Degradation (or forest degradation)
The term used to describe the condition of a forest that has been reduced below its natural capacity, but not below the 10 percent crown cover threshold hat qualifies as deforestation.
"Glossary", FOREST RESTORATIONRESEARCH UNIT, 2008. "Research for Restoring Tropical Forest Ecosystems: A Practical Guide". Biology Department, Science Faculty, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. (Primary source) In the context of the Kyoto Protocol, as stipulated by the Marrakesh Accords, cf. paragraph 1 of the Annex to draft decision-/CMP. (Land Use, Land-use Change and Forestry) contained in document FCCC/CP/2001/ 13/Add.1, p.58. http://www.forru.org/PDF_Files/rfrtfpdf/rfrtfappendix.pdf
Any combination of loss of soil fertility, absence of forest cover, lack of natural function, soil compaction, and salinization that either impedes or retards unassisted forest recovery through secondary succession.
Assessing forest degradation, Forest Resources Assessment Working Paper 177, FAO, 2011 (http://www.fao.org/3/a-i2479e.pdf); CBD, 2005, 2001.
