Timber stock recovery in a chronosequence of secondary forests in Southern Brazil: Adding value to restored landscapes

Abstract

The Brazilian Atlantic forest is largely covered by secondary forests, mostly regenerated after the abandonment of patches previously used for shifting cultivation. A characteristic of these secondary forests is the significant timber volume from fast-growing species at ages as young as 30–40 years. In this study, we investigated changes that occur in timber production of secondary forest during the first 50 years of succession. We inventoried 82 plots (10 × 20 m) in a chronosequence ranging from 2 to 50 years since agricultural abandonment in four municipalities located in Santa Catarina State, Southern Brazil. Our results showed that commercial tree species have rapid recovery of richness, basal area and stem volume in naturally regenerating forests. Commercial species represent about 51 percent of tree diversity, with 9 out of 12 dominant species being commercial timber species, with a stem volume up to 155 m3 ha−1. Trees of commercial species with ≥15 cm in diameter are first observed after 20 years of succession, while trees ≥30 cm are found at 30 years of succession, and produce 126 m3 ha−1 of stem volume. We highlight Hyeronima alchorneoides, Miconia cabucu and Miconia cinnamomifolia, as fast-growing dominant species that produce timber quality ≥20 cm in diameter after 20 years of succession, with volume reaching 200 m3 ha−1 before 40 years of succession. We found that secondary forests are dominated by fast-growing and wood-producing species, with a rapid increase in timber stocks in the early stages of succession. These secondary forests are important biodiversity reservoirs in human-pressured landscapes, in addition to providing forest products and other ecosystem services. The management of secondary forests may be an alternative restoration approach that can accelerate the recovery of timber stocks, provide landscape diversity, and add more value to private forests.