Forest Plantations
Is Tree Diversity an Important Driver for Phosphorus and Nitrogen Acquisition of a Young Tropical Plantation?backgroundThis article presents the effect of native species diversity on the nitrogen and phosphorous pools above-ground in a plantation in the Canal Zone of Panama. Available with subscription or purchase |
Canopy development in tropical tree plantations: a comparison of species mixtures and monoculturesBackgroundThe establishment of plantation monocultures has dominated much of the intensive forest management practiced in the humid tropics of the Americas, with most forestry research and practice concentrating on a small number of non-indigenous species. Growing interest exists in modifying these practices both by creating mixed-species plantations and by making greater use of native tree species. Available with subscription or purchase |
Between and Within-Site Comparisons of Structural and Physiological Characteristics and Foliar Nutrient Content of 14 Tree Species at a Wet, Fertile Site and a Dry, Infertile Site in PanamabackgroundThis study seeks to analyze how stress resulting from different amounts of precipitation and soil nutrients affects tree growth. The study hypothesized that tree structure and physiology as well as foliar nutrient content would be significantly different between the sites, and trees at the wet, fertile sites would perform better. Secondly, the study hypothesized finding a greater variability of integrated tree growth at the drier site, as plant stress is expected to accentuate differences in performance. Lastly, it was hypothesized that leaf mass area and foliar N would predict photosynthetic capacity. Available with subscription or purchase |
Screening trial of 14 tropical hardwoods with an emphasis on species native to Costa Rica: Fourth year resultsBackgroundCommercial forestry plantations have consistently relied on a limitd number of species, often favoring exotic species over native ones. This is mainly due to a lack of information or understanding related to the silviculture of native species plantations. This article uses a long-term experiement site in Costa Rica's La Selva Biological Station to work towards filling this knowledge gap. Available with subscription or purchase |
Community Reforestation in the Philippines: An Evaluation of Community ContractsbackgroundSince the 1950s, the Phillipines has lost over 15 million hectares of tropical forest. While there has been continued efforts to halt these trends and reforest the loss areas, there has been many barriers; thus the country recently turned to private and community-based efforts. This study is a review of two reforestation projects in the Philippines that were contracted through private entities rather than government agencies. Available with subscription or purchase |
Species-Specific Tree Water Use Characteristics in Reforestation Stands in the PhilippinesBackgroundThe need for reforestation is becoming increasingly evident in countries like the Philippines where deforestation has lead to a scarcity of wood and other forest commodities. One concern with reforestation is the reduction in streamflow and groundwater recharge as trees move water from the ground into the atmosphere. Research Goals & MethodsThis study seeks to investigate the sap flux responses and tree water use in two 12-year-old multi-species stands. Available with subscription or purchase |
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 |
On the Restoration of High Diversity Forests: 30 years of Experience in the Brazilian Atlantic ForestbackgroundThis review evaluates the restoration of Brazil's Atlantic forest by drawing from published and unpublished sources. Reforestation in Atlantic Brazil took place in phases: government-sponsored plantations predominated until 1982; a focus on native species plantations from 1982-1985; higher diversity of species used from 1985 to 2000; a focus on restoring process rather than copying the structure of natural forests from 2000-2003; and finally a conscious effort to improve intraspecific genetic diversity and seed acquisition from 2003 to today. Open access copy available |
Tree planting by small producers in the tropics: A comparative study of Brazil and PanamaBackgroundForest regrowth is a widespread phenomenon across the tropical forest latitudes. Such reforestation takes place in the wake of land abandonment, occurs cyclically in a rotational agricultural system, and may result from the deliberate planting of trees by farmers. Although less extensive than successional forest regeneration, tree planting by small farmers can have potentially important environmental impacts at both the site and global scale. Open access copy available |
Methods of Facilitating Reforestation of Tropical Degraded Land with the Native Timber Tree, Terminalia amazoniabackgroundIn tropical dry regions, like Costa Rica, it is critical to reforest degraded farms in order to reduce erosion and increase soil fertility. This paper explores the results of an 8-year long experiment in Southern Costa Rica that sought to identify ways to reforest such land economically. Available with subscription or purchase |
