Abstract
Reliable estimates of tree growth and wood yield are fundamental to support the management of restored forests and better reconcile the objectives of recovering biodiversity with the provision of ecosystem services. In this study, wood standing volumes and tree biomass stocks were estimated in different ecological restoration systems and at two sites with contrasting soil fertility, in order to evaluate the potential trade-offs between biodiversity and forest production. At each site, a complete randomized block design, with three replications of six treatments, was established in 1997–1998: direct seeding (DIRS), high-diversity tree plantation (HDIV), modified “Taungya” agroforestry system (AFS), mixed plantation with timber and firewood species (MIX), managed agroforestry system (AFSm) and managed mixed plantation (MIXm). We inventoried all trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 5 cm in 450 m2 per treatment per plot, 19–20 years after establishment, using site-specific allometric models. Significant site effects were found for tree height, tree density and wood volume. Restoration systems (treatments) affected forest structure and forest productivity. Higher wood stock and biomass tree were observed in the less complex system (DIRS), while AFSm and HDIV reconciled higher species richness and diversity with good wood volume yields and tree biomass.
Highlights
Ecological restoration is an important strategy to reverse forest loss and degradation as well as the predatory exploitation of the remaining natural forests [1], in the Tropics, where socioeconomic aspects need to be considered
Significant differences between sites were found for mean tree height, tree density, wood volume, and tree biomass; there were no differences for stand basal area and species diversity (Table 2)
Floristic differences were observed between sites for the natural regeneration community [42], we would expect a higher similarity for the forest canopy because of the strong influence of the planted species in this stratum
Summary
Ecological restoration is an important strategy to reverse forest loss and degradation as well as the predatory exploitation of the remaining natural forests [1], in the Tropics, where socioeconomic aspects need to be considered. Forest restoration should be able to reconcile the objectives of biodiversity recovery and the provision of services and goods. The LRs aim to achieve sustainable use of natural resources, as well as the recovery and conservation of ecological processes and biodiversity. Within this legislative context, a recent governmental plan has aimed [3,4]. In Brazil, wood consumption has decreased when compared to previous years (6.4 million m3 in 2016, compared to 7.2 million m3 in 2015) for sawn wood and by 4.5 m3 for firewood in 2016 [6], Forests 2019, 10, 588; doi:10.3390/f10070588 www.mdpi.com/journal/forests
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