Y

N

N

Climate and drought are
not factors.

43

Humaninduced

Productivity LossTable 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
SourceNotes

C

N

Lund 2002

N

N

Devegetation - Destruction ofvegetation (by fire, humanimpact).

http://www.nature.np
s.gov/nrbib/HTML%
20files/33.htm#3259

C

N

Devegetation -The removal ofvegetation and exposure of baresoil throughout at least one
growing season.
Diminished Forest Land - areaand percent of forest land withdiminished biologicalcomponents indicative of changes
in fundamental ecologicalprocesses (e.g. soil, nutrient
cycling, seed dispersion,

Lund 1998

NN

http://www.hq.nasa.g
ov/iwgsdi/SDI_Org_
USDA.html

NC

desert can only support a sparse
range of vegetation. Climaticeffects associated with thisphenomenon include increased
albedo, reduced atmospherichumidity and greater atmospheric
dust loading, which can cause
wind erosion and/or atmosphericpollution.
Desertification -The spread ofdeserts.
Desertification - When an area
begins to develop desert-like
conditions due to lack of water,
deforestation, overgrazing andover cropping.
Devegetated - Having removed
the vegetation from an area.

http://mac01.eps.pitt.
edu/harbbook/other/Glossary.html
http://www.dnr.state.s
c.us/climate/sercc/edu
cation/glossary/#d

Implied in thisdefinition is that thevegetation has to be
killed off. Mowing thelawn, for example,
would not count as
devegetation.

44

Productivity Losspollination)
Disturbance (Forest) - Any
discrete force, for instance fire,
wind, disease, insects, or logging,that significantly alters forest
composition, structure, and/or
functioning. Natural disturbances
include all historical disturbancesthat influenced forests prior toEuropean contact, including
those resulting from First
Nations’ use.
Disturbed forest - A forest thathas changed or been degraded
due to human impact.
Underproducing Forestland(USA-Oregon) - Any forestlandthat is capable of producing atleast 20 cubic feet of wood fiber
per acre per year at culminationof mean annual increment, butdoes not currently support theminimum number of free-to-growtrees required in the reforestation
rules under the Forest PracticesAct." Oregon Administrative
Rule (OAR 629-22-020 (22)) The
operational meaning of thisdefinition is marginal agriculture,
pasture or brush land capable ofsupporting a commercial forestthat is currently not stock with amanageable stand of trees orseedlings and not subject to thereforestation requirements of theOregon Forest Practices Act. The
last piece (not subject to thereforestation requirements of theOregon Forest Practices Act)

Humaninduced

Table 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
SourceNotes

http://www.silvafor.org/ecocert/sffstandard
sforbc.pdf

CC

http://ohia.com/ohia/r
oadshows/sky/glossar
y.htm
http://www.odf.state.
or.us/forasst/SF/FRT/
summary.htm

Y

N

N

N

Could conceivably
include old-growthstands.

45

Productivity LossHumaninduced

Table 1 – Listing of published definitions of degraded forest, devegetation, desertification,and related terms (as of 9 December 2002)
Definition
SourceNotes

excludes cutover land following
timber harvest from ourdefinition of underproducing
land. Another operationinterpretation is that
underproducing land is"additional" from the perspectiveof generating forestry carbon
offsets if forestation of theselands occurs. The Forest
Resource Trust is primarily
funded with a $1.5 million dollar
carbon dioxide emissions
reduction investment from an
Oregon power plan.

SM1.2 Antonyms
One way to approach defining key terms is to use a “back door” approach – defining
what it is not. The use of antonyms helps in this regard. We need to consider accounting
for forest and vegetation improvement and restoration as well as for degradation or else
one could never come up in the positive side. Table 3 lists antonym definitions dealing
with restoring vegetation. Note: “aggradation” is listed as an antonym of “degradation”
hence it is included in this table. For definitions of afforestation and reforestation, see
http://home.att.net/~gklund/DEFpaper.htm.
Table 3 - Listing of published definitions dealing with restoration and related terms (as of 9
December 2002)
Definition
SourceLund Notes
Applies
only
to beaches.
http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/na
Accretion or Aggradation(Beach) - Natural accretion isture/nhns2/glossary.htm
the buildup of land on a beachby natural deposition ofwaterborne or airborne
material. The process may be
managed or accelerated byhuman action.
Aggradation - Filling in or
http://sis.agr.gc.ca/cansis/glossar
46

