Does restoration success vary with tree size under restoration plantings and regrowth forests?
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Conservation Science and Practice
Abstract
Several studies evaluate active (i.e., seeding/planting) and passive
(i.e., protecting forest regrowth) restoration, but few studies examine successional
patterns for different plant sizes. By using biodiversity and structure, we
examined whether restoration communities approach old-growth forests over
time, and whether restoration success varies for different tree sizes in both
active and passive interventions. We examined how initial site conditions
affect active restoration. Small (dbh ≥ 5 cm), medium (≥15 cm), and large
trees (≥30 cm) were measured in 2003–2017 in permanent sample plots in restoration
plantings (initially 3–8 years old) and in an old-growth forest in Kibale
National Park, Uganda. Trees were also measured in regrowth forests (initially
16 years old) in 2011–2017. We collated information about site conditions from
restoration reports. Biodiversity and structure increased over time towards the
old-growth forest. Restoration plantings and regrowth forests recovered diversity
and structure of small and medium trees except for large trees. Forest
recovery increased with proportions of remnant banana plants and shrubs,
while isolation from the old-growth forest slowed recovery. Disaggregating
vegetation inventory data by tree size may be useful in achieving a holistic
measure of restoration. Restorationists could prioritize sites with remnant
banana plants and shrubs, and sites closer to old-growth forests in order to
achieve better results.
Description
Keywords
Active and passive restoration, African tropical forests, Competition and facilitation, Dispersal limitations, Ecological indicators, Monitoring and evaluation
Citation
Ssekuubwa, E., van Goor, W., Snoep, M., Riemer, K., Wanyama, F., Waiswa, D., ... & Tweheyo, M. (2022). Does restoration success vary with tree size under restoration plantings and regrowth forests?. Conservation Science and Practice, 4(9), e12781. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12781