The recovery of logged forests proves that a viable management is possible in the Venezuelan Guayana Shield
Abstract
Aim of study: To compare the diversity and biomass of logged forests, with different ages after harvesting and the risk of their degradation to liana forests.
Area of study: We studied 18 plots at the central zone of the Imataca Forest Reserve (Guayana shield), Venezuela.
Material and methods: We used 1-ha plots, to measure individuals with dbh > 10 cm in control plots (0 years) and in logged plots with 3, 9, 12, 15 and 18 years after logging. The main variables evaluated were enlarge importance index (EII), richness (R), Shannon-Weaner index (H´), Alpha Fischer (α), basal area for commercial species (BA_comm), above-ground carbon (C) and lianas abundance at the understory (Lianas_%Au).
Main results: Diversity variables (R: 62-77 spp ha-1, p: 0.117-0.838; H´: 2.8-3.4, p: 0.181-0.677; α: 18.6-25.4, p: 0.293-0.922) and biomass (89.6-180.2 MgC ha-1, p: 0.171-0.895) did not have significant differences between control and most of the logged plots. Only the 18 years-old forests had statistically higher values of diversity (R: 81-94 spp ha-1, p: 0.000; H´: 3.8-3.9, p: 0.000; α: 26.8-31.7, p: 0.000), perhaps due to a high impact skidding operation. Commercial species were not recovering after logging.
Research highlights: Forest management can be viable in this area, but it requires reduced impact logging techniques and better silvicultural systems to guarantee future harvest of high value commercial timber.
Downloads
References
Aserradero Hermanos Hernández, 1992. Plan de Ordenación y Manejo Forestal. Unidad C-4 de la Reserva Forestal Imataca. Aserradero Hermanos Hernández: Upata, Venezuela.
Berry N, Phillips O, Ong R, Hamer K, 2008. Impacts of selective logging on tree diversity across a rainforest landscape: the importance of spatial scale. Landscape Ecol 23: 915-929. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-008-9248-1
Blanc L, Echard M, Herault B, Bonal D, Marcon E, Chave J, Baraloto C, 2009. Dynamics of above-ground carbon stocks in a selectively logged tropical forest. Ecol Appl 19: 1397-1404. https://doi.org/10.1890/08-1572.1
Bousfield C, Cerullo G, Massam M, Edwards D, 2020. Protecting environmental and socioeconomic values of selectively logged tropical forests in the Anthropocene. Adv Ecol Res 62: 1-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.aecr.2020.01.006
Brown S, Lugo A, 1982. The storage and production of organic matter in tropical forests and their role in the global carbon cycle. Biotropica 14: 161-187. https://doi.org/10.2307/2388024
Cerullo G, Edwards D, 2019. Actively restoring resilience in selectively logged tropical forests. J Appl Ecol 56(1): 107-118. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13262
Chao A, Chazdon R, Colwell R, Shen T, 2005. A new statistical approach for assessing similarity of species composition with incidence and abundance data. Ecol Lett 8: 148-159. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2004.00707.x
Chave J, Olivier J, Bongers F, Chatelet P, Forget M, Van Der Meer P, et al., 2008. Above-ground biomass and productivity in a rain forest of eastern South America. J Trop Ecol 24: 355-366. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467408005075
Chave J, Réjou-Mechain M, Búrquez A, Chidumayo E, Colgan M, et al., 2014. Improved allometric models to estimate the above-ground biomass of tropical trees. Glob Change Biol 20(10): 3177-3190. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12629
Comafor, 1995. Plan de Ordenación y Manejo Forestal. Unidad C-3, Imataca. Comafor, Upata, Venezuela.