Table 3 - Listing of published definitions dealing with restoration and related terms (as of 9
December 2002)
Definition
SourceLund Notes
leveling by deposition.
y/aggradation.html
Aggradation -The general
http://www.envirotools.org/gloss Unlike other definitions, thismentions smoothing of the Earth’ssmoothing of the earth's
ary.shtml
surface.
surface by deposition due to air
or aquatic transport ofmaterial.
http://courses.washington.edu/es Applies only to soils. Note
Aggradation (Land) Building up of land surfaces by c110a/environmentalglossary.ht reference to permafrost
sedimentation or deposition of ml
mineral matter. The
depositional process itself. The
growth of a permafrost area.
http://140.211.62.101/streamwat Applies to soils
Aggradation (Streambed) The process of building up
ch/glossary.htm
surfaces, such as stream-beds
or floodplains, by thedeposition of sediment and/or
colluvium
Aggradation (Streambed) - A http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/texa
swater/rivers/glossaryleft.htm
progressive buildup or raisingof the channel bed andfloodplain due to sedimentdeposition. The geologic
process by which streambeds
are raised in elevation andflood plains are formed.
Aggradation indicates thatstream discharge and/or bedload characteristics arechanging. Opposite ofdegradation.
Rehabilitate - To return an
http://www.privateforestry.org.aarea of land or a road or track
u/glos_o-z.htm
surface to an original, properand stable condition. This may
involve reshaping, spreading
topsoil, construction of banks
and revegetation.
Rehabilitation - Making the
http://www.oregonwri.org/basinland useful again after a
info/floodrpt.html
disturbance. It involves therecovery of ecosystem
functions and processes in a47

Table 3 - Listing of published definitions dealing with restoration and related terms (as of 9
December 2002)
Definition
SourceLund Notes
degraded habitat.
Rehabilitation does notnecessarily reestablish thepredisturbance condition, butdoes involve establishinggeological and hydrologicallystable landscapes that support
the natural ecosystem mosaic.
Rehabilitation - The process
http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/soe/
95/28.htm
of making land "productive"
again. An alternative
ecosystem is created withdifferent structure and function
than the original ecosystem. It
usually has low species
diversity and includes
introduced species. It requires
maximal human input to exist.
Land uses include parklands,
croplands, and commercial
forests.
Reinstate -Introduce to a place http://www.contacttrust.org.za/B
one or more species or
iodiversityNetwork/webpage/doc
elements of habitat or geos/glossary.htm
diversity that are known tohave existed there naturally ata previous time but that can nolonger be found at that place.
(Natural Heritage Charter). See
also: Revegetate
http://gardening.wsu.edu/text/nvglossr.
Restoration - Returning land
to an original state or repairing htm
damage done by human or
natural disturbance.
Restoration - The process of
http://www.waterlink.org.nz/info
improving habitats/glossary.html
Restoration - The recreation
http://www.greenpeace.org/~coof communities of organisms
mms/cbio/forp&g.html#annex
resembling, in structure,function and dynamics, thoseprior to degradation, andprotected from further humandegradation
48

