An introduction to analog forestry, an ecological restoration technique that uses landscape-level interventions to increase biodiversity and promote socioeconomic well-being of forest inhabitants.

1. Analog Forestry
Restoring the planet’s life support systems
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

2. Analog Forestry 101
• What is Analog Forestry?
• The Analog Forestry way
– Analog Forestry methods
– Mimicking nature
– 12 Principles
• Forest products
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

3. Analog Forestry 101
• What is Analog Forestry?
• The Analog Forestry way
– Analog Forestry methods
– Mimicking nature
– 12 Principles
• Forest products
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

4. What is Analog Forestry?
Analog forestry is an ecological restoration tool that helps to
restore the life support systems of the planet – represented by
healthy, biodiverse ecosystems
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

5. What is Analog Forestry?
Analog Forestry is based in interventions for small farmers and
indigenous communies to maintain and restore their forests
while improving their income and livelihoods
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

6. Analog Forestry
Biology: An organ or
structure that is
similar in function
to one in another
kind of organism.
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.
Chemistry: A
structural
derivative of a
parent compound
that often differs
from it by a single
element.
The science of
planting and taking
care of trees and
managing forests

7. Analog Forestry
Planting forests that are similar in architectural
structures and ecological functions to the original
climax forest.
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

8. Analog Forestry as a restoration tool
Ecological restoration of life support systems
Creation of ecologically stable and socioeconomically productive landscapes
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

9. History
• Initially practiced in Guatemala and California in the 1970s
• Based on the traditional ‘home gardens’ of tropical Asia
• Concepts were tested on the ground in Sri Lanka in 1983
• The International Analog Forestry Network was created in 1996
to develop and popularize the AF model
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

10. Why restoration?
The world’s life support systems are threatened by
deforestation, monoculture plantations, landgrabs
and the degradation of forest ecosystems, all of
which should be seen as opportunities for
restoration
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

11. Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

12. Analog Forestry as a silviculture method
Complex and holistic form of silviculture
Minimizes external inputs, such as agrochemicals
and fossil fuels
Augments biodiversity for resilience and
productivity
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

13. Analog Forestry 101
• What is Analog Forestry?
• The Analog Forestry way
– Analog Forestry methods
– Mimicking nature
– 12 Principles
• Forest products
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

14. The Analog Forest way
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

15. The Analog Forest way
1. Record the structure
of the natural forest
with the help of a
physiognomic
formula
2. Mapping and
ecological evaluation
of the degraded area
that shall be
reforested
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

16. The Analog Forest way
3. Use a database to
find out about the
properties of the
plants you want to
grow
Design
(Map)
Structure
(Formula)
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.
Function
(Database)
4. Design your food
forest

17. Mimicking nature
 Observe and record the
architecture and ecological
functions of the natural forest
 Select species that are analogous
in structure and function to plants
in the mature forest
 Use ecological succession to
reach your goal of a mature
ecosystem
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

18. Following succession
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

19. 12 Analog Forestry Principles
1. Observe
and record
5. Map flows
and reservoirs
9. Use ecological
processes
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.
2. Understand
and evaluate
6. Reduce
external inputs
10. Value
Biodiversity
3. Know
your land
7. Be guided by
the landscape
11. Respect
maturity
4. Identify levels
of yield
8. Follow ecological
succession
12. Respond
creatively

20. Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

21. Analog Forestry 101
• What is Analog Forestry?
• The Analog Forestry way
– Analog Forestry methods
– Mimicking nature
– 12 Principles
• Forest products
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

22. Forest Products
• Analog Forestry aims to
create ecologically stable
and socio-economically
productive landscapes
• Emphasizes production of
a diversity of useful and
marketable goods and
services from the forest
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

23. Certification
• The Forest Garden
Products certification
standard markets products
derived from Analog
Forestry
• Producers adhere to
organic principles while
increasing biodiversity
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

24. Forest products
Restoring the planet’s life-support systems.

25. Netherlands:
Both ENDS
Canada: Falls
Brook Centre
Belgium:
WeForest
France:
Guayapi
USA: Grayson
LandCare;
Institute for
Cultural Ecology;
Care of Earth
Cuba: Agroforestry
Research Institute
Honduras: FUCSA
Costa Rica: ARBOFILIA; CCBA;
Eco Era
Colombia:
AMICHOCO
Ecuador:
ClimAmbiente
Philippines: NTFP-EP
Dominican Republic:
ENDA-Dom
Togo: Les
Compagnons
Ruraux
Cameroon:
CENDEP
India: India
Development Project;
Sahajasamrudha
Sri Lanka:
Conservation Carbon
Company; F.G.P; FSHS;
Rainforest Rescue
International
Brazil: Consorcio dos
Productores Sateré-Mawé
Peru: Arbio
Analog Forestry around the world
Australia: Ballarat Tree
Growers; Total Ecosystem
Management