Creative Ecology: Restoration of Native Forests by Native Trees

background

This article describes how the "native forests by native trees" restoration method used in Japan was applied to reforestation in Malaysia, and later in Brazil, Chile, and parts of China.

Research Goals & Methods

The author describes processes of investigating species mixtures from natural forests, collecting seeds of native species, creating vegetation maps, evaluating natural regeneration, preparing potted seedlings in a nursery setting, and mulching and weeding around the trees. Using the results of prior field investigations for species selection, 91 species were planted on 800 ha of land in Sarawak, Malaysia.

Conclusions & Takeaways

Mixed plantations can result in quasi-natural forests over the course of 50 years, suggesting a faster process than natural regeneration.