Natural Forest Management in Neotropical Mountain Rain Forests — An Ecological Experiment

Günter, Sven; Cabrera, Orlando; Weber, Michael T.; Stimm, Bernd; Zimmermann, M.; Fiedler, Konrad; Knuth, J.; Boy, Jens; Wilcke, Wolfgang; Iost, Susanne; Makeschin, Franz; Werner, Florian; Gradstein, S. Rob; Mosandl, R.

doi:10.1007/978-3-540-73526-7_33

Cited by 29 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Typically, this is initiated by commercial logging, leading to forest degradation (Wunder 2000) and subsequent deforestation because of an insufficient abundance of valuable timber. The remaining forests in the Andes of south Ecuador display an alarming deficit of valuable trees in harvestable dimensions (Günter et al 2008a;Günter and Mosandl 2003). Conversion of these highly endangered and diverse mountain forests into more profitable agricultural land use may be less attractive if the economic value of the forests are recovered, for instance by planting of native, valuable tree species into felling gaps (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Light acclimation of four native tree species in felling gaps within a tropical mountain rainforest

Kuptz

Grams

Günter

2009

Trees

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ecuadorian mountain rainforests are declining dramatically due to deforestation. Exploitation of remaining forests has led to low abundances of native, valuable timber species. Enrichment planting of selected native tree species into forest gaps is a strategy that may increase their abundance and maintain biodiversity. However, the development of successful planting strategies requires knowledge of environmental demands on, and ecological requirements of, native species during their establishment. This knowledge is currently lacking for mid-and latesuccessional species in Central American forests. Two deciduous, mid-successional (Cedrela montana, Tabebuia chrysantha) and two evergreen, late-successional native tree species (Nectandra membranacea, Podocarpus sprucei) were planted into felling gaps. Photosynthetic performance and growth in height of these species were assessed along light gradients during seedling establishment to test whether species-specific light responses were related to plant successional traits. Both mid-successional species benefited from higher light levels in gaps up to 30% canopy openness 60°. In larger gaps, C. montana exhibited a significant decline in growth. As expected, growth of the latesuccessional species was only marginally increased at higher light levels. Nevertheless, the photosynthetic apparatus of N. membranacea displayed rapid acclimation to higher light conditions in gaps. Plant response to felling gaps may not always be predicted based on successional status. Our results suggest that the four investigated species may coexist in the same gap by occupying different niches along light gradients. This arrangement may offer an ecological basis to increase the abundance of valuable timber species through enrichment planting in Ecuador mountain rainforests.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Light acclimation of four native tree species in felling gaps within a tropical mountain rainforest

Kuptz

Grams

Günter

2009

Trees

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, depending on region and latitude the absolute values can vary considerably. Wilcke et al (2008) revealed slower growth rates at upper altitudes due to different soil properties, and increasing C:N, C:P, and C:S ratios. Also exceeding rainfall, radiation and wind may limit tree growth at high elevations (Peters 2009).…”

Section: Structurementioning

confidence: 97%

“…For economically feasible timber extraction, the higher costs in montane areas could be compensated by either higher economic value or higher densities of timber species in relation to lowland forests. Unfortunately, many accessible forests already have been exploited and remaining timber species exhibit relatively small dimensions (G€ unter and Mosandl 2003;G€ unter et al 2008).…”

Section: Wood Production and Silviculturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lauraceae are among the most species-rich families and comprise 18% of the basal area in a forest in Thailand (Sri-Ngernyuang et al 2003). In the Neotropics many commercial species can be found in the genera: Juglans, Cedrela, Podocarpus, Nectandra, Ocotea (La Torre-Cuadros et al 2007;Pinazo and Gasparri 2003;G€ unter et al 2008). Topography has a very strong impact on the association of plant species (Sri-Ngernyuang et al 2003;Homeier et al 2010) and may play a higher role for building of ecological niches than in lowland forests.…”

Section: Species and Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Growth acceleration by improvement fellings, or combining fast-growing long-living pioneers with short rotations together with slow growers such as many Lauraceae and Podocarpaceae managed in longer rotations may be further options for increasing annual net revenues, helping to reduce the attractivity of alternative land-use options (Marin Velez 1998;Homeier 2004;G€ unter et al 2008). But even under best application of all silvicultural options, natural forest management may not always be competitive with (ecologically unsustainable) alternative land uses such as cattle raising, in particular, for forests with low volume growth or timber value.…”

Section: Box 1: Queensland Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Review Mangroves and Mountains: Silviculture at Ecological Margins

Günter

2011

Tropical Forestry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Humidity and light were the most dominant ecological factor for silviculture in the ecosystems presented by Ashton and Hall (this volume) and Fredericken (this volume). However, several other factors can also shape structure and function of forest ecosystems and hence have great impact on the corresponding silvicultural potential. At the example of mountain forests and mangroves, basic similarities and differences of forest ecosystems at ecological margins and their silvicultural potential are highlighted in this paper. As simliar to other ecosystems at ecological margins, mangroves and montane forests are of extraordinary importance for the provision of environmental services or are characterized by a relatively high proportion of endangered species. In turn, they are frequently highly endangered by human pressure and global change, converting them into high priority areas for conservation aspects. At ecological margins growth conditions are frequently poor, individual tree dimensions and timber yields are low. Forest management, based on timber alone can therefore hardly compete with alternative land use forms, which finally leads to conversion into agricultural land and deforestation. Even more than in other ecosystems, payments for environmental services, REDDplus-mechanisms, the use of non-wood forest products, or a combination of all these approaches may help to increase the economic attractivity for sustainable forest management and thus allow to combine conservation aspects with additional income for rural population. IntroductionManifold ecological factors can shape structure and dynamic and ecosystem functions of forest ecosystems: for example, temperature, salinity, nutrient availability and many others, but it is impossible to cover all tropical forest formations which can be formed by a combination of these factors in this book. While the chapter "humid

show abstract

Litterfall in Andean Forests: Quantity, Composition, and Environmental Drivers

Wilcke

2020

The Andean Cloud Forest

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Natural Forest Management in Neotropical Mountain Rain Forests — An Ecological Experiment

Cited by 29 publications

References 0 publications

Light acclimation of four native tree species in felling gaps within a tropical mountain rainforest

Light acclimation of four native tree species in felling gaps within a tropical mountain rainforest

Review Mangroves and Mountains: Silviculture at Ecological Margins

Litterfall in Andean Forests: Quantity, Composition, and Environmental Drivers

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About