Publications
Found 92 publication(s)
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Calvas, B.; Castro, L.M.; Kindu, M.; Bingham, L.; Pintado, K.; Torres Celi, J.; Knoke, T. & Cueva Ortiz, J.L. (2024): Large differences between observed and expected Ecuadorian deforestation from 2001 to 2009: a counterfactual simulation approach. Regional Environmental Change 24, 94.
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DOI: 10.1007/s10113-024-02253-0
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Abstract:
Abstract:
Ensuring the integrity of the world’s forests is indispensable for mitigating climate change, combatting biodiversity loss, and protecting the livelihoods of rural communities. While many strategies have been developed to address deforestation across different geographic scales, measuring their impact against a fluctuating background of market-driven forest loss is notoriously challenging. In this article, we (1) asses deforestation in Ecuador using a dynamic, counterfactual baseline that excludes non-market factors, (2) identify periods of reduced and excess deforestation, and (3) assess the economic consequences
of associated CO2 emissions using the social cost of carbon metric. We construct a counterfactual market-forces-only reference scenario by simulating heterogeneous profit-seeking agents making satisficing land-use allocation decisions under uncertainty. The model simulates a reference scenario for 2001–2022, a period encompassing dollarization, the beginning of a constitution granting inalienable rights to nature, and the launch of the largest payments for ecosystem services program in Ecuador’s history. On this period, total deforestation was approximately 20% lower than expected in a market-forces-only
scenario (9540 vs.12,000 km2). The largest deviation occurred in 2001–2009, when observed deforestation was 43.6% lower than expected (3720 vs 6590 km2).
From 2010 onwards, deforestation appears to be market-driven. We assess the economic value of avoided CO2 emissions at US $5.7 billion if the reduction is permanent, or US $3.1 billion considering a 1% risk of loss from 2022 onwards. We discuss contributing factors that likely shaped periods of reduced and excess deforestation and stress the need to use realistic baselines.
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Keywords: |
land use |
land use change |
land use modeling |
Ecuador, Climate Change, Land Use |
land use/land cover |
Knoke, T.; Gosling, E.; Reith, E.; Gerique, A.; Pohle, P.; Valle-Carrión, L.A.; Ochoa Moreno, S.; Castro, L.M.; Calvas, B.; Hildebrandt, P.; Döllerer, M.; Bastit, F. & Paul, C. (2022): Confronting sustainable intensification with uncertainty and extreme values on smallholder tropical farms. Sustainability Science 0, 1-18.
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DOI: 10.1007/s11625-022-01133-y
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Sustainable intensification of agricultural lands might reconcile the conservation of tropical forest with food production,but in-depth assessments considering uncertainty and extreme values are missing. Uncertainty prohibits mapping probabilities to potential future states or ranking these states in terms of their likelihood. This in turn hampers the assessment of possible decision outcomes. Here, we use simulations to investigate how uncertainty may influence the social acceptability of alternative land-use strategies to halt tropical deforestation (including sustainable intensification), based on indicators representing farmer satisfaction. The results show how extreme values (worst values) for indicators of farmer satisfaction
may undermine the adoption of sustainable intensification. We demonstrate that a pure forest conservation strategy leads to lower food production, but outperforms a sustainable intensification strategy that maintains food security. Pure forest conservation performed better, i.e., could secure higher farmer satisfaction, than sustainable intensification across a range of indicator groups. This suggests strong barriers to achieving sustainable intensification. Using agricultural subsidies breaks the dominance of pure forest conservation by enhancing the economic returns of sustainable intensification. We discuss the
importance of access to labor and farmers’ preferences for the use of already cleared lands, which achieved the worst values under sustainable intensification and conclude that any assessment of land-use strategies requires careful consideration of uncertainty and extreme values.
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Keywords: |
deforestation |
land use change |
sustainable land use |
agriculture |
land use modeling |
intensification |
Cueva, A.; Manchego, C.; Bastidas, C. & Curto, M. (2021): Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for two subspecies of Handroanthus chrysanthus. Rodriguésia 72(e00722020), 6.
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DOI: 10.1590/2175-7860202172088
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An understanding of the genetic diversity and structure of plant species is essential in order to comprehend the degree of biodiversity loss and to develop successful restoration programs. Handroanthus is an important genus that presents one of the most valuable timbers of South America. Handroanthus chrysanthus is an important species distributed in Central and South America. Microsatellite markers are not previously developed for this species. Ten microsatellites for Handroanthus chrysanthus developed using high-throughput sequencing are presented here. The usefulness of these microsatellite loci for the genetic analysis of subspecies H. chrysanthus subsp. chrysanthus (distributed in coastal dry forests) and subspecies H. chrysanthus subsp. meridionalis (distributed in premontane moist forests) is analyzed. At least eight polymorphic microsatellites are useful for each subspecies, seven of which can be used in both subspecies.
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Keywords: |
Ecuador |
dry forest |
Handroanthus chrysanthus |
Guayacan |
microsatellites |
premontane forest |
subspecies |
Quiroz Dahik, C.; Crespo, P.; Stimm, B.; Mosandl, R.; Cueva Ortiz, J.L.; Hildebrandt, P. & Weber, M. (2021): Impacts of pine plantations on carbon stocks of páramo sites in southern Ecuador. Carbon Balance and Management 16(5), 15 pp.
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DOI: 10.1186/s13021-021-00168-5
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Background: Since the 1990’s, afforestation programs in the páramo have been implemented to offset carbon emissions through carbon sequestration, mainly using pine plantations. However, several studies have indicated that after the establishment of pine plantations in grasslands, there is an alteration of carbon pools including a decrease of the soil organic carbon (SOC) pool. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of the establishment of pine plantations on the carbon stocks in different altitudes of the páramo ecosystem of South Ecuador.
