Drivers of Restoration Trajectory of a Community of Regenerant Plants: Natural Regeneration or Tree Seedling?

Abstract

Tree plantation is the most used technique for ecological restoration, although passive restoration requires a lower investment of resources. This research aimed to compare the composition and structure of the community of regenerant plants in areas under restoration through Assisted Natural Regeneration and mixed native Tree Planting, in the same area. We randomly placed 12 plots of 100 m² each and sampled all the regenerating individuals found within them. We compared both restoration methods regarding growth pattern, dispersal syndromes, and successional groups. In both methodologies, trees and shrubs were the most abundant growth forms. The pioneer successional class was the most abundant in number of individuals for both treatments. We concluded that the two restoration methods allowed the regeneration of native species. We propose that Assisted Natural Regeneration is a viable restoration strategy, capable of boosting the initial processes of the community, especially in a matrix surrounded by remaining forests.

Structure of a Semideciduous Seasonal Forest in the National Forest of Ipanema, Brazil: Contributing to the Floristic Knowledge of a Poorly Studied Protected Area

“…Guazuma ulmifolia, Machaerium stipitatum, Croton floribundus, and Aloysia virgata were the species with the highest importance value. Machaerium stipitatum is considered an early secondary species [37] , whereas G. ulmifolia, C. floribundus, and A. virgata are regarded as pioneers [38] . The fact that half of the stems sampled corresponded to pioneer and early secondary species indicates that the community studied is in a successional stage.…”

Minicutting technique and IBA application in vegetative propagation of Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi

“…For this reason, techniques of vegetative propagation can be an alternative for the production of this and other forest species for use in the ecological restoration of degraded areas, as well as for silvicultural purposes in food production, and in the rescue and conservation of genetic resources (Ledig et al, 1992;Erikisson and Fröborg, 1996;De Oliveira et al, 2020;Viveiros et al, 2021).…”