Can Pinus plantations facilitate reintroduction of endangered cloud forest species?

Abstract

Coniferous plantations have been widely used by reforestation programs seeking to mitigate the effects of deforestation in mountainous areas in different parts of the world. However, some studies show that pine plantations can simulate natural mechanisms of succession, thereby facilitating the incorporation of other native species of mid- and late-successional stages. Existing pine plantations could function as a substitute habitat and facilitate the establishment of native and endangered cloud forest species. To test this hypothesis, we planted two endangered species from the family Juglandaceae (Juglans pyriformis and Oreomunnea mexicana) under twelve-year-old canopy plantations of Pinus patula and compared them to individuals planted in open (control) sites and recorded their survival and growth. The results show that the survival of J. pyriformis and O. mexicana was significantly higher below the canopy of P. patula plantations than in the open site. However, growth rates varied significantly among species and sites. Although pine plantations may favor the survival of seedlings, they cannot ensure the growth of plants without additional forest management.