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A Tri-Partite Framework of Forest Dynamics: Hierarchy, Panarchy, and Heterarchy in the Study of Secondary Growth

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Book cover Reforesting Landscapes

Part of the book series: Landscape Series ((LAEC,volume 10))

Abstract

This chapter presents a framework that departs from standard approaches to provide explanations for reforestation. It draws on hierarchy theory, notions of “adaptive cycles” and “panarchy”, and the concept of “heterarchy” as heuristics for understanding multi-scale causation behind secondary growth. Hierarchy theory reconciles theoretical perspectives by noting the distinct scales on which their explanations operate, and allows identification of causal pathways to narrate indirect and direct causes of forest recovery. Adaptive cycles provide a means of accounting for both fast and slow operations in the agents behind land cover change, and panarchy reveals asynchronies in slow-fast operations that result in short-, medium- and long-term forest cover dynamics. Heterarchy refers to hierarchical and non-hierarchical causation, including reorganization of the causal chains influencing land cover, such that certain explanations may become important at some moments and not others. This framework can explain why different mechanisms can best account for secondary growth in different contexts, and provides a basis for, comparisons across cases, and recognition of changes in causation over time.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Stephen G. Perz

  2. Department of Anthropological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

    Angelica M. Almeyda

Authors
  1. Stephen G. Perz
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  2. Angelica M. Almeyda
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Correspondence to Stephen G. Perz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ecology & the Environment (ATREE), Ashoka Trust for Research in, Royal Enclave, Srirampura, Bangalore, 560064, India

    Harini Nagendra

  2. Dept. Geography, University of Florida, Turlington Hall 3141, Gainesville, 32611-7315, U.S.A.

    Jane Southworth

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Perz, S.G., Almeyda, A.M. (2009). A Tri-Partite Framework of Forest Dynamics: Hierarchy, Panarchy, and Heterarchy in the Study of Secondary Growth. In: Nagendra, H., Southworth, J. (eds) Reforesting Landscapes. Landscape Series, vol 10. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9656-3_4

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