TY - JOUR
T1 - Natural regeneration of tree species in the Eastern Amazon
T2 - Short-term responses after reduced-impact logging
AU - Schwartz, Gustavo
AU - Falkowski, Vanessa
AU - Peña-Claros, Marielos
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Forest management for timber production has improved in tropical forests with the adoption of a polycyclic silvicultural system (PSS) where harvesting is carried out using reduced-impact logging (RIL). In this study, the natural regeneration of forests harvested under RIL restrictions was assessed in three different sites of the Eastern Amazon two years after logging. A total of 7987 seedlings and saplings belonging to 197 species were sampled through 951 plots of 2 × 2 m in 11 different natural and logging created environments. Light-demanding commercial species presented their highest density in logging environments such as logging gaps, skid trails, and borders of log decks. Shade-tolerant commercial species were more common in natural and logging gaps. Regarding the densities of harvested species in the three study sites, only 26.3% were represented by ⩾5 individuals and 28.1% were completely absent in the surveys two years after logging. These results suggest a lack of natural regeneration of the current commercial tree species in the Eastern Amazon. Therefore, post-harvesting silvicultural treatments as enrichment planting and the tending of the natural regeneration in logging gaps should be applied to ensure the regeneration of these species.
AB - Forest management for timber production has improved in tropical forests with the adoption of a polycyclic silvicultural system (PSS) where harvesting is carried out using reduced-impact logging (RIL). In this study, the natural regeneration of forests harvested under RIL restrictions was assessed in three different sites of the Eastern Amazon two years after logging. A total of 7987 seedlings and saplings belonging to 197 species were sampled through 951 plots of 2 × 2 m in 11 different natural and logging created environments. Light-demanding commercial species presented their highest density in logging environments such as logging gaps, skid trails, and borders of log decks. Shade-tolerant commercial species were more common in natural and logging gaps. Regarding the densities of harvested species in the three study sites, only 26.3% were represented by ⩾5 individuals and 28.1% were completely absent in the surveys two years after logging. These results suggest a lack of natural regeneration of the current commercial tree species in the Eastern Amazon. Therefore, post-harvesting silvicultural treatments as enrichment planting and the tending of the natural regeneration in logging gaps should be applied to ensure the regeneration of these species.
KW - Canopy gaps
KW - Conservation
KW - Polycyclic silvicultural systems
KW - Silvicultural treatments
U2 - 10.1016/j.foreco.2016.11.036
DO - 10.1016/j.foreco.2016.11.036
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85000461323
SN - 0378-1127
VL - 385
SP - 97
EP - 103
JO - Forest Ecology and Management
JF - Forest Ecology and Management
ER -