Assessing the Effectiveness of Reforestation Efforts in the Tropical Montane Cloud Forest of Costa Rica

Abstract

Tropical montane cloud forests are important and unique ecosystems in Costa Rica. However, a large percentage of them have been cleared since the 1950s to make way for agriculture. Cloudbridge Nature Reserve, a privately-owned reforestation project and research station in south-central Costa Rica, is working to return its abandoned pastures back to their natural climax cloud forest state through various reforestation efforts. Because of the costly nature of reforestation, Cloudbridge would greatly benefit from knowing how effective its work has been thus far. To answer this question, tree surveys were conducted at three sites within the Reserve, encompassing a mix of forest cover types: manually planted forest cover and natural regeneration of various ages. Specimens were classified as pioneer or climax species, and the quantities of individuals of each species class found in each type of forest cover were compared. Furthermore, forest stand parameters such as ratio of tree biomass to total biomass, above-ground biomass, and average stand diameter were used to determine and compare successional forest stages of the sites surveyed. Fisher’s exact tests and one-way ANOVA were employed to conclude that the reforestation efforts at Cloudbridge are definitely aiding the cloud forest to regenerate more quickly than it would naturally, but it is unclear exactly how much they help.