Results: At seven locations within an elevational gradient from 2780 to 3760 m a.s.l., we measured and compared carbon stocks of three types of land use: natural grassland, grazed páramo, and Pinus patula Schlltdl. & Cham. plantation sites. For a more accurate estimation of pine tree carbon, we developed our own allometric equations. There were significant (p < 0.05) differences between the amounts of carbon stored in the carbon pools aboveground and belowground for the three types of land use. In most of the locations, pine plantations revealed the highest amounts of aboveground and belowground carbon (55.4 and 6.9 tC/ha) followed by natural grassland (23.1 and 2.7 tC/ha) and grazed páramo sites (9.1 and 1.5 tC/ha). Concerning the SOC pools, most of the locations revealed significant lower values of plantations’ SOC in comparison to natural grassland and grazed páramo sites. Higher elevation was associated with lower amounts of pines’ biomass.
Conclusions: Even though plantations store high amounts of carbon, natural páramo grassland can also store substantial
amounts above and belowground, without negatively affecting the soils and putting other páramo ecosystem services at risk. Consequently, plans for afforestation in the páramo should be assessed case by case, considering not only the limiting factor of elevation, but also the site quality especially affected by the type of previous land use.
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Keywords: |
aboveground biomass |
land use change |
soil organic carbon |
carbon sequestration |
carbon pools |
belowground biomass |
Palomeque, X.; Patiño Uyaguari, C.; Marin, F.; Palacios, M. & Stimm, B. (2020): Effects of storage on seed germination and viability for three native tree species of Ecuador. Trees online, 1-11.
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DOI: 10.1007/s00468-020-02018-2
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Many forests restoration programs and efforts depend on seeds. Particularly in the Andes, further information regarding seed germination requirements and seed storage behavior is necessary. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of storage conditions on the germination percentage, the viability and the coefficient of velocity of germination for seeds of three native tree species (Cedrela montana, Weinmannia fagaroides and Oreocallis grandiflora). Under controlled conditions, the seeds were exposed to three levels of seed moisture content and storage temperatures (5 °C, 10 °C and room temperature at approx. 19 °C) for 3, 6 and 12 months. The results showed that at 3–6 months of seed storage under temperatures of 5 and 10 °C, the seeds had a high percentage of germination, viability and germination speed for C. montana and W. fagaroides compared to those stored at room temperature. At 12 months of storage, there was a marked reduction in seed germination in all treatments for both species. Furthermore, the seed germination and viability of O. grandiflora was not influenced by any of the above storage treatments. However, at the end of the experiment a slight decrease was observed, hence this species might be tolerant to medium- and long-term storage conditions. Though limited to just three co-occurring species, the study provided insight into the variability in responses to storage, with preliminary indications of appropriate storage conditions to maximize storability of seeds for restoration programs. Importantly, the study demonstrated the need for empirical testing of storage responses (temperature and duration) of seeds before subjecting untested species to a particular storage regime.
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Keywords: |
Seed storage behavior |
Reforestation |
ex situ conservation |
seed management |
Cueva Ortiz, J.L.; Espinosa, C.I.; Aguirre-Mendoza, Z.; Gusmán-Montalván, E.; Weber, M. & Hildebrandt, P. (2020): Natural Regeneration in the Tumbesian Dry Forest: Identification of the Drivers Affecting Abundance and Diversity. Scientific Reports 10( 9786), 13.
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DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66743-x
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Tropical and subtropical dry forests make up the world’s largest terrestrial ecosystem. However, these forests have been used to establish several productive activities, such as growing crops, rearing livestock, and using the forest resources, due to their ease of access and climatic conditions, which has led to this ecosystem becoming highly threatened. Therefore, this research assessed the effects of anthropogenic pressures and a number of abiotic variables on natural regeneration in dry forests in the Tumbesian region by addressing three research questions: (a) What is the status of natural regeneration in terms of abundance and diversity? (b) Does livestock grazing and the anthropogenic pressure affect the abundance and diversity of natural regeneration? (c) Does seasonality or grazing have the greatest influence on the regeneration dynamics? Data were obtained from 72 samples (36 fenced and 36 unfenced) during five surveys spanning a 2-year period, and the seedling abundance, mortality, recruitment, species richness and diversity were evaluated using linear mixed models. Natural regeneration was most positively affected by rainy season precipitation, but soil conditions also played an important role. Short-term fences had a major effect on reducing mortality but did not improve the abundance or diversity, whereas cattle grazing significantly affected the abundance of seedlings.
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Keywords: |
grazing |
natural forest regeneration |
anthropogenic pressure |
Cueva Ortiz, J.L.; Espinosa, C.I.; Quiroz Dahik, C.; Aguirre, Z.; Cueva Ortiz, E.; Guzman, E.; Weber, M. & Hildebrandt, P. (2019): Influence of Anthropogenic Factors on the Diversity and Structure of a Dry Forest in the Central Part of the Tumbesian Region (Ecuador–Perú). Forests 10(1), 31.
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DOI: 10.3390/f10010031
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Abstract:
Abstract:
The dry forest of southern Ecuador and northern Perú (called the Tumbesian region) is known for its high diversity, endemism, and healthy conservation state. Nevertheless, the forest is exposed to many threats linked with human activities. To understand the effects of these threats, which have not been appropriately assessed, we pose two questions: (a) What are the diversity and structural situations of the forest? (b) Are anthropogenic activities affecting the composition and structure of the forest? The assessed factors were species richness, diversity, species similarity, abundance, and density. Forest information was obtained from 72 plots (total area 25.92 ha) randomly placed to cover a wide range of stand densities (from 200 to 1100 m a.s.l.). After constructing linear mixed models and selecting the most influential one, we determined the individual influences of 12 predictors. The human pressure index (HPI) was the most negative predictor of forest health, and annual precipitation was the most important abiotic predictor of good health conditions. Livestock grazing did not significantly change the diversity and structure of mature forest. The mean annual temperature and stoniness influenced only the basal area and number of individuals, respectively. The species composition in our study area was not affected by the HPI, but was strongly predicted by annual precipitation.