Table 3 - Listing of published definitions dealing with restoration and related terms (as of 9
December 2002)
Definition
SourceLund Notes
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/master_plan
Restoration - To increase orning/Brule/Documents/PrefAlt.pdf
return species, structures, andprocesses that are currently
diminished locally, regionally,or statewide, to locations on
the property that have highcapability/potential for bothaccommodating and sustaining
these currently scarce
resources. It would attempt toinclude missing successional
stages and patch sizes. Or, tosimply to return forest cover topresently /deforested areas.
http://buttecreekwatershed.org/e
Restoration (Active) Specific human actions taken
cr/new/glossary.htm
to reestablish the naturalprocess, vegetation, andresultant habitat of an
ecosystem.
http://www.wsu.edu/pmc_nrcs/gl
Restoration (Ecological) The process of intentionallyossary/rrr.htm
altering a site to establish adefined, indigenous, historic
ecosystem. The goal of thisprocess is to emulate thestructure, function, diversity,and dynamics of the specified
ecosystem.
http://www.wsu.edu/pmc_nrcs/gl
Restoration (Ecological) ossary/rrr.htm
The process of renewing andmaintaining ecosystem health.
http://www.oregonwri.org/basin- Note emphasis on restoring
Restoration (Ecological) The process of returning an
info/floodrpt.html
land for human use.
ecosystem as closely as
possible to predisturbanceconditions and functions.
Implicit in this definition isthat ecosystems are naturally
dynamic; it is therefore notpossible to recreate a system
exactly. The restoration
process reestablishes the49Table 3 - Listing of published definitions dealing with restoration and related terms (as of 9
December 2002)
Definition
SourceLund Notes
general structure, function, anddynamic but self-sustaining
behavior of the ecosystem.
Restoration differs fromrehabilitation in that
restoration is a holistic process
not achieved through theisolated manipulation ofindividual elements. While
restoration aims to return anecosystem to a former natural
condition, rehabilitation
implies putting the landscape
to a new or altered use to servea particular human purpose.
http://www.wsu.edu/pmc_nrcs/gl Human input is limited after
Restoration (Ecological) The return of an ecosystem toossary/rrr.htm
the site becomes stable.
a close approximation of its
natural condition prior to
disturbance. The goal is toemulate a natural, functioning,self-regulating system that is
integrated with the ecologicallandscape in which it occurs. It
may involve the manipulationof natural processes of
ecological succession to create
a self-sustaining indigenous
ecosystem. The restored
ecosystem should simulate thenatural condition before it was
damaged, or some other native
ecosystem appropriate for the
new conditions of thelandscape. It must be stablewith a minimum of human
input after the initial efforts
that may involve hastening therate of plant succession,
reverting to an earlier seral
stage, or altering the directionof succession.
Restoration (Ecology) - Seeks http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/pae Emphasis is only on sites

50

Table 3 - Listing of published definitions dealing with restoration and related terms (as of 9
December 2002)
Definition
SourceLund Notes
to repair or reconstruct/glossary/glossaryr.mhtml
damaged by humans.
ecosystems damaged byhuman actions.
http://www.nh.nrcs.usda.gov/Ec
Restoration (Ecosystem) Restoring and maintaining the osystem_Restoration/Publication
physical, chemical, ands/Ecosystem%20Restoration%20
biological conditions necessary Standard.pdf
to allow natural ecosystems tofunction and evolve overtime.
http://www.oregonwri.org/basinRestoration (Ecosystem) info/floodrpt.html
The process of repairingdamage to the diversity anddynamics of ecosystems.
http://www.fscstandards.org/regi
Restoration (Ecosystem) The process of returning
ons/southeast/glossary.html
ecosystems or habitats to their
original structure and species
composition.
http://www.internet.ve/wildlife/g
Restoration (Ecosystem) The repair of ecologicallosario.htm
damage to an ecosystem sothat it is close to the natural
condition prior to a disturbanceand it can function as a normal
self-regulating system. This isdone through processes such as
chemical cleanups,
revegetation, and thereintroduction of native
species.
http://www.safnet.org/policy/cos
Restoration (Ecosystem) The return of an ecosystem ortrategy1013.pdf
habitat toward: its original
structure, natural complementof species, and naturalfunctions or ecologicalprocesses.
http://www.forestry.utoronto.ca/
Restoration (Ecosystem) The return of an ecosystem or
ac_staff/emeritus/My%20Webs/
habitat to its original
english.htm
community structure, naturalcomplement of species, andnatural functions (World
51