Connell J, 1978. Diversity in tropical rain forests and coral reefs. Science 199: 1302-1310. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.199.4335.1302
Curtis J, Mcintosh R, 1951. An upland forest continuum in the praire-forest border region of Wisconsin. Ecology 32: 476-496. https://doi.org/10.2307/1931725
Da Cunha Castro T, De Carvalho J, Schwartz G, Silva J, Ruschel A, De Freitas L, et al., 2021. The continuous timber production over cutting cycles in the Brazilian Amazon depends on volumes of species not harvested in previous cuts. Forest Ecol Manag 490: 119124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119124
de Avila A, Ruschel A, de Carvalho J, Mazzei L, Silva J, do Carmo Lopes J, et al., 2015. Medium-term dynamics of tree species composition in response to silvicultural intervention intensities in a tropical rain forest. Biol Conserv 191: 577-586. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2015.08.004
Decocq G, Beinaa D, Jamoneaua A, Gourlet-Fleury S, Closset-Kopp D, 2014. Don't miss the forest for the trees! Evidence for vertical differences in the response of plant diversity to disturbance in a tropical rain forest. Perspect Plant Ecol 16: 279-287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppees.2014.09.001
Di Porcia E, Brugnera M, Meunier F, Longo M, Krishna Moorthy S, De Deurwaerder H, et al., 2019. Modeling the impact of liana infestation on the demography and carbon cycle of tropical forests. Glob Change Biol 25(11): 3767-3780. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14769
Ding Y, Zang R, Lu X, Huang J, 2017. The impacts of selective logging and clear-cutting on woody plant diversity after 40 years of natural recovery in a tropical montane rain forest, south China. Sci Total Environ 579: 1683-1691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.185
Edwards D, Tobias J, Sheil D, Meijaard E, Laurance W, 2014. Maintaining ecosystem function and services in logged tropical forests. Trends Ecol Evol 29(9): 511-520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2014.07.003
Ewel J, Madriz A, Tosi J, 1976. Zonas de vida de Venezuela. Ministerio de Agricultura y Cría, Fondo Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Caracas, Venezuela.
FAO, 2001. Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000. Rome.
FAO, 2003. Forest degradation and improvement. Proc 2nd Expert Meeting on Harmonising Forest-Related Definitions for Use by Various Stakeholders, Rome, Italy, 11-13 Sept 2002. https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/29857.
FAO, 2021. Evaluación de los recursos forestales mundiales 2020. Rome.
Fölster H, Dezzeo N, 1994. La degradación de la vegetación - Ecología de la altiplanicie de la Gran Sabana. Scientia Guaianae 4: 145-186.
Fox J, Vieilledent G, Yosi C, Pokana J, Keenan R, 2011. Above-ground forest carbon dynamics in Papua New Guinea: isolating the influence of selective harvesting and El Niño. Ecosystems 14: 1276-128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-011-9480-4
FSC, 2015. FSC principles and criteria for forest stewardship. Forest Stewardship Council. https://fsc.org/es/document-centre/documents/resource/392.
García-Berthou E, Alcaraz C, Benejam L, Benito J, 2009. Diseño experimental y análisis de datos. In: Conceptos y técnicas en ecología fluvial; Elosegui A, Sabater S (eds). pp 397-412. Eds. Fundación BBVA, Barcelona.
Gentry A, 1992. Tropical forest biodiversity: distributional patterns and their conservational significance. Oikos 63: 19-28. https://doi.org/10.2307/3545512
Ghazoul J, Chazdon R, 2017. Degradation and recovery in changing forest landscapes: a multiscale conceptual framework. Annu Rev Env Resour 42: 161-188. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-102016-060736
Gourlet-Fleury S, Beina D, Fayolle A, Ouédraogo D, Mortier F, Bénédet F, et al., 2013. Silvicultural disturbance has little impact on tree species diversity in a Central African moist forest. Forest Ecol Manag 304: 322-332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2013.05.021
Guevara J, 2001. Recursos fitogenéticos y relaciones florísticas de la flórula arbórea de las comunidades forestales en la Estación Experimental Caparo, Estado Barinas. MSc Thesis. Univ. Central de Venezuela. Maracay, Venezuela.
Hamilton L, 1988. Minimizing the adverse impacts of harvesting in humid tropical forests. In: Ecological development in the humid tropics; Lugo A, et al. (eds). pp: 191-235. Winrock Int, Arkansas, USA.
Hernández L, 1997. La selva de bejucos, ejemplo de bosque natural inestable de la Guayana Venezolana. Avance de investigación. Rev Científica Unet 9(2): 16-20.
Houghton J, Meira Filho L, Lim B, Tréanton K, Mamaty I, et al., 1997. Directrices del IPCC para los inventarios nacionales de gases de efecto invernadero: versión revisada en 1996. IPCC, OCDE, AIE, United Kingdom.
Huber O, 1995. Guayana Venezolana-Mapa de Vegetación, Escala 1:2.000.000. CVG-Edelca, Missouri Botanical Garden, Caracas, Venezuela.
Intecmaca, 1989. Plan de Ordenación y Manejo Forestal de la Unidad N-5 de la Reserva Forestal Imataca. Industria Técnica de Maderas, Caracas, Venezuela.
ITTO, 2005. Revised ITTO criteria and indicators for the sustainable management of tropical forests including reporting format. Int Trop Timber Org, Yokohama, Japan.
Jackson S, Fredericksen T, Malcolm J, 2002. Area disturbed and residual stand damage following logging in a Bolivian tropical forest. Forest Ecol Manag 166: 271-283. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(01)00681-8
Johnson N, Cabarle B, 1995. Sobreviviendo a la tala: manejo del bosque natural en los trópicos húmedos. World Resources Institute, NY.