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Keywords: |
biodiversity |
species richness |
human pressure |
goats |
Kübler, D.; Hildebrandt, P.; Günter, S.; Stimm, B.; Weber, M.; Munoz, J.; Cabrera, O.; Zeilinger, J.; Silva, B. & Mosandl, R. (2020): Effects of silvicultural treatments and topography on individual tree growth in a tropical mountain forest in Ecuador. Forest Ecology and Management 457, 117726.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117726
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Abstract:
Few studies have analysed the effect of silvicultural treatments on tree growth in tropical montane forests (TMF). These forests have strong topographic gradients, which influence growth rates and can potentially interact with silvicultural treatments. The present study investigated the relative effects of silvicultural treatments and topography on growth rates at the tree level in a TMF.
For this, we combined two distinct data sources: (1) field data from a silvicultural experiment in the Andes of southern Ecuador where liberation thinnings, i.e. the removal of the strongest crown competitors, were applied to potential crop trees (PCT) in 2004; and (2) topographic variables obtained from a high-resolution digital terrain model created from an airborne LIDAR survey. We fitted all data in a single linear mixed-effect model. Based on monitoring data from 174 released and 200 reference PCTs of 8 timber species, we calculated periodic annual increment (PAI) in DBH 6 years after the silvicultural treatment as our outcome variable. As topographic predictors, we used elevation and a topographic position index. To control for the by-species growth variability we included random intercepts for species and random slopes for the effect of treatment on species in our model.
PAI was significantly influenced by the topographic predictors. Over the elevational gradient, growth rates declined on average by 0.73 mm a−1 per 100 m increase in elevation. For the topographic position, PCTs in valleys had an average PAI of 2.02 mm a−1 compared to 1.04 mm a−1 on ridges. The effect of the silvicultural treatment across all species was only marginally significant, but its effect size was nevertheless within the range, but at the lower end of values reported for other tropical forest ecosystems (reference trees: 1.35 mm a−1; released trees: 1.60 mm a−1). Between species, baseline growth rates as well as the treatment effect varied considerably. Best linear unbiased predictions of species effects suggested that 5 species responded positively to the silvicultural treatment, whereas 3 species showed no treatment effect. Overall, tree growth varied substantially as indicated by the large residual variance that remained unaccounted for in the model.
Our findings indicate that positive effects of silvicultural treatments in TMF are likely to exist, but that they are possibly obfuscated by strong topographical gradients and large between-tree growth variability. Overall, our results suggest that “broad-brush” management prescriptions are not suited for sustainable forest management of TMF. Instead, granular and spatially explicit prescriptions that take the strong impact of topography on diameter growth as well as species-specific responses to silvicultural treatments into account should be favoured.
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Keywords: |
Cedrela montana |
Silvicultural treatments |
Sustainable forest management |
Diameter growth |
Handroanthus chrysanthus |
Cabrera, O.; Hildebrandt, P.; Stimm, B.; Günter, S.; Fries, A. & Mosandl, R. (2020): Functional Diversity Changes after Selective Thinning in a Tropical Mountain Forest in Southern Ecuador. Diversity 12(6), 256.
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DOI: 10.3390/d12060256
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Abstract:
Background: The impact of selective thinning on forest diversity has been extensively studied in temperate and boreal regions. However, in the tropics, knowledge is still poor regarding the impacts of this silvicultural treatment on functional diversity, especially in tropical mountain forests, which are considered to be highly biodiverse ecosystems and also endangered by human activities. By evaluating the changes on functional diversity by using different indicators, hypothesizing that selective thinning significantly affects (directly or indirectly) tropical mountain forests, this work promotes sustainable ecosystem use. Methods: A total of 52 permanent plots of 2500 m2 each were installed in a primary mountain forest in the San Francisco Biological Reserve to assess the impact of this silvicultural treatment. Selective thinning can be defined as a controlled process, in which trees that compete with ecologically and/or valuable timber species are progressively removed to stimulate the development of profitable ones, called potential crop trees (PCT). In doing so, the best specimens remain in the forest stand until their final harvest. After PCT selection, 30 plots were chosen for the intervention, while 22 plots served as control plots. The thinning intensity fluctuated between 4 and 56 trees ha−1 (average 18.8 ± 12.1 stems ha−1). Functional Diversity (FD) indices, including the community weighted mean (CWM), were determined based on six traits using the FD package implemented in R software. The difference between initial and final conditions of functional richness (FRic), functional divergence (FDiv), functional evenness (FEve), functional dispersion (FDis), and Rao quadratic entropy (RaoQ) was modeled using linear mixed models (LMM). As fixed factors, we used all the predictors inherent to structural and ecological forest conditions before and after the selective thinning and as a random variable, we used the membership to nested sampling units. Results: Functional Richness (FRic) showed significant changes after selective thinning, the other indexes (FEve, FDis, FDiv, RaoQ) were only influenced by predictors related to ecological conditions and characteristics of the community.
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Keywords: |
diversity |
tree species richness |
natural forest management |
silvicultural interventions |
Cabrera, O.; Fries, A.; Hildebrandt, P.; Günter, S. & Mosandl, R. (2019): Early Growth Response of Nine Timber Species to Release in a Tropical Mountain Forest of Southern Ecuador. Forests 10(3), 254.
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DOI: 10.3390/f10030254
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Abstract:
Abstract: Research Highlights: This study determined that treatment “release from competitors”
causes different reactions in selected timber species respective to diametrical growth, in which the
initial size of the tree (diametric class) is important. Also, the growth habit and phenological traits
(defoliation) of the species must be considered, which may have an influence on growth after release.
Background and Objectives: The objective of the study was to analyze the diametric growth of nine
timber species after their release to answer the following questions: (i) Can the diametric growth of the
selected timber species be increased by release? (ii) Does the release cause different responses among
the tree species? (iii) Are other factors important, such as the initial diameter at breast height (DBH)
or the general climate conditions? Materials and Methods: Four-hundred and eighty-eight trees
belonging to nine timber species were selected and monitored over a three-year period. Release was
applied to 197 trees, whereas 251 trees served as control trees to evaluate the response of diametrical
growth. To determine the response of the trees, a linear mixed model (GLMM, R package: LMER4)
was used, which was adjusted by a one-way ANOVA test. Results: All species showed a similar
annual cycle respective to diametric increases, which is due to the per-humid climate in the area.
Precipitation is secondary for the diametric growth because sufficient rainfall occurs throughout year.
