The papers within this special issue cover largely ecological and silvicultural topics of reforestation and restoration. The issue is dedicated to Professors Savithri and Nimal Gunatilleke of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Building on the rich tradition of village home garden woodlands in their nation, Sri Lanka, they with their students have applied continuing research, into the landscape ecology and historical biogeography of its rich wet zone flora, in path breaking experiments on forest restoration in the context of the contemporary village economy