Agricultural Land
Reserva Encenillo, Fundacion Natura, ColombiaThis reserve is located in high montane forest of the Colombia Andes, designed to protect the locally important forest tree Weinmanniatomentosa (Encenillo in Spanish). The total size of the reserve is 135 ha of forest, and serves as a forest corridor in a matrix of pasture, potato, and remnant forest landscape. Approximately 2-3 ha of degraded pasture were planted with Alnus acuminata in 2007. Alnus is planted in rows with approximately 3 meter spacing. Trees average mean annual increment is 1.35 cm at breast height, which is an average growth for the region; however, many trees had multiple stems, so total biomass is even larger. Open access copy available |
Uses, Management and Economic Potential of Garcinia kola and Ricinodendron heudelotii in the humid lowlands of CameroonBackgroundThis article describes two common fruit and medicinal trees (non-timber) that grow in secondary forests in the lowlands of Cameroon. The trees are found to have a mixed effect in an agroforestry environment; sometimes they improve crop production, sometimes they do not. Fruit are consumed by families and sold in markets. Open access copy available |
Tree species effects on soil properties in experimental plantations in tropical moist forestBackgroundForest soil properties are influenced by the complex interactions of vegetation, soil type, geology, management, and climactic patterns. Tree species can differ in their long-term effects on soils. This study resamples one of the earliest replicated experimental sites at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica, used to examine the effects of native tropical tree species on soil properties, to examine longer term effects on soil properties. Open access copy available |
Caracterización del conocimiento local del componente arbóreo en fincas ganaderas (Characterization of the local knowledge of the tree component in cattle farms)EspañolantecedentesLa producción ganadera es una de las principales económicas en la Municipalidad de Pupiales en Colombia, donde participan alrededor de 950 productores. La información relacionada a los sistemas de producción no ha sido sistematizada con frecuencia, sin embargo es de gran importancia para los procesos de investigación y de toma de decisiones. Open access copy available |
Profiles of Carbon Stocks in Forest, Reforestation and Agricultural Land, Northern ThailandbackgroundThis study assesses carbon stocks in various forms and land-use types in the Nam Yao sub-watershed, Thailand, to estimate the impact of land use on carbon stocks. Research Goals & MethodsThe carbon stocks of aboveground, soil organic, and fine root within primary forest, reforestation and agricultural land were estimated through field data collection. Available with subscription or purchase |
Tecnología para la reforestación en América Latina (Reforestation technology in Latin America)Open access copy available |
Sistemas silvopastoriles como una herramienta para el mejoramiento de la productividad y restauración de la integridad ecológica de paisajes ganaderosEspañolAntecedentesOpen access copy available |
Woody Plant Diversity and Structure of Shade-Grown-Coffee Plantations in Northern Chiapas, MexicobackgroundThis article presents research on coffee stand structure and diversity, with data collected from 61 coffee plots in Chiapas, Mexico. Research Goals & MethodsThe following variables were measured: coffee density, slope, plot aspect, the number of individuals of each shade species (divided into 9 diametric classes), number of strata, species use, and presence of woody plant species. Open access copy available |
Impacts of Native Trees on Tropical Soils: A Study in the Atlantic Lowlands of Costa RicabackgroundThis article describes the results of a study in Costa Rica that compared the soil fertility in a 2.5 year-old plantation of 6 native tree species, grass pasture, and 20 year-old secondary forest. Research Goals & MethodsSoil extractable Ca, Mg, K, P, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn, the pH, exchangeable acidity, organic matter and total N were measured in three plots. Available with subscription or purchase |
The Role of Rustic Coffee Plantations in the Conservation of Wild Tree Diversity in the Chinantec Region of MexicobackgroundThis study examines the potential of shade coffee systems to promote native tree diversity across the landscape of southern Mexico. Research Goals & MethodsTwenty-two coffee plantations, representing a range of elevation and age of development, were sampled to assess their species compositions. In total, 45 species (34 tree species) were recorded in the plantations, and 77% of them were native species. Open access copy available |