What is more important, however, are variations in temperature. However, the species responded
differently to release. This is because the initial DBH and growth habit are more important factors.
Therefore, the species could be classified into three specific groups: Positive, negative and no response
to release. Conclusions: Species which prefer open sites responded positively to release, while shade
tolerant species and species with pronounced phenological traits responded negatively. The initial
DBH was also an important factor for diametric increases. This is because trees of class I (20 cm
to 30 cm DBH) responded positively to the treatment, whereas for bigger or older individuals,
the differences decreased or became negative.
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Keywords: |
tree growth |
radial growth change |
tree competition |
silvicultural interventions |
Knoke, T.; Paul, C.; Rammig, A.; Gosling, E.; Hildebrandt, P.; Härtl, F.; Peters, T.; Richter, M.; Diertl, K.; Castro, L.M.; Calvas, B.; Ochoa Moreno, S.; Valle-Carrión, L.A.; Hamer, U.; Tischer, A.; Potthast, K.; Windhorst, D.; Homeier, J.; Wilcke, W.; Velescu, A.; Gerique, A.; Pohle, P.; Adams, J.; Breuer, L.; Mosandl, R.; Beck, E.; Weber, M.; Stimm, B.; Silva, B.; Verburg, P.H. & Bendix, J. (2020): Accounting for multiple ecosystem services in a simulation of land-use decisions: Does it reduce tropical deforestation?. Global Change Biology 26( ), 1-22.
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DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15003
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Abstract:
Abstract:
Abstract Conversion of tropical forests is among the primary causes of global environmental change. The loss of their important environmental services has prompted calls to integrate ecosystem services (ES) in addition to socio-economic objectives in decision-making. To test the effect of accounting for both ES and socio-economic objectives in land-use decisions, we develop a new dynamic approach to model deforestation scenarios for tropical mountain forests. We integrate multi-objective optimization of land allocation with an innovative approach to consider uncertainty spaces for each objective. These uncertainty spaces account for potential variability among decision-makers, who may have different expectations about the future. When optimizing only socio-economic objectives, the model continues the past trend in deforestation (1975–2015) in the projected land-use allocation (2015–2070). Based on indicators for biomass production, carbon storage, climate and water regulation, and soil quality, we show that considering multiple ES in addition to the socio-economic objectives has heterogeneous effects on land-use allocation. It saves some natural forest if the natural forest share is below 38%, and can stop deforestation once the natural forest share drops below 10%. For landscapes with high shares of forest (38%–80% in our study), accounting for multiple ES under high uncertainty of their indicators may, however, accelerate deforestation. For such multifunctional landscapes, two main effects prevail: (a) accelerated expansion of diversified non-natural areas to elevate the levels of the indicators and (b) increased landscape diversification to maintain multiple ES, reducing the proportion of natural forest. Only when accounting for vascular plant species richness as an explicit objective in the optimization, deforestation was consistently reduced. Aiming for multifunctional landscapes may therefore conflict with the aim of reducing deforestation, which we can quantify here for the first time. Our findings are relevant for identifying types of landscapes where this conflict may arise and to better align respective policies.
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Keywords: |
Ecuador |
biodiversity |
ecosystem services |
landscape restoration |
land allocation |
robust optimization |
Quichimbo Miguitama, P.G.; Jiménez, L.S.; Veintimilla, D.; Potthast, K.; Tischer, A.; Günter, S.; Mosandl, R. & Hamer, U. (2019): Nutrient dynamics in an Andean forest region: a case study of exotic and native species plantations in southern Ecuador. New Forests -, 1 - 22.
Manchego, C.; Hildebrandt, P.; Cueva Ortiz, J.L.; Espinosa, C.; Stimm, B. & Günter, S. (2017): Climate change versus deforestation: Implications for tree species distribution in the dry forests of southern Ecuador. PLOS ONE 12(12), e0190092.
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DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190092
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Abstract:
Seasonally dry forests in the neotropics are heavily threatened by a combination of human disturbances and climate change; however, the severity of these threats is seldom contrasted. This study aims to quantify and compare the effects of deforestation and climate change on the natural spatial ranges of 17 characteristic tree species of southern Ecuador dry deciduous forests, which are heavily fragmented and support high levels of endemism as part of the Tumbesian ecoregion. We used 660 plant records to generate species distribution models and land-cover data to project species ranges for two time frames: a simulated deforestation scenario from 2008 to 2014 with native forest to anthropogenic land-use conversion, and an extreme climate change scenario (CCSM4.0, RCP 8.5) for 2050, which assumed zero change from human activities. To assess both potential threats, we compared the estimated annual rates of species loss (i.e., range shifts) affecting each species. Deforestation loss for all species averaged approximately 71 km2/year, while potential climate-attributed loss was almost 21 km2/year. Moreover, annual area loss rates due to deforestation were significantly higher than those attributed to climate-change (P < 0.01). However, projections into the future scenario show evidence of diverging displacement patterns, indicating the potential formation of novel ecosystems, which is consistent with other species assemblage predictions as result of climate change. Furthermore, we provide recommendations for management and conservation, prioritizing the most threatened species such as Albizia multiflora, Ceiba trichistandra, and Cochlospermum vitifolium.
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Keywords: |
Southern Ecuador |
deforestation |
climate change scenario |
tree species |
Seasonally dry tropical forest |
species distribution modelling |
Quichimbo Miguitama, P.G.; Jiménez, L.; Veintimilla, D.; Tischer, A.; Günter, S.; Mosandl, R. & Hamer, U. (2017): Forest Site Classification in the Southern Andean Region of Ecuador: A Case Study of Pine Plantations to Collect a Base of Soil Attributes. Forests 473(8), 1-22.
