Integrating indices to evaluate the effect of artificial restoration based on different comparisons in the Wanglang Nature Reserve

Abstract

To develop the indices to evaluate the effects of artificial restoration during forest restoration, we tested the validity of indices integrated at the Wanglang Nature Reserve by studying the characteristics of an artificial forest based on different comparisons of primary forest, secondary forest, giant panda habitat, and the surrounding environment. The results indicated that the characteristics of the artificial forest and the different comparisons were well described and distinguished by the vegetation coverage, species composition and richness, community structure, tree growth status indices. The artificial forest was different from the primary forest in a number of woody plants in different layers; different from secondary forest in species richness and tree growth status; different from giant panda habitat in trees and bamboo; and different from the surrounding environment in bamboo coverage, species richness, and community structure. Meanwhile, the artificial forest had a more homogeneous tree size than the comparisons. Based on these results, we suggest that an evaluation of the effect of forest restoration should be related to specific factors, because the effects of artificial restoration differ depending on the evaluation standard. We conclude that the indices used in this study can be used to evaluate the effect of artificial restoration, which is useful for forest restoration in Wanglang Nature Reserve and elsewhere.