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65 - Forest restoration in the tropical montane cloud forest belt of central Veracruz, Mexico

from Part VII - Cloud forest conservation, restoration, and management issues

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 May 2011

By
G. Williams-Linera ,
C. Alvarez-Aquino  and
R. A. Pedraza
Edited by
L. A. Bruijnzeel ,
F. N. Scatena  and
L. S. Hamilton
G. Williams-Linera
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ecología, Mexico
C. Alvarez-Aquino
Affiliation:
Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico
R. A. Pedraza
Affiliation:
Universidad Veracruzana, Mexico
L. A. Bruijnzeel
Affiliation:
Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
F. N. Scatena
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania
L. S. Hamilton
Affiliation:
Cornell University, New York
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Summary

ABSTRACT

Restoration practices assist in the reversal of ecological degradation of forest remnants and deforested areas. The enormous biodiversity in the cloud forests of central Veracruz, Mexico, poses a challenge to its restoration. The objectives of this study were to determine the ecological restoration potential of native tree species, and to define criteria for matching species to particular site conditions. In 1998, seedlings of Carpinus caroliniana, Fagus grandifolia var. mexicana, Juglans pyriformis, Liquidambar styraciflua, Podocarpus matudae, Quercus acutifolia, and Symplocos coccinea were planted in three forest fragment interiors, three adjacent agricultural fields, and two old-fields. Survival, height and diameter increment were evaluated using analysis of covariance with initial plant age as covariate. Initial age had a significant effect on survival but not on height or diameter increment across all species and sites. In 2004, overall survival was highest in old-field (70%), followed by forest interior (42%), and adjacent field (36%). Juglans, Podocarpus, and Quercus exhibited the greatest survival (62–80%) but intermediate height increase (26–57 cm year−1). Carpinus and Liquidambar showed intermediate survival (50–54%) but high growth rates (45–96 cm year−1). Fagus and Symplocos displayed both low survival (18–20%) and low height increments (13–29 cm year−1). It is concluded that performance of different tree species depends on site disturbance level. Juglans and Quercus have potential to be used in restoration of disturbed areas, Podocarpus in plantation enrichment, and Liquidambar and Carpinus to expand the cloud forest area. […]

Type
Chapter
Information
Tropical Montane Cloud Forests
Science for Conservation and Management
 , pp. 618 - 627
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2011

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