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DOI: 10.3390/f8120473
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Abstract:
Abstract:
Forest site classification adapted to the respective site conditions is one prerequisite for
sustainable silviculture. This work aims to initiate the forest site classification for pine plantations
in the southern Andean region of Ecuador. Forest productivity, estimated by the dominant height
of 20-year-old trees (DH20), was related to data from climate, topography, and soil using 23 plots
installed in pine plantations in the province of Loja. Forest site productivity was classified as:
low (class C: 13.4 m), middle (class B: 16.6 m), and high (Class A: 22.3 m). Strong determinants
to differentiate the forest site classes were: the short to medium term available Ca and K stocks
(organic layer + mineral soil standardized to a depth of 60 cm), soil acidity, the C:N ratio, clay and
sand content, forest floor thickness, altitude, and slope. The lowest forest productivity (Class C)
is mainly associated with the lowest short to medium term available K and Ca stocks. Whereas,
in site classes with the highest forest productivity, pines could benefit from a more active microbial
community releasing N and P, since the soil pH was about 1 unit less acidic. This is supported by the
lowest forest floor thickness and the narrowest C:N ratio.
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Keywords: |
forest |
soil nutrients |
soil |
pine forest |
Pinus patula |
Forest plantation |
forest productivity |
Palomeque, X.; Maza, A.; Iñanagua, J.P.; Günter, S.; Hildebrandt, P.; Weber, M. & Stimm, B. (2017): Intraspecific Variability in Seed Quality of Native Tree Species in Mountain Forests in Southern Ecuador: Implications for Forest Restoration. Revista de Ciencias Ambientales (Tropical Journal of Environmental Sciences) 51(2), 52-72.
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DOI: 10.15359/rca.51-2.3
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Abstract:
Abstract:
Uno de los aspectos importantes a considerarse en la producción eficiente de plántulas con fines de restauración es la calidad de semillas y su variabilidad. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar los parámetros de semillas de acuerdo con las reglas del “International Seed Testing Association” entre diferentes árboles madre o individuos de siete especies nativas (Cedrela montana, Morella pubescens, Inga acreana, Tabebuia chrysantha, Ocotea heterochroma, Oreocallis grandiflora y Myrcianthes rhopaloides) en dos bosques de montaña del sur del Ecuador. Estas especies fueron seleccionadas por la importancia ecológica, socioeconómica, y su gran potencial para la restauración. De un total de 35 árboles madre de todas las especies, se colectaron las semillas en sus respectivos periodos de fructificación, y en el laboratorio fueron analizados los siguientes parámetros: pureza, peso, contenido de humedad y germinación; adicionalmente se determinó el coeficiente de velocidad de germinación. Los resultados mostraron una similitud intraespecífica en cada especie para la mayoría de los parámetros; no obstante, el peso presentó alta variabilidad intraespecífica para todas las especies. El parámetro germinación obtuvo diferencias entre individuos para C. montana, T. chrysantha, O. heterochroma y M. rhopaloides. En cuanto a la velocidad de germinación, individuos de especies como O. grandiflora e I. acreana mostraron un alto coeficiente en contraste a los individuos de O. heterochroma y M. pubescens. La información generada en este estudio podría ser el primer paso en la formulación de pautas para la producción masiva de plántulas de especies nativas con fines de restauración.
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Keywords: |
seedlings |
Cedrela montana |
Tabebuia chrysantha |
native species |
tree seeds |
restoration |
germination |
seed quality |
Morella pubescens |
Inga acreana |
Ocotea heterochroma |
Oreocallis grandiflora |
Palomeque, X.; Günter, S.; Siddons, D.; Hildebrandt, P.; Stimm, B.; Aguirre, N.; Arias, R. & Weber, M. (2017): Natural or assisted succession as approach of forest recovery on abandoned lands with different land use history in the Andes of Southern Ecuador. New Forests 1(1), 1-10.
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DOI: 10.1007/s11056-017-9590-8
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Abstract:
Abstract:
Forest recovery on disturbed areas is of special significance in the Ecuadorian Andes, where deforestation is a serious problem. Natural diachronic succession was evaluated on three large plots or sites, differing in their land use and vegetation composition, one is dominated by grass species on an abandoned pasture (Pasture site), the other two are post-fire vegetation dominated by bracken (Bracken site) and various shrubs (Shrub site). Additionally, we assessed the effectiveness of manual removal of competitive herbaceous species to accelerate forest recovery. Monitoring was done in 2003, 2005 and 2007 on 48 subplots of 116 m2 each recording species richness and woody-species density. Results showed that the Pasture site demonstrated a competitive effect of exotic grasses on woody species recruitment with much lower species recruitment and density, suggesting serious inhibition of natural forest regeneration and an unclear successional trajectory. The Bracken and Shrub sites became significantly similar floristically and there is evidence for a marked facilitation of woody plant recruitment correlated with light availability on the ground. Both sites showed characteristics of classic succession, with Shrub showing a higher species richness and density while late-successional species are poorly represented on the Bracken site. However, NMDS ordination using species density showed that the two trajectories may not be converging towards a common ‘‘final state’’. Manual weeding was ineffective for accelerating forest recovery. These results suggest that the main limiting factor for the recruitment of woody species on the Pasture site is strong grass competition and must be addressed before seed availability, while seed availability seems to be theconstraining factor for Bracken and Shrub site development, thus direct seeding or planting may be effective in accelerating forest recovery.
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Keywords: |
succession |
abandoned pasture |
bracken fern |
restoration |
Paul, C.; Weber, M. & Knoke, T. (2017): Agroforestry versus farm mosaic systems – Comparing land-use efficiency, economic returns and risks under climate change effects. Science of The Total Environment online , online.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.02.037
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Abstract:
Abstract:
Increasing land-use conflicts call for the development of land-use systems that reconcile agricultural production with the provisioning of multiple ecosystem services, including climate change mitigation. Agroforestry has been suggested as a global solution to increase land-use efficiency, while reducing environmental impacts and economic risks for farmers. Past research has often focused on comparing tree-crop combinations with agricultural monocultures, but agroforestry has seldom been systematically compared to other forms of land-use diversification, including a farm mosaic. This form of diversification mixes separate parcels of different land uses within the farm. The objective of this study was to develop a modelling approach to compare the performance of the agroforestry and farm mosaic diversification strategies, accounting for tree-crop interaction effects and economic and climate uncertainty. For this purpose, Modern Portfolio Theory and risk simulation were coupled with the process-based biophysical simulation model WaNuLCAS 4.0. For an example application, we used data from a field trial in Panama. The results show that the simulated agroforestry systems (Taungya, alley cropping and border planting) could outperform a farm mosaic approach in terms of cumulative production and return. Considering market and climate uncertainty, agroforestry showed an up to 21% higher economic return at the same risk level (i.e. standard deviation of economic returns). Farm compositions with large shares of land allocated to maize cultivation were also more severely affected by an increasing drought frequency in terms of both risks and returns. Our study demonstrates that agroforestry can be an economically efficient diversification strategy, but only if the design allows for economies of scope, beneficial interactions between trees and crops and higher income diversification compared to a farm mosaic. The modelling approach can make an important contribution to support land-use decisions at the farm level and reduce land-use conflicts at the landscape level.