Kovach Computer Services, 2004. Multi variate statistical package (MVSP Version 3.13I). http://www.kovcomp.co.uk/mvsp/.
Laurance W, Edwards D, 2014. Saving logged tropical forests. Front Ecol Environ 12: 147. https://doi.org/10.1890/1540-9295-12.3.147
Lozada J, Moreno J, Suescun R, 2003. Plantaciones en fajas de enriquecimiento. Experiencias en 4 unidades de manejo forestal de la Guayana Venezolana. Interciencia 28(10): 568-575.
Lozada, J. 2008. Sucesión vegetal en bosques aprovechados de la Reserva Forestal Caparo y Reserva Forestal Imataca, Venezuela. PhD Thesis. Univ. de Valencia. España.
Lozada J, Guevara J, Soriano P, Costa M, 2011. The organismic and the continuous approaches applied to phytosociological relationships in a lowland neotropical forest, Venezuela. Plant Biosyst 145(Supp): 65-73. https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2011.602735
Lozada J, Soriano P, Costa M, 2014. Relaciones suelo-vegetación en una toposecuencia del Escudo Guayanés, Venezuela. Rev Biol Trop 62(1): 385-401. https://doi.org/10.15517/rbt.v62i1.11388
Lozada J, Arends E, Sánchez D, Villarreal A, Guevara J, Soriano P, Costa M, 2016a. Recovery after 25 years of the tree and palms species diversity on a selectively logged forest in a Venezuelan lowland ecosystem. Forest Syst 25(3): 1-12. https://doi.org/10.5424/fs/2016253-08178
Lozada J, Hernández C, Soriano P, Costa M, 2016b. An assessment of the floristic composition, structure and possible origin of a liana forest in the Guayana Shield. Plant Biosyst 150(6): 1165-1174. https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2015.1008598
Lozada J, Soriano P, Costa M, García-Quintero A, Sánchez D, Villarreal A, Arends E, 2020. Long-term carbon stock recovery in a neotropical-logged forest. Plant Biosyst 154(2): 241-247. https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2019.1591537
Mabberley D, 1997. The Plant Book. Cambridge Univ Press, UK.
Magurran A, 1988. Ecological diversity and its measurement. Croom & Helm, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7358-0
Mahayani N, Slik F, Savini T, Webb E, Gale G, 2020. Rapid recovery of phylogenetic diversity, community structure and composition of Bornean tropical forest a decade after logging and post-logging silvicultural interventions. Forest Ecol Manag 476: 118467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118467
Malhi Y, Wood D, Baker R, Wright J, Phillips L, et al., 2006. The regional variation of above-ground live biomass in old-growth Amazonian forests. Glob Change Biol 12: 1107-1138. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2006.01120.x
MARN-UCV, 2003. Bases técnicas para el ordenamiento territorial de la Reserva Forestal Imataca. Ministerio del Ambiente y de los Recursos Naturales, Univ Central de Venezuela, Caracas.
Meunier F, Verbeeck H, Cowdery B, Schnitzer S, Smith‐Martin C, et al., 2021. Unraveling the relative role of light and water competition between lianas and trees in tropical forests: a vegetation model analysis. J Ecol 109(1): 519-540. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13540
Montgomery D, 1991. Diseño y análisis de experimentos. Grupo Editorial Iberoamericana, México DF, Mexico.
Nicholson D, 1958. An analysis of logging damage in tropical rain forest, North Borneo. Malayan Forester 21: 235-245.
Otani T, Lima A, Suwa R, Amaral M, Ohashi S, Pinto A, et al., 2018. Recovery of above-ground tree biomass after moderate selective logging in a central Amazonian forest. iForest 11(3): 352-359. https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor2534-011
PEFC, 2021. Enabling sustainability in forest management. Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. https://cdn.pefc.org/pefc.org/media/2021-01/05e329a7-132f-4fcf-bdac-b922171b54ca/1a4af467-450f-5640-9b4ff4a83433ab5e.pdf.
Peña M, Saldarriaga J, Duque-Montoya A, 2011. Acumulación de carbono y cambios estructurales en bosques secundarios del oriente antioqueño, Colombia. Actualidades Biológicas 33(95): 209-217.
Plumptre A, 1996. Changes following 60 years of selective timber harvesting in the Budongo Forest Reserve, Uganda. Forest Ecol Manag 89: 101-113. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(96)03854-6
Provita, 2021. Cobertura y uso del suelo en la Amazonía venezolana - Año 2020. https://geoportal.provita. org.ve/.
