Ecosystem Services and Ecological Processes
La vegetación leñosa en helechales y bosque de ribera en la reserva científica Ebano Verde, República Dominicana (Woody vegetation in fernlands and riparian forests in Ebano Verde scientific reserve, Dominican Republic)SpanishAntecedentesDe 1940 a 1970, áreas deforestadas en la Cordillera Central de la República Dominicana fueron sujetas a incendios rutinarios lo cual causó erosión intensa y llevo al establecimiento de Dicranopteris pectinate, una especie de helecho de sotobosque. Esta especie de helecho rápido forma comunidades estables que inhiben el crecimiento de especies maderables e impide la sucesión natural del bosque. Se ha observado un fenómeno similar dentro de la Reserva Científica Ébano Verde en la República Dominicana. Open access copy available |
Restauración de Bosques en territorios indígenas de Chiapas: modelos ecológicos y estrategias de acción (Restoration of forests in Indigenous territories of Chiapas: ecological models and action strategies)EspañolAntecedentesLos bosques montanos del sur de México se han fragmentado severamente y su estructura y composición florística se han visto alteradas debido a la agricultura tradicional y al crecimiento demográfico. En extensas áreas de Chiapas, la restauración forestal no solo es una necesidad urgente, sino que también representa una opción viable para la recuperación de productos y servicios que podrían ser utilizados en el futuro de manera sustentable. Open access copy available |
Forest Recovery after Swidden Cultivation across a 40-year Chronosequence in the Atlantic Forest of Southern Bahia, BrazilbackgroundSecondary forest with a range of ages was compared to old growth forest in the Serra do Conduru State Park in Southern Bahia, Brazil in terms of species composition and structure. Open access copy available |
Restoration of Tropical Forest EcosystemsBACKGROUNDThis book presents a compilation of papers presented at a symposium on "Restoration of Tropical Forest Ecosystems" that occurred in Bonn, Germany during October of 1991. The event, sponsored by Mitsubishi Corporation, addressed the reasons for tropical forest destruction, opportunities and challenges for restoration, rehabilitation and management. This book presents perspectives of authors from different countries and contexts on forestry, ecology, and nature conservation to address the need for restoration and rehabilitation of tropical forests. Open 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 |
Tree species diversity and vegetation structure in shade coffee farms in Veracruz, MexicoBackgroundWhile some studies have argued that shade coffee enables similar biodiversity to remnant forest fragments, others contest that the ecological functions of shade coffee can be assumed to be the same or that policies promoting shade coffee will also benefit remnant forest fragments. Not all taxa have been thoroughly studied in shade coffee. This study reports on tree species diversity and vegetation structure in shade coffee farms in Veracruz, Mexico. Open access copy available |
Tree biodiversity in farmer cooperatives of a shade coffee landscape in western El SalvadorbackgroundConservation of tropical biodiversity in agricultural landscapes has become more important as the area covered by natural ecosystems decreases. Understanding the types of biodiversity common in agriculturally managed lands, and involving farmers in conservation planning, is important for regional conservation goals. Available with subscription or purchase |
Shade management in coffee and cacao plantationsBackgroundShade trees reduce the stress of coffee (Coffea spp.) and cacao (Theobroma cacao) by ameliorating adverse climatic conditions and nutritional imbalances and increase the biodiversity of coffee farms, but they may also compete for growth resources. This review summarizes the literature on ecological aspects of shade-grown coffee and cacao and on management of shade trees, but does not address economic and social aspects of shade-grown coffee and cacao. Available with subscription or purchase |
Performance of an Improved Fallow System in the Peruvian Amazon—Modelling ApproachbackgroundThis research compares the ecological and economic potential of an improved leguminous tree fallow (using Inga edulis) to the traditional grass fallow (dominated by Imperata brasiliensis) in central Peru. Available with subscription or purchase |
Use of the Amazonian Tree Species Inga edulis for Soil Regeneration and Weed ControlbackgroundThis article presents research on leguminous tree-based fallows using Inga edulis in Peru. Research Goals & MethodsFour treatments were compared over a period of nearly 3 years: 1) natural fallow, 2) fallow with I. edulis, 3) fallow with I. edulis combined with a cover crop of kudzu (Pueraria phaseoloides), and 4) continuous cropping of cassava. Open access copy available |