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Keywords: |
climate change |
Agroforestry |
land use modeling |
Economics |
Kübler, D.; Hildebrandt, P.; Günter, S.; Stimm, B.; Weber, M.; Mosandl, R.; Munoz, J.; Cabrera, O.; Aguirre, N.; Zeilinger, J. & Silva, B. (2016): Assessing the importance of topographic variables for the spatial distribution of tree species in a tropical mountain forest. Erdkunde 70(1), 19-47.
Knoke, T.; Paul, C.; Hildebrandt, P.; Calvas, B.; Castro, L.M.; Härtl, F.; Döllerer, M.; Hamer, U.; Windhorst, D.; Wiersma, Y.; Curatola Fernández, G.F.; Obermeier, W.A.; Adams, J.; Breuer, L.; Mosandl, R.; Beck, E.; Weber, M.; Stimm, B.; Haber, W.; Fürst, C. & Bendix, J. (2016): Compositional diversity of rehabilitated tropical lands supports multiple ecosystem services and buffers uncertainties. Nature Communications 7, Article number:11877.
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11877
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Abstract:
Abstract:
High landscape diversity is assumed to increase the number and level of ecosystem services. However, the interactions between ecosystem service provision, disturbance and landscape composition are poorly understood. Here we present a novel approach to include uncertainty in the optimization of land allocation for improving the provision of multiple ecosystem services. We refer to the rehabilitation of abandoned agricultural lands in Ecuador including two types of both afforestation and pasture rehabilitation, together with a succession option. Our results show that high compositional landscape diversity supports multiple ecosystem services (multifunction effect). This implicitly provides a buffer against uncertainty. Our work shows that active integration of uncertainty is only important when optimizing single or highly correlated ecosystem services and that the multifunction effect on landscape diversity is stronger than the uncertainty effect. This is an important insight to support a land-use planning based on ecosystem services.
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Keywords: |
ecosystem services |
South Ecuador |
sustainable land use |
land use modeling |
restoration |
Knoke, T.; Paul, C.; Härtl, F.; Castro, L.M.; Calvas, B. & Hildebrandt, P. (2015): Optimizing agricultural land-use portfolios with scarce data—A non-stochastic model. Ecological Economics 120, 250-259.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2015.10.021
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Abstract:
Abstract:
The theory of portfolio selection has often been applied to help improving decisions on the environment. The information required to apply this theory includes data on covariance of the uncertain returns between all combinations of the economic options and normally distributed returns. As it may be problematic to fulfil all data requirements and assumptions, the paper proposes a variant of robust portfolio optimization as an alternative. It considers future uncer-tainties in a non-stochastic fashion by means of possible deviations from the nominal return of land-use alternatives. The maximization of the economic return of the land-use portfolio is conditional to meeting an inclusive set of constraints. These demand that the same, whenever possible high, proportion of a required return threshold is achieved by means of the robust solution for each deviation scenario considered. The paper compares the land-use portfolios derived non-stochastically with portfolios generated by classical stochastic mean-variance op-timization. Based on data for eight agricultural crops typical for the Ecuadorian lowlands the results show that, depending on the deviation scenario assumed, the robust portfolios show a greater Shannon index compared to classical portfolios. For the same standard deviation of returns (derived through the classical sum of all covariances) the robust portfolios show no more than 2-5% loss in economic return in most cases. Occasionally, the loss has been higher, up to 20%. In this case the Shannon index was about 2.5 times higher compared with that of the conventional portfolio. The highly diverse portfolio achieved a much better protection against low relative performance. The results obtained show that the non-stochastic derivation of land-use portfolios is a good alternative to the classical stochastic model, whenever eco-nomic information is scarce.
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Keywords: |
land use |
diversification |
sustainable land use |
land use modeling |
Portfolio Theory |
Knoke, T.; Bendix, J.; Pohle, P.; Hamer, U.; Hildebrandt, P.; Roos, K.; Gerique, A.; Lopez Sandoval, M.F.; Breuer, L.; Tischer, A.; Silva, B.; Calvas, B.; Aguirre, N.; Castro, L.M.; Windhorst, D.; Weber, M.; Stimm, B.; Günter, S.; Palomeque, X.; Mora, J.; Mosandl, R. & Beck, E. (2014): Afforestation or intense pasturing improve the ecological and economic value of abandoned tropical farmlands. Nature Communications 5:5612, 1-50.
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6612
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Abstract:
Abstract:
Increasing demands for livelihood resources in tropical rural areas have led to progressive
clearing of biodiverse natural forests. Restoration of abandoned farmlands could counter
this process. However, as aims and modes of restoration differ in their ecological and
socio-economic value, the assessment of achievable ecosystem functions and bene?ts
requires holistic investigation. Here we combine the results from multidisciplinary research
for a unique assessment based on a normalization of 23 ecological, economic and social
indicators for four restoration options in the tropical Andes of Ecuador. A comparison of the
outcomes among afforestation with native alder or exotic pine, pasture restoration with either
low-input or intense management and the abandoned status quo shows that both variants of
afforestation and intense pasture use improve the ecological value, but low-input pasture
does not. Economic indicators favour either afforestation or intense pasturing. Both Mestizo
and indigenous Saraguro settlers are more inclined to opt for afforestation.