Table 3 - Listing of published definitions dealing with restoration and related terms (as of 9
December 2002)
Definition
SourceLund Notes
Resources Institute et al. 1992)
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/texa
Restoration (Ecosystem) swater/rivers/glossaryleft.htm
The return of an ecosystem toa close approximation of itscondition prior to disturbance.
http://www.silvafor.org/ecocert/s
Restoration (Forest) Assisting the recovery of forest ffstandardsforbc.pdf
ecosystems from a degradedstate to full functioning. A key
part of this definition, from thestandpoint of ecologicalresponsibility, is its limitationof people’s role in most cases
to assisting, rather than fixing,
natural processes. Usually theleast risky approach is torespect and emulate thosenatural processes thatreestablish the compositionand structures and develop the
biological diversity necessary
for the return or improvementof forest functioning that has
been lost or degraded. In somecases, restoration will require
more radical intervention byhumans.
Restoration (Habitat) - To
http://www.nps.gov/goga/parkla
bs/toolbox/images/curriculums/h
restore or bring backecological integrity by actively td/htd5.pdf
removing invasive exotic
plants, propagating nativeplants, and monitoring theresulting changes.
Restoration (Land) - The
www.plantprocess of restoring sitematerials.nrcs.usda.gov/pubs/idp
conditions as they were before mctn280101.pdf
land disturbance. Note:
restoration involves restoring asite to a specific point in time.
Restoration (Wetland) - Rehttp://www.mawpt.org/pdfs/Stratestablishment of previously
egy.pdf andexisting wetland or otherwww.wrsc.usace.army.mil/iwr/p52

Table 3 - Listing of published definitions dealing with restoration and related terms (as of 9
December 2002)
Definition
SourceLund Notes
aquatic resource character and df/wmb_tp2_Dec95.pdf
function (s) at a site where
they have ceased to exist, or
exist only in a substantiallydegraded state
Restoration (Wetland) - The http://parks.state.co.us/cnap/Wet
processes of returning a sitelands_BMP/17%20%20Glossary.pdf
from a disturbed or totally
altered condition to apreviously existing natural or
altered condition. This process
requires some knowledge ofthe type of wetland that existed
prior to modification.
Restoration (Wetland) - To
http://www.ci.eugene.or.us/wew
improve a disturbed wetland
etlands/glossary2.htm
by returning wetlandparameters which may be
missing; adding soils, water, or
plants. The restoration may
return a missing or damaged
wetland function to achieve adesired outcome; for example,
removing an agricultural cropand planting native seeds to
produce wet prairie grassland.
Restoration/Revegetation Reestablishing a habitat orplant community in an areathat historically supported it.
Restore Ecosystems - To
reinstate an entire communityof organisms to naturally
occurring association.
Restore Habitats - Return
existing habitats to a known
past state or to an
approximation of the natural
condition by repairing
degradation, by removing
introduced species or byreinstatement. (Natural

http://buttecreekwatershed.org/ecr/new/glossary.htm
http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/pae/glossary/glossaryr.mhtml
http://www.contacttrust.org.za/B
iodiversityNetwork/webpage/doc
s/glossary.htm

