Journal Articles
Effect of Land Prices, Transportation Costs, and Site Productivity on Timber Investment Returns for Pine Plantations in ColombiabackgroundThis study assesses the importance of land costs, site quality, and forest location on financial returns of forestry investments. Goals & MethodsThe factors mentioned above were analyzed using data from pine plantations in the Andean region of Colombia. Researchers determined site quality based on annual growth rates and they calculated comparative return on forest investment based on sales of wood, market prices, wood transport costs, and bare land costs. Available with subscription or purchase |
Timber Investment Returns for Selected Plantations and Native Forests in South America and the Southern United StatesbackgroundThis study examines the value of timber investments in South America. Exotic Eucalyptus in the southern cone (Argentina + Chile) are the most profitable, with Internal Rate of Return of 13-23%, followed by exotic loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), whereas investments in the southeast USA is less profitable. Available with subscription or purchase |
Development of Soilless Culture Methods for Production of Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) Root and Leaf BiomassbackgroundMoringa is a valuable tropical agroforestry species with a fruit rich in nutrients. This study tested soilless (hydroponic) Moringa cultivation methods given that past research on tissue culture (vegetative reproduction) has shown difficulty in transfer to soil. Research Goals & MethodsIn this study, dehulled seeds had a high germination rate (65%), whereas hulled seeds had low germination. Available with subscription or purchase |
Seed Dispersal and Potential Forest Succession in Abandoned Agriculture in Tropical AfricaBackgroundForest succession on disturbed and post-agrarian lands is often slow because the resources necessary for succession – such as soil nutrients, seeds, and moisture – are depleted. In such areas, succession may depend on bat- and bird-dispersed seeds arriving from distant forest patches. Open access copy available |
Evidence of Incipient Forest Transition in Southern MexicobackgroundThis study uses satelite images (Landsat) to analyze land cover change in southern Mexico from 1990 to 2006. Open access copy available |
Land Use Transitions: Socio-Ecological Feedback versus Socio-Economic ChangebackgroundThis study seeks to understand the social, environmental, and economic factors that influence land use transition and how those factors influence resulting forest quality. The study looks at both at forest loss and reforestation. The authors use recent changes in forest cover in northern Vietnam as a case study. Available with subscription or purchase |
A Strategy for Restoration of Montane Forest in Anthropogenic Fern Thickets in the Dominican RepublicBackgroundThis study looked at the potential of different tree species to grow in clearings in fern-dominated thickets in a state of arrested succession. It was conducted in the Ébano Verde Scientific Reserve in the Dominican Republic with subtropical montane forest. Research Goals & MethodsThe authors cleared fern-dominated shrubs with machetes and planted 18 species of early and late successional trees and shrubs with and without a single application of fertilizer. Available with subscription or purchase |
Seed germination and seedling establishment of Neotropical dry forest species in response to temperature and light conditionsBackgroundSite conditions in restoration projects vary widely, with proper conditions for germination not always available for a given species. This study examines the germination requirements of Cedrela odorata, Guaiacum sanctum and Calycophyllum candidissimum seeds under varying light conditions beneath the canopy of a dry forest in Nicaragua. Available with subscription or purchase |
Secondary Forest Regeneration Under Fast-Growing Forest Plantations on Degraded Imperata cylindrica GrasslandsBACKGROUNDIn Southeast Asia, large areas of former rain forest lands are covered by fire-climax Imperata cyclindrica (alang-alang) grass. Grass has potential to colonize varying types and sizes of land preventing regrowth of woody species. Natural forest recovery is inhibited by fires and competition with grass and shrubs. Planting fast growing tree species can create needed micro-climate and speed up regeneration of woody species. This study compared the regeneration of native tree species under the canopy of tree plantations, riverine areas, and uncultivated grassland areas. Available with subscription or purchase |
Can Intensive Management Accelerate the Restoration of Brazil’s Atlantic Forests?backgroundThis study takes place in the heavily degraded Atlantic Forest region of eastern Brazil, where only 7% of the original forest cover remains. The study tests the question of whether intensive management methods similar to those used to establish fast-growing Eucalyptus plantations could also be applied to restoration of rainforest on former pasture-land dominated by grasses. Available with subscription or purchase |