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Keywords: |
sustainable land-use |
Knoke, T.; Román-Cuesta, R.M.; Weber, M. & Haber, W. (2012): How can climate policy benefit from comprehensive land-use approaches?. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 10, 438-445.
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DOI: 10.1890/110203
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Abstract:
Abstract:
Schemes that reward developing countries for the mitigation of greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions through preservation and restoration of their forests are becoming more common. However, efforts to reduce GHG emissions must also consider food production. This creates an apparent conflict, since agricultural production ? a key driver of GHG emissions as a consequence of forest clearance ? will increase as human populations continue to grow. We argue that a mix of small cropland and forest parcels enables sustainable intensification of agriculture by minimizing soil degradation . Economic analyses of the mixed land-use concept suggest an improvement of long-term economic performance by 19?25% relative to conventional industrial agriculture. Adopting this approach requires farm management plans, landscape zoning, and new instruments to finance sustainable agriculture. We conclude that climate policy and food production are reconciled through an integrative landscape concept that combines sustainable intensification of agriculture and reforestation of abandoned lands.
Castro, L.M.; Calvas, B.; Hildebrandt, P. & Knoke, T. (2012): Avoiding the loss of shade coffee plantations: how to derive conservation payments for risk-averse land-users. Agroforestry Systems online, online.
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DOI: 10.1007/s10457-012-9554-0
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Abstract:
Abstract:
We usually have only limited knowledge about the economic consequences of land-use decisions, thus they are uncertain. We analyze the implications of this uncertainty on conservation payments (CP) to preserve wildlife-friendly shade coffee production in southwest Ecuador, when conversion to maize is the most profitable alternative. Our objective is twofold: First, we analyze the consequences of
applying Stochastic Dominance (SD) to derive CP, an approach making only minimal assumptions about the preferences of farmers. Second, we investigate the effects of land-use diversification to reduce CP by allowing for shade coffee on part of a landholding, and
maize production on what remains. CP derived by SD turned out to be at least twice the amount calculated by an alternative method which maximizes a concave utility function?US$ 166 to US$ 294 ha-1 year-1 instead of US$ 86 ha-1 year-1. Given this result, we
doubt that the assumptions underlying SD are reasonable for farmers, who are known to be riskaverse. Allowing for land-use diversification has a significant impact on CP. The optimal portfolio share of shade coffee is 27 % and for maize 73 % for
moderately risk-averse farmers?without any CP. A larger share of shade coffee is preferable for strongly risk-averse farmers?51 and 49 % maize. The amount of CP necessary to encourage the expansion of shade coffee to 75 %is US$ 40 ha-1 year-1 (for moderately
risk-averse) and US$ 19 ha-1 year-1 (for strongly risk-averse farmers). Stimulating diversification may thus help to significantly reduce CP necessary to preserve less profitable agroforestry options.
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Keywords: |
Biodiversity conservation |
Agroforestry |
conservation payments |
uncertainty |
diversification |
mean–variance |
stochastic dominance |
Knoke, T.; Weber, M.; Barkmann, J.; Pohle, P.; Calvas, B.; Medina, C.; Aguirre, N.; Günter, S.; Stimm, B.; Mosandl, R.; von Walter, F. & Gerique, A. (2009): EFFECTIVENESS AND DISTRIBUTIONAL IMPACTS OF PAYMENTS FOR REDUCED CARBON EMISSIONS FROM DEFORESTATION. Erdkunde 63, 365-384.
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DOI: 10.3112/erdkunde.2009.04.06
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Abstract:
Abstract:
This paper analyses the effectiveness and distributional effects of payments to avoid tropical deforestation. As a first aspect, we investigated whether or not expected payments for avoided deforestation would be acceptable for tropical farmers in Southern Ecuador, with the study area located directly adjacent to the Podocarpus National Park. Second, we explored possible distributional effects resulting from voluntary or mandatory remuneration schemes to avoid deforestation.
Finally, a productive sustainable land use was conceptualised to be combined with payments for avoided deforestation
to avoid leakage (i.e. deforestation processes elsewhere when avoided at a given farm). Farm level land use scenarios with ("business as usual") and without deforestation ("conservation strategy") were compared. Compensation per Mg Carbon
(C) that is not emitted into the atmosphere under the "conservation strategy" was derived to achieve a monetary land net present value (NPV, sum of discounted future net revenues) equal to the NPV obtained under "business as usual". Avoided carbon emissions were computed from above ground C in tropical forests of the project area and supplemented by information on soil carbon from another study. Economic data for cattle pasturing were obtained from a farm survey (130 households) to investigate distributional effects. To derive sustainable land use concepts, a risk sensitive bioeconomic farm model was used that considered effects of risk compensation when combining pasture with reforestation of abandoned farm lands and selective logging of natural forests. The results showed that only a few farmers (20 out of 130) would possibly accept a compensation price of US$ 10 per Mg avoided C emission, a C-compensation that is believed by other authors to reduce deforestation by 65%. Rather a compensation of around US$ 25 per Mg C was necessary to address compensation requirements of farmers who hold 50% of the tropical forest area in our study. The implementation of a voluntary remuneration scheme for avoided deforestation would not introduce systematic distributional effects (such as that only the biggest farmers would benefit from compensation), while a mandatory and enforced ban on deforestation coupled with a "fair" compensation payment equal to mean compensation requirements may lead to undesirable effects for many farmers.
Finally, we demonstrate a mixed sustainable land use concept that depended on cheap credits for reforestation of abandoned pasture lands. This concept was able to stop farm level deforestation and to enlarge the economic value of farms through
various combined land use options (agricultural and forestry options). The combination of land uses led to risk compensatory effects and a more efficient land use by reintegrating unproductive abandoned areas back into the economical process.
In our conclusion a combination of payments for avoided deforestation along with productive land use concepts provided a viable solution for tropical forest conservation.
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Keywords: |
conservation payments |
carbon storage |
sustainable land use |
tropical forest conservation |
Haug, I.; Wubet, T.; Weiß, M.; Aguirre, N.; Weber, M.; Günter, S. & Kottke, I. (2010): Species-rich but distinct arbuscular mycorrhizal communities in reforestation plots on degraded pastures and in neighboring pristine tropical mountain rain forest. Tropical Ecology 51, 125-148.