53

Table 3 - Listing of published definitions dealing with restoration and related terms (as of 9
December 2002)
Definition
SourceLund Notes
Heritage Charter).
Restored Forests - Forests
http://www.af.nfr.no/andreNote emphasis on restoring
planted, seeded, or otherwise
doc/alternativto a natural state. This isrestored in such a manner as to agenda/Forests.html ,opposed to “reforestation”
emulate the original natural
http://www.igc.org/habitat/treati which may mean just reforests of an area
establishing tree cover –es/at-27.htm andhttp://nativenet.uthscsa.edu/archi natural or otherwise.
ve/nl/9208/0081.html
Revegetate - Introduce to a
http://www.contacttrust.org.za/B
place plant species that are
iodiversityNetwork/webpage/doc
s/glossary.htm
known to have existed there
naturally at a previous time.
Revegetate - Reestablishing
http://www.efw.bpa.gov/PSA/N Does not have to be native
vegetation on a disturbed site.
EPA/DOCUMENTS/LOWERV vegetation.
ALLEY/chapter10.pdf
Revegetate - The act of
http://dnr.state.il.us/mines/lrd/gu Does not have to be nativeplanting reclaimed land with
ides/farm6.htm
vegetation.
grasses, trees, crops, etc.
Revegetate - The
http://www.privateforestry.org.a Does not have to be nativeu/glos_o-z.htm
vegetation.
establishment of an effective
vegetative ground cover byeither natural regeneration or
sowing with a seed andfertiliser mixture, to prevent
soil erosion. It is preferable touse sterile hybrids if using
exotic species.
Revegetate - The natural or
http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/pae Does not have to be native
induced replacement of plants /glossary/glossaryr.mhtml
vegetation.
into a cleared area.
Revegetate - The recurrence
http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/paeof the same plant community/glossary/glossaryr.mhtml
that existed prior to clearing.
Revegetate - To cover bare
http://www.forestry.state.ar.us/b Does not have to be nativemineral soil with plant remp/glossary.html
vegetation.
growth. In BMP application,
this refers to the expeditious
establishment of grasses tominimize soil erosion.
Revegetate - To reestablish
http://www.nps.gov/goga/parkla
vegetation in a restoration site bs/toolbox/images/curriculums/h
td/htd5.pdf
by planting and seeding of
indigenous species.
54

Table 3 - Listing of published definitions dealing with restoration and related terms (as of 9
December 2002)
Definition
SourceLund Notes
Revegetate -The rewww.superiornationalforest.org/j
uly4thstorm1999/Appendix%20
establishment andB.doc
development of a plant cover.
This may take place naturally
through reproductive processesof the existing flora or
artificially through the direct
action of reforestation or
seeding.
Revegetation - A general term www.plantfor renewing the vegetation on materials.nrcs.usda.gov/pubs/idp
a project site.
mctn280101.pdf
Revegetation - Establishing or www.plantre-establishing desirable plants materials.nrcs.usda.gov/pubs/idp
in areas where desirable plants mctn280101.pdf andare absent or of inadequate
http://www.roseworthy.adelaide.
density, by management alone edu.au/~icooper/glossary/r.htm(natural revegetation) or byseeding or transplanting(artificial revegetation).
Revegetation - General
http://www.wsu.edu/pmc_nrcs/gl
expression used for the process ossary/rrr.htm
of planting bare areas (rawmineral soils) to perennial
plants or less often to annual
plants.
Revegetation - Planting of
http://www.cityofboise.org/pds/
grasses, forbs, shrubs and trees Comp-Plan/Foothills/Appendixin areas where vegetation has
A.pdf
been removed, or in some-way
disrupted or damaged.
Revegetation is conductedunder two different conditions:
irrigated and nonirrigated.
commercial and industrial
areas.
Revegetation - Refers to thewww.plantvegetation construction phasematerials.nrcs.usda.gov/pubs/idp
of reclamation.
mctn280101.pdf
Revegetation - Replanting a
http://gardening.wsu.edu/text/nv Note emphasis on native
cleared area with native plants. glossr.htm
plants
Revegetation -The
http://parks.state.co.us/cnap/Wet Note emphasis on perennial
55

Table 3 - Listing of published definitions dealing with restoration and related terms (as of 9
December 2002)
Definition
SourceLund Notes
vegetation.
establishment of perennial
lands_BMP/17%20%20Glossary.pdf
vegetative cover on disturbed
areas by planting seed.
Revegetation - The
http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/publiclands/nprg/glossary.html
establishment of vegetation
which replaces original groundcover following land
disturbance. (Powter, 1995)
Does not have to be native
Revegetation - The planting of http://www.ci.menlovegetation following eitherpark.ca.us/creek/MPAppendixA. vegetation.
pdf
manual removal of existing
vegetation or gradual dying off
of once-present vegetation.
Revegetation - The process of http://www.waterlink.org.nz/info/glossary.html
replanting vegetation that
previously existed at a site.
Revegetation - To plant or
http://www.nps.gov/goga/parkla
provide an area with new plant bs/restoration/plant.htm
cover.

