C2.1 Silvicultural contributions to the maintenance and rehabilitation of utilization potentials of forest resources in the Tropical Mountain Rainforest region of southern Ecuador
[funded by We 2069/5-1]
PI(s) for this project:
Dr. Bernd Stimm
Prof. Dr. Reinhard Mosandl
Prof. Dr. Michael Weber
Abstract:
Silvicultural contributions to the maintenance and rehabilitation of utilization potentials of forest resources in the Tropical Mountain Rainforest region of southern Ecuador
Description:
Despite being the country with the highest biodiversity in the world in relation to surface Ecuador faces the highest deforestation rate (1,7 %) in South America. One of the major reasons for deforestation in this country is the intense conversion of forests into pastures, another one is the particularly low area of reforestation. The present project wants to contribute to the maintenance and rehabilitation of biodiversity and the utilization potentials of forest resources. Prerequisites therefore are the exploration of seed sources, the improvement of ecological knowledge about native tree species as well as the development of appropriate management systems for the remaining natural forests. Within an integrative approach we try to link the following three different silvicultural fields which are based on three long term experiments: a) management of forest reproductive material of native species, b) reforestation of abandoned pastures with native species, c) management of natural forests. The results will serve basic ecological and silvicultural knowledge that finally shall lead to the development of a
regional concept for the maintenance, management and rehabilitation of forest resources (see graph in introduction).