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Abstract:
Abstract:
Abstract: For the first time in tropical mountain rain forest, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal
richness and community composition was investigated from planted seedlings of Cedrela
montana, Heliocarpus americanus, Juglans neotropica and Tabebuia chrysantha in reforestation
plots on degraded pastures. A segment of fungal 18S rDNA was sequenced from the mycorrhizas.
Sequences were compared with those obtained from mycorrhizas of adult trees of 30
species in the neighboring, pristine tropical mountain rain forest. In total, 193 glomeromycotan
sequences were analyzed, 130 of them previously unpublished. Members of Glomeraceae,
Acaulosporaceae, Gigasporaceae and Archaeosporales were found in both habitats, with Glomus
Group A sequences being by far the most diverse and abundant. Glomus Group A sequence type
richness did not appear to differ between the habitats; a large number was observed in both.
Glomus Group A sequence type composition, however, was found distinctly different. Seedlings
were rarely colonized by fungi of the pristine forest but trapped a number of fungi known from
other areas, which were rarely found in the pristine forest.
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Keywords: |
Cedrela montana |
Heliocarpus americanus |
Tabebuia chrysantha |
reforestation |
Setaria sphacelata |
degraded pastures |
glomeromycota |
juglans neotropica |
neotropical mountain rain forest |
ribosomal 18S RNA gene |
Urgiles , N.; Loján Amijos, P.; Aguirre, N.; Blaschke, H.; Günter, S.; Stimm, B. & Kottke, I. (2009): Application of mycorrhizal roots improves growth of tropical tree seedlings in the nursery: a step towards reforestation with native species in the Andes of Ecuador. New Forests 38(3), 229-239.
Günter, S.; González, P.; Alvarez, G.; Aguirre, N.; Palomeque, X.; Haubrich, F. & Weber, M. (2009): Determinants for successful reforestation of abandoned pastures in the Andes: Soil conditions and vegetation cover. Forest Ecology and Management 258, 81-91.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2009.03.042
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Abstract:
Abstract:
The Andes of Ecuador are known for their outstanding biodiversity but also as the region with the highest
deforestation rate in South America. This process is accompanied by accelerating degradation and loss of
environmental services. Despite an extraordinary richness in native tree diversity, more than 90% of all
forest plantations established in Ecuador consist of exotic species, primarily Eucalyptus spp. and Pinus
spp. This is mainly due to the lack of information about the autecological and synecological requirements
of the native species.
The present study aims at providing basic knowledge on the early height development of native
species in comparison to exotics. 12,000 seedlings of exotic and native species were planted in
experimental trials at three sites of different successional stages: recently abandoned pastures (Setaria
sphacelata), bracken (Pteridium arachnoideum) and shrubs. The results presented in this study refer to the
status of the seedlings 3 years after planting. Soil data were revealed from soil core analysis from a total
of 1008 soil samples distributed systematically over all plots. Soil chemical data were derived from a
subsample of 125 randomly selected soil core sites. Soil properties in the study area emerged to be
extremely heterogeneous. More than 60% of all plots presented two or more soil clusters. Soils in general
were very poor in plant available N. Soil heterogeneity affected extractable Mn and Mg, dominating
vegetation cover in turn affected Mn and P. Differences in soil properties had a strong effect for
Eucalyptus saligna and Alnus acuminata. Manual above ground weeding showed species-specific effects:
Tabebuia chrysantha and Heliocarpus americanus showed improved height growth, while that of Cedrela
montana was reduced. There is evidence that A. acuminata can compete in growth with exotic species.
Early successional species and exotics performed best on pasture dominated sites. Height growth of the
mid-successional species C. montana was facilitated by bracken fern under certain soil conditions, and
shrubs facilitated growth of T. chrysantha. The results indicate that reforestation with native species in
Ecuador is possible but requires intensive consideration of interactions with soil properties and
accompanying vegetation. Macroscopic soil core analysis can be a suitable instrument for detecting
small-scale variation of soil properties. Nevertheless, a characterisation of both small-scale variation as
well as variation on higher spatial scales, for instance by aerial photographs, is essential for effective
planning of reforestation measures in the Andes.
Knoke, T.; Calvas, B.; Aguirre, N.; Roman-Cuesta, R.M.; Günter, S.; Stimm, B.; Weber, M. & Mosandl, R. (2009): Can tropical farmers reconcile subsistence demands with forest conservation?. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 7(10), 548-554.
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DOI: 10.1890/080131
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Abstract:
Abstract:
If tropical farmers cannot be provided with sustainable land-use systems, which address their subsistence
needs and keep them gainfully employed, tropical forests will continue to disappear. We looked at the ability
of economic land-use diversification ? with reforestation of tropical ?wastelands? as a key activity ? to
halt deforestation at the farm level. Our ecological?economic concept, based on land-use data from the
buffer area of the Podocarpus National Park in southern Ecuador, shows that stopping deforestation after 10
years is possible without violating subsistence demands. Tropical, farm-level diversification may not only
reduce total deforestation by 45%, but also increase farmers? profits by 65%, because the formerly unproductive
wastelands have been returned to productive land use. We therefore conclude that a ?win?win? scenario
is possible: the subsistence needs of people can be reconciled with conservation objectives. However,
inexpensive microcredits (at interest rates below 6%) and experience on alternative land-use opportunities
must be offered to farmers.
Gerique, A. & Veintimilla, D. (2007): Useful Plants and Weeds Occuring in Shuar, Saraguro, and Mestizo Communities. Checklist of the Reserva Biológica San Francisco (Prov. Zamora-Chinchipe, S-Ecuador). Ecotropical Monographs 4, 237-256.
Günter, S.; Stimm, B.; Cabrera, M.; Diaz, M.L.; Lojan, M.; Ordonez, E.; Richter, M. & Weber, M. (2008): Tree phenology in montane forests of southern Ecuador can be explained by precipitation, radiation, and photoperiodic control. Journal of Tropical Ecology 24, 247-258.