Putz F, Zuidema P, Synnott T, Peña-Claros M, Pinard M, Sheil D, et al., 2012. Sustaining conservation values in selectively logged tropical forests: the attained and the attainable. Consv Lett 5: 296-303. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-263X.2012.00242.x
Quesada C, Phillips O, Schwarz M, Czimczik C, Baker T, Patiño S, et al., 2012. Basin-wide variations in Amazon forest structure and function are mediated by both soils and climate. Biogeosciences 9(6): 2203-2246. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-9-2203-2012
Rivett S, Bicknell J, Davies Z, 2016. Effect of reduced-impact logging on seedling recruitment in a neotropical forest. Forest Ecol Manag 367: 71-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2016.02.022
Roopsind A, Caughlin T, van der Hout P, Arets E, Putz F, 2018. Trade‐offs between carbon stocks and timber recovery in tropical forests are mediated by logging intensity. Glob Change Biol 24(7): 2862-2874. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14155
Rutten G, Ensslin A, Hemp A, Fischer M, 2015. Forest structure and composition of previously selectively logged and non-logged montane forests at Mt. Kilimanjaro. Forest Ecol Manag 337: 61-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2014.10.036
Schnitzer S, Carson W, 2010. Lianas suppress tree regeneration and diversity in treefall gaps. Ecol Lett 13(7): 849-857. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01480.x
Serrano J, 2002. Dinámica del bosque natural en tres sectores de la Reserva Forestal Imataca (BHT), Estado Bolívar. Degree Thesis. For Eng School, Los Andes Univ, Mérida, Venezuela.
Sheil D, Burslem D, 2013. Defining and defending Connell's intermediate disturbance hypothesis: A response to Fox. Trends Ecol Evol 28: 571-572. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2013.07.006
Sist P, Shel D, Kartawinata K, Priyadi, H, 2003. Reduced-impact logging in Indonesian Borneo: Some results confirming the need for new silvicultural prescriptions. Forest Ecol Manag 179: 415-427. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(02)00533-9
SPSS, 2006. Manual del Usuario de SPSS Base 15.0. SPSS Inc, Chicago.
Tadeo-Noble A, Valdez-Hernández J, Beltrán-Rodríguez L, García-Moya E, 2019. Efecto del aprovechamiento forestal sobre la estructura y diversidad arbórea en selvas tropicales de Quintana Roo, México. Bosque 40(2): 129-140. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-92002019000200129
Targhetta N, Kesselmeier J, Wittmann F, 2015. Effects of the hydroedaphic gradient on tree species composition and aboveground wood biomass of oligotrophic forest ecosystems in the central Amazon basin. Folia Geobot 50(3): 185-205. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12224-015-9225-9
Ter Steege H, Welch I, Zagt R, 2002. Long-term effect of timber harvesting in the Bartica Triangle, Central Guyana. Forest Ecol Manag 170: 127-144. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(01)00777-0
Uhl C, Guimaraes Y, 1989. Ecological impacts of selective logging in the Brazilian Amazon: a case study from the Paragominas Region of the State of Pará. Biotropica 21: 98-106. https://doi.org/10.2307/2388700
Van Andel T, 2001. Floristic composition and diversity of mixed primary and secondary forests in northwest Guyana. Biodivers Conserv 10: 1645-1682.
Verissimo A, Barreto P, Mattos M, Tarifa R, Uhl C, 1992. Logging impacts and prospects for sustainable forest management in an old Amazonian frontier: the case of Paragominas. Forest Ecol Manag 55: 169-199. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-1127(92)90099-U
Vilanova E, Ramírez H, Torres A, 2010. El almacenamiento de carbono en la biomasa aérea como indicador del impacto del aprovechamiento de maderas en la Reserva Forestal Imataca, Venezuela. Interciencia 35(9): 659-665.
Zanne A, Lopez-Gonzalez G, Coomes D, Ilic J, Jansen S, Lewis S, et al., 2009. Data from: Towards a worldwide wood economics spectrum, Dryad, Dataset. https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.234.
Zimmerman B, Kormos C, 2012. Prospects for sustainable logging in tropical forests. BioScience 62(5): 479-487. https://doi.org/10.1525/bio.2012.62.5.9
Copyright (c) 2022 CSIC_INIA
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
© CSIC. Manuscripts published in both the printed and online versions of this Journal are the property of Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, and quoting this source is a requirement for any partial or full reproduction.
All contents of this electronic edition, except where otherwise noted, are distributed under a “Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International” (CC BY 4.0) License. You may read here the basic information and the legal text of the license. The indication of the CC BY 4.0 License must be expressly stated in this way when necessary.
Self-archiving in repositories, personal webpages or similar, of any version other than the published by the Editor, is not allowed.