SM1.3 Parallel Definitions
Its possible to draw parallels between the changes which forests or ‘other vegetation’undergo as they are removed completely, removed partially, re-established, restored,
enriched or established afresh. These terms are outlined in Table 1, and considered in
more detail in Table 4, which also shows the manner in which the new definitions derived
in this Chapter for degradation, devegetation and restocking fit alongside those defined in
the Marrakech Accords.
Table4 Suggested parallel terms used for forest and other vegetation changes
ChangeForest (tree cover)
Other vegetation or (landuse)“Permanent” removal of
Deforestation
Devegetation
cover below thresholds
Partial removal of coverForest degradation
Vegetation degradation
reducing land capability to
produce goods and services
over long term
Re-establishment of cover
Reforestation
Revegetation

56

Table4 Suggested parallel terms used for forest and other vegetation changes
ChangeForest (tree cover)
Other vegetation or (landuse)
at or above thresholds
Restoration of “original3”
Forest restoration
Vegetation restoration
cover
Increase of cover beyond
Forest improvement
Vegetation improvement“original” condition
Creation of cover where it
Afforestation
Vegetation or avegetation?
did not previously exist

1.1.1

SM1.4 Types of Degradation

Degradation in a forest environment may apply to genes, tree, the species composition,
the soils, the water and the landscape. One must decide which types of degradation areimportant to monitor. Table 2 lists types of degradation and their impact uponmonitoring.
Table 2 – Types of degradation and their impact upon monitoring.
Type of
Change in carbon
Time frame
Ease of“Degradation”
sequestration4
measurement

Wood, Tree

No

Change inspeciescomposition,
biodiversity

Possibly- depends on
what replaces the lost
species

Reduction oftree coverpercent

Yes

Short

Degradation instanding trees
may be observed
from visualindicators such asconks. Degradedwood mayincreases
biodiversity.
Short
Changes in
speciescomposition may
best be observedin the field
Short to longThis may beterm if there is
detected froma change in land remote sensing
use as well

Severity
from an
IPCC
view
Sl ig ht3

Original may be the situation at the start of the first reporting period.
Consider Newton’s third theorem – “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” A
degradation of one feature may be an improvement of another.

457

Table 2 – Types of degradation and their impact upon monitoring.
Type of
Change in carbon
Time frame
Ease of“Degradation”
sequestration4
measurement

Change inhabitat,environment,
ecosystem
Site, land, loss ofsoil

Desertification

Possibly – depends on Long term
what replaces the
habitat.
Yes

YesLong termLong termThis may be
detected byremote sensing orfrom the field.
Loss of site
productivity may
be observed in thefield over a periodof time bymeasuring the
growth rate of thetrees. The
question may
arise “Is thechange climatic orhuman- induced?”
As above

Severity
from an
IPCC
view

ExtremeForest degradation usually implies a loss of productivity. Operations such as thinning andsalvage logging, while reducing the canopy cover, may not reduce the productivity of theforest. In fact it may increase it. Thus overstory reduction alone may not be regarded asdegraded forest.
Change in species composition may not mean a degraded forest from a productivity view.
One could plant genetically improved or faster growing exotic trees and increase carbon
storage.
Task 2 authors agreed that the UNFCCC definition of ‘forest degradation’ should: a)work within the Marrakech definitions of ‘forest’, ‘deforestation’ and ‘reforestation’; b)be easily, reliably and repeatably measured by techniques described in the Good Practice
Guide for the characterisation of forest structure; c) not include measurements of othergoods and services which are difficult to quantify, and which distract from the role offorests in carbon-sequestration; d) allow reporting of changes in greenhouse gas
emissions separately from the structural characteristics which are exclusively used todefine ‘degradation’. Using these criteria, all the above definitions of forest degradation
were judged unsuitable for FCCC, and the following suggested definition was adopted:• Forest degradation5 is a direct human-induced loss of forest values (particularly carbon),likely to be characterised by a reduction of tree crown cover. Routine management fromwhich crown cover will recover within the normal cycle forest management operations is notincluded.

