Abstract
Pine plantations in the tropics are often employed to recondition eroded slopes from mudslides, as the Pinus caribaea plantation that shields the Universidad Simón Bolívar campus in Caracas (Venezuela). However, mismanagement of this plantation has led to its rapid degradation. The best option to maintain the protective service is to restore the plantation and direct its successional trajectory towards the neighbouring montane forest. Through experimental manipulation, we aimed to determine which factors block secondary succession and to investigate their effects. Within the experimental constraints imposed by the plantation small area, we analysed the effects of light and fertility limitation, litter accumulation and access to seed on plantation restoration. Light availability was manipulated by clearing and thinning three 800 m2 main plots. Fertilization and litter removal was applied to sub-plots within the light plots. Soils were analysed, microclimate was monitored and, for four years, stem density, species richness and basal area were tallied. Our results showed that light accessibility was the main factor deterring the successional trajectory of the plots, with varying grades of interaction with the sub-treatments. By the end of the fourth year, the cleared plot showed the largest responses in all traits (triplicating stem density and basal area and >20 times higher species richness). The main colonizers were Croton megalodendron, Ocotea fendleri, and Clusia spp. all dominant trees in the nearby native forest. We concluded that the results of this pioneer study, showed that small clearings, repeated in 3-4 year cycles are appropriate for similar restoration schemes. This procedure would create a mosaic of vegetation patches at different successional stages while protecting the slopes from erosion and increasing local biodiversity.
Highlights
Neotropical montane forests have been severely degraded by deforestation for firewood, charcoal manufacture and cultivation
Tropical pine species are short-lived and their plantations are frequently mismanaged leading to degradation and fire hazards
To continue providing the required protection services, they must be restored. This approach has been attempted in the tropics and its success in promoting secondary succession is highly site specific (Ashton et al, 2014)
Summary
Neotropical montane forests have been severely degraded by deforestation for firewood, charcoal manufacture and cultivation. To continue providing the required protection services, they must be restored This approach has been attempted in the tropics and its success in promoting secondary succession is highly site specific (Ashton et al, 2014). Since the plantation was providing excellent services it was never thinned as reforestation practice recommends This management decision disregarded the limitations of tropical pines and that restoration was required to preserve their ecological value. We evaluated the effects of pine clearing and thinning, combined with fertilization and litter removal, on the recruitment and growth of native species. To our knowledge, this is the first study of this type attempted in the Neotropical montane forest biome and its results may assist in the restoration of comparable pine plantations
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