Comparative Analysis of Three Forest Management Plans in Southern Mexico

Abstract

In the middle of the last century, the Mexican government applied a forest administration policy based on state control through concessions to parastatal enterprises. In the 1980s, communities began to regain control of their forests and promote community forestry, with Ixtlán playing a leading role. This study compared three forest management plans (FMPs) that have been implemented in the community of Ixtlán de Juárez, in southern Mexico, and their contributions to the productivity and conservation of forest resources. The information was obtained from three FMPs, considering the silvicultural regimes, the original stand or sub-stand structure, and the species that promoted cutting regeneration. These FMPs represent different management periods; the forest inventory of the first FMP indicates the condition of the forest originated under state control, while the two subsequent ones evaluate the condition of the forest under community forestry. Sub-stand variables of the three FMPs were compared using the nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis test. The results indicated that, in the first FMP, the sub-stands were of old growth, and intensive thinning was applied. In the two subsequent plans, alternate strip clearcutting and single-tree selection were implemented. It was shown that, with increased management intensity in the sub-stands, better characteristics were obtained in terms of increment in basal area and volume variables, promoting regeneration and establishment of Pinus and displacing dominance of Quercus genus, without affecting forest richness and diversity.