Ecuador
Reforestation of Abandoned Pastures: Seed Ecology of Native Species and Production of Indigenous Plant MaterialbackgroundThis book chapter provides important considerations for sustainable native species reforestation efforts. The authors suggest that although using native species is more prevalent than ever before, there has been little attention to the provenance of the trees used and the genetic diversity within species. Available with subscription or purchase |
Natural History, Seed Predation, and Germination of Prosopis juliflora Relative to a Reforestation Project in Southwestern EcuadorbackgroundThis article provides information on the natural history of Prosopis juliflora in Ecuador and describes the efforts to use this native species in reforestation of tropical dry forest in the Proyecto Eduardo Aspiazu Estrata project. Research Goals & MethodsOver 200 sacks of pods (around 15-20 kg) of seeds were collected in March-May 1994 and examined at the seed bank. Open access copy available |
Seed germination of Loxopterygium guasango, a threatened tree of coastal Northwestern South AmericabackgroundLoxopterygium guasango is a tree native to Ecuador with threatened status as of 1993, despite its durable wood, history of timber use, and potential use in reforestation. This study reports on seed germination, a potential cause of its low regeneration rates. Open access copy available |
Decentralized Payments for Environmental Services: The cases of Pimampiro and PROFAFOR in EcuadorbackgroundThis article describes two payment for environmental services (PES) programs in Ecuador which, unlike programs run in other countries, are run by decentralized organizations: Pimampiro municipal watershed-protection scheme and PROFAFOR carbon-sequestration programme. Research Goals & MethodsThe authors conduct interviews, community workshops, and collect socioeconomic data to evaluate the programs for additionality (adding to conservation), welfare or poverty alleviation, and the control of leakage. Available with subscription or purchase |
Reforestation of Abandoned Pastures: Silvicultural Means to Accelerate Forest Recovery and BiodiversityBackgroundDespite the 2736 native tree species in Ecuador, the majority of forestation activities in the country are based on exotic pines and eucalypts. In this book chapter, the authors describe the reason for this neglect being the lack of knowledge on the ecology and silvicultural treatment and the lack of nurseries growing these species. Available with subscription or purchase |
Awacachi Biological Corridor ReforestationBACKGROUNDThe mission of the project is to propagate native trees species along the Awacachi biological corridor as well as the agroforestry areas in the buffer zone. The project to conserve and restore in the corridor was established in 2000 and spans 10,000 hectares. The Awacachi Corridor is a key strategic site which along with adjoining areas, reinforces the conservation of humid tropical forest of the Chocó biogeographic region. Open access copy available |
Species-Rich but Distinct Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Communities in Reforestation Plots on Degraded Pastures and in Neighboring Pristine Tropical Mountain Rain ForestbackgroundThis study compares the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) of 4 native species saplings growing in three types of fire-degraded pasture (recently abandoned, bracken covered, and shrub covered pasture) to the AMF richness and composition of 30 adult tree species in neighboring primary forest. Research Goals & MethodsThe authors sequenced a segment of fungal 18S rDNA from the mycorrhizas; in total, 193 glomeromycotan sequences were analyzed, with 130 of them being published for the first time. Open access copy available |
Determinants for Successful Reforestation of Abandoned Pastures in the Andes: Soil Conditions and Vegetation CoverBackgroundThis article compares the growth of native and exotic species seedlings planted in abandoned pasture and among brachen ferns and shrubs in Andean Ecuador over three years. Research Goals & MethodsThe species (native: Alnus acuminata, Cedrela montana, Juglans neotropica, Heliocarpus americanus, Tabebuia chrysantha, exotic: Pinus patula and Eucalyptus saligna) were planted in a block design in the different successional stages and in plots with and without above-ground weeding. Available with subscription or purchase |
Soil compaction and topsoil removal effects on soil properties and seedling growth in Amazonian EcuadorBackgroundSoil properties affect plant growth including during germination and establishment. Topsoil loss, nutrient loss, and compaction due to industrial activity in forest may impact forest regeneration. This study reports on soil properties and seedling growth following topsoil removal in Amazonian Ecuador. Available with subscription or purchase |
Implications of Country-Level Decisions on the Specification of Crown Cover in the Definition of Forests for Land Area Eligible for Afforestation and Reforestation Activities in the CDMbackgroundAccording to the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) with the Kyoto Protocol, reforestation may only occur on land that was not forested in 1990. This article evaluates how afforestation and reforestation (A/R) through the ENCOFOR project in four countries have approached the issue of "what is forest?" The authors highlight the uncertainty in the qualifications to be forest by presenting many different national or organizational definitions of forestland. Differences in the minimum crown cover needed to be classified as forest can affect the area available for reforestation under CDM. Open access copy available |
