Vegetation Succession on Degraded Sites in the Pomacochas Basin (Amazonas, N Peru)—Ecological Options for Forest Restoration

Abstract

Abstract:The Andes of northern Peru are still widely covered with forests, but increasingly suffer from habitat fragmentation. Subsequent soil degradation often leads to the abandonment of overused forests and pastures. Ecological knowledge on the restoration potential, e.g., on dependencies of soil conditions and altitude, is scarce. Therefore, we compared soil and vegetation patterns along nine transects within the upper Pomacochas Basin, which is an important biodiversity corridor along the Andes, between remaining forests, succession sites and pastures. Anthropogenic successional and disturbance levels, geological substrate, and altitude have the most important ecological impacts on vegetation and tree species composition. Species responded to sandstone versus calcareous substrates, but also to depths of the organic soil layer, and light conditions. The absence of organic layers under pastures contrasted with the accumulation of thick organic layers under forest cover. Vegetation composition at succession sites revealed certain starting points (herbal stage, bush stage, or secondary forest) for restoration that will determine the length of regeneration paths. Pre-forest patches of Alchornea sp. and Parathesis sp. may act as habitat stepping stones for expeditiously restoring biocorridors for wildlife. The key findings can contribute to the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity in a fragile ecoregion.

Distribution Models of Timber Species for Forest Conservation and Restoration in the Andean-Amazonian Landscape, North of Peru

“…SDM permits suitability modeling of habitat pathways for endangered species and intervention in the soil to protect and expand tree species distributions [28]. Tree species distributions can be located in areas that have been degraded, but some of them have potential for restoration by installing native wood species [29,30] through active and effective restoration measures that allow the restoration of forest ecosystems with their functions and biodiversity [31]. Planting native tree species is the predominant restoration strategy for accelerating the succession of forests on depleted lands [32][33][34] in order to restore areas where forests have been reduced by natural (landslides and winds) or anthropogenic causes [35].…”

The Availability of Non-Timber Forest Products under Forest Succession on Abandoned Fields along the Wild Coast, South Africa

“…inadequately explored [9], for the livelihoods of those disengaging from agriculture, as well as the land and ecosystem goods and services the 'abandoned' land supplies or are in demand.The ecosystem goods and services provided by abandoned fields vary according to the prevailing climate, soils and disturbance regimens as well as the post-abandonment trajectory. In some settings there is a turnover of plant and animal species and communities on the old lands, typically, but not always, characterised by increasing species richness, functional diversity, complexity, soil nutrients and vegetative biomass and carbon storage [13][14][15][16]. These changes are often referred to as plant succession [13,17].…”

Struktur dan Komposisi Vegetasi pada Suksesi di Muara Sungai Unda, Kabupaten Klungkung, Bali

“…Bila dibandingkan parameter densitas relatif (DR) dan frekuensi relatif (FR) pada setiap bentuk hidup, maka bentuk hidup semak memiliki nilai DR dan FR yang jauh lebih besar dibandingkan dengan bentuk hidup lainnya. Tahapan suksesi dengan dominasi semak berukuran tinggi menunjukkan fase pra-hutan (pre-forest stage), yang secara perlahan akan diikuti oleh peningkatan pohon pionir (Walentowski et al, 2018). Keberadaan semak dalam fase ini sangat penting karena berperan dalam melindungi semai dari cekaman lingkungan (Moradipour et al, 2020).…”

“…Pemanfaatan pastura juga dapat menurunkan jumlah spesies pohon dan anak pohon, karena semai sulit untuk tumbuh akibat rendahnya lapisan serasah, dimakan hewan ternak, maupun terinjak. Lahan pastura memiliki lapisan organik (serasah) yang lebih tipis dibandingkan dengan hutan (Walentowski et al, 2018), sehingga kandungan nutrien pada tanah lebih rendah. Hewan ternak yang umum dijumpai di kawasan tersebut adalah sapi dan kambing.…”

“…Semai dan semak yang dapat dikonsumsi oleh ternak sangat sedikit dijumpai di lahan pastura, sedangkan jenis yang tidak disukai ternak umumnya melimpah, seperti widuri (C. gigantea) yang bergetah dan akasia duri (V. farnesiana). Secara umum, pemanfaatan hutan sebagai pastura akan menurunkan produktivitas ekosistem karena menimbulkan lebih banyak lahan terbuka (Walentowski et al, 2018). Indeks yang digunakan untuk mengetahui komposisi vegetasi lantai ditunjukkan oleh Tabel 2.…”