Abstract
Lomatia hirsuta (Lam.) Diels is a pioneer tree species that develops after wildfires, and in advanced successional stages, it is often found as a secondary species in Patagonian forests. However, in El Manso Valley, Province of Río Negro in Western Argentina, L. hirsuta forms mature pure stands, originated from stump shoots. The wood is very attractive for its colourful appearance and beautiful grain. Nevertheless, these forests are not managed for timber production, they are mostly strong thinned for grazing, and the wood is mainly used as firewood. The objective of this study was to evaluate the possibility to improve quality wood production in stands through silvicultural interventions in a sustainable way. Samples have been carried out in stands of different developmental stages. We evaluated the state and quality of the trees, and their growth has been studied by means of trunk analysis. The results indicate that there is significant potential to improve the production of quality wood in dense stands by thinning to release crop trees. Thinning should start in young stands. It also became apparent that forest management is first necessary to stabilise these nearly unattended forests.
Highlights
Accepted: 12 July 2021Lomatia hirsuta is an evergreen pioneer tree species and belongs to the family Proteaceae [1]
Lomatia hirsuta occupies the whole site in a high density
If the density of the old stand is assumed as 100%, in the parquizado, the number of stems/ha was reduced at 28% and the basal area at 32%
Summary
Lomatia hirsuta is an evergreen pioneer tree species and belongs to the family Proteaceae [1]. It has a disjunct distribution area, occurring in the north-western Andes in Ecuador and Peru [2] and in the eastern side of the Andes in Patagonia (Argentina). There, L. hirsuta is normally associated with species from Gavileo-Austrocedretum [3]. It often appears in forests dominated by Austrocedrus chilensis Lomatia hirsuta has a wide ecological range and is able to cope with warm and cold climate conditions [2]. In the abovementioned forests with high precipitation, L. hirsuta grows in the form of a tree
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