Fig. 1
From: Implementing forest landscape restoration under the Bonn Challenge: a systematic approach
The policy attention cycle, illustrating the waxing and waning of interest in an issue over time. The beginning of deforestation and forest degradation dates to pre-history, accelerating with the advent of agriculture (pre-problem stage). Recognition of the need for reversing deforestation and degradation probably date to the same time in pre-history but the development of forest landscape restoration (FLR) as a policy issue (stage 2) began with academic attention to ecological restoration in the 1970s and formation of the Society for Ecological Restoration in 1988. Formal definition of FLR dates to 2000. Currently, FLR is in stage 2/3. If the normal cycle prevails and interests decline (stages 3–4), the need for FLR will not decline but a gap in enthusiasm may develop (after Downs 1972)