Abstract
We assessed the effects of plantations of exotic trees (Pinus radiata, Eucalyptus globulus, and Populus nigra) on plant biodiversity in the temperate zone of the biodiversity hotspot of Central Chile. This region has suffered from intense deforestation in favor of plantation establishment in the major part of the coastal area since the neoliberal turn in 1973. The approach presented aimed to analyze plant biodiversity on the α-, β- and γ-scale. Furthermore, a plantation evaluation index was applied in order to provide quantitative figures on management practices. Species richness is reduced by 50% below plantations. Diversity and evenness index values are also significantly reduced. Analyses on β-similarity indicate that plantations do not host species absent in adjacent native forests, and no additional habitat heterogeneity is gained. On the γ-scale, plantations lower the number of total species observed; especially of endemic species. The abundance of species considered as invasive is significantly higher and frequently, invasive plants dominate the understory. The evaluation index attests rather poor plantation management in Central Chile since plantations are grown as monocultures, natural elements and native species are lacking at specific sites and plantations are insufficiently connected to native plant formations at the landscape scale. Results give much concern since deforestation processes as observed in our study area is about to begin in Patagonia as well. If management practices from the temperate zone are adopted in Patagonia, a considerable decline in plant biodiversity has to be expected there.
Highlights
Deforestation is reported to cause rapid and significant losses in biodiversity and extinction of endemic species worldwide [1]-[5]
Plantations with exotic tree species continue to spread in the temperate zone of Chile leaving less than 4% of the area covered with native forests
Exotic tree plantations show a very homogeneous pattern, which is not surprising given the fact they are managed as monocultures in Central Chile
Summary
Deforestation is reported to cause rapid and significant losses in biodiversity and extinction of endemic species worldwide [1]-[5]. The transformation from Mediterranean temperate shrublands and forests to exotic tree plantations causes rapid deforestation and forest fragmentation [10]-[16]. Plantations with exotic tree species continue to spread in the temperate zone of Chile leaving less than 4% of the area covered with native forests (own data, unpublished results). Of these remaining forest patches, over 60% are smaller than 1 ha [25]. Chilean natural parks and reserves (NPR) cover a relatively large portion of the country (19% of the country’s area) Despite this large spatial extent, the Chilean system of NPRs is considered rather inefficient, improvements by appropriate funding could theoretically be realized by the Chilean government [29]. It seems unlikely that the biodiversity hotspots of Central Chile or Patagonia can be conserved with existing instruments
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