Invasion of Non-Commercial Tree Species After Selection Logging in a Bolivian Tropical Forest

Abstract

Single-tree selection logging will likely result in a 4.3% loss in the relative abundance and a 4.1% loss in basal area of trees of commercial species in one cutting cycle due to their removal by harvesting combined with their potential recolonization of only 31% of logging gaps in a Bolivian tropical dry forest. Densities of the most valuable species, Amburana cearensis and Cedrela fissilis, were particularly reduced by logging. To sustain the current harvesting rate, uses need to be developed for more non-commercial species and/or silvicul-tural treatments employed that increase regeneration of commercial species and remove non-commercial species using timber stand improvement techniques.