5

FAO asked IPCC to consider ‘destocking’ rather than degeneration
58

SM1.5 Devegetation
We found only three definitions of devegetation. From an IPCC perspective, the field iswide open. In developing a definition for “devegetation” consider including words suchas the destruction and removal of current vegetation below a specified stocking or crowncover threshold. Both the words “destruction” and “removal” should be included. One
could remove vegetation and plant it elsewhere –such as a sod farm – so there would be
no loss of carbon. If the grass were destroyed – then there would be a carbon loss.
Harvesting does not quite fit as one could “harvest” grass through mowing, but thegrowing part of the vegetation remains.
Task 2 authors agreed that the UNFCCC definition of ‘forest degradation’ should: a)work with the Marrakech definitions of ‘revegetation’; b) be easily, reliably andrepeatably measured by techniques described in the Good Practice Guide for thecharacterisation of forest structure; c) not include measurements of other goods andservices which are difficult to quantify, and which distract from the role of forests incarbon-sequestration; d) allow reporting of changes in greenhouse gas emissions
separately from the structural characteristics which are exclusively used to define‘degradation’; e) be clear on the minimum areas involved; f) be clear on the time-period
involved. Using these criteria, all the above definitions of ‘devegetation’ were rejected
and the following selected.
• ‘Devegetation’ is a direct human-induced activity that decreases carbon stocks through thechanges in vegetation on non-forest land over an area of 0.05 hectares or greater. Changes
within normal management cycles are not included.

SM1.6 Other vegetation types
Table 5 – Definitions of vegetation types.
Term
SourceVegetation type - A plantcommunity with
distinguishable characteristics.
Vegetation Type - A plantcommunity, assemblage, oraggregation with
distinguishable characteristics.
Vegetation Type - A
standardized description of thevegetation in which a fire isburning. The type is based on
the dominant plant species andthe age of the forest andindicates how moist a site may
be and how much fuel is likely

Comments

http://www.umpquawatersheds.org/glossary/gloss_v.html
http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/rhgiles/appendices/
glossv.htm
http://www.nps.gov/seki/fire/fire_gloss.htm

59

Table 5 – Definitions of vegetation types.
Term
Sourceto be present.
Vegetation type -Thepotential natural vegetation ofSouth Africa, Lesotho andSwaziland according to Low
and Rebelo (1996).

www.csir.co.za/rhp/reports/report11/app
endix%201.pdf

Comments

Note this focuseson potential

Based upon the intent of this task, we recommend that ‘Other vegetation types’ bedefined as ‘non-forest-land’

SM1.7 Other Necessary Definitions
There are a number of terms contained within either definitions of degradation or
devegetation, or the existing Marrakech definitions which need further clarification. Keyamongst these is the introduction of the term ‘forest restocking’ which is necessary torepresent an increase in cover from above the threshold at which it would bereforestation. The suggested terms retain a focus on ease of measurement and reporting:•‘Direct human-induced degradation of forests’ is defined as: ‘the sum of effects of those activitiesof humans working in, or using, ‘forests’, which cause a loss of tree biomass and carbon stocks’•‘Direct human-induced devegetation of other vegetation types’ is defined as: ‘the sum of effects of
the activities of humans working in, or using, ‘other vegetation types’ which cause a loss ofvegetation biomass and carbon stocks’.

•‘Forest restocking’ is the direct converse of ‘forest degradation’, and involves a long-term increasein tree crown cover from a starting point above the minimum thresholds of ‘forest’.

•‘Indirect human-induced degradation of forests’ is defined as: ‘the sum of effects of those
activities of humans taking place outside the ‘forest’, or in society generally, which cause a loss oftree biomass and or carbon stocks’.

•‘Indirect human-induced devegetation of other vegetation types’ is defined as: the sum of effectsof the activities of humans outside areas of ‘other vegetation types’, or in society generally, whichcause a loss of vegetation biomass and carbon stocks’.

•‘Natural effects inducing degradation of forests' is defined as: the sum of those non-anthropogenic
effects that cause a loss of tree biomass and carbon stocks.

•‘Naturally induced devegetation of other vegetation types’ is defined as: the sum of those nonanthropogenic effects that cause a loss of vegetation biomass and carbon stocks.

60