Abstract:
Abandoned areas are emerging in many tropical regions as a consequence of deforestation and unsustainable land-use. These lands can be restored by natural succession (passive) or reforestation (active). Both alternatives where analyzed on three dominant types of successional sites (recently abandoned Pasture, Bracken, Shrub) in the tropical mountain forest in Southern Ecuador. The performance of several native species was evaluated for reforestation, including the effects of removal of competing herbaceous vegetation and seedlings pretreatment (e.g. fertilization, inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi). The results showed an inhibited natural succession on the Pasture site which can be improved by planting well adapted species as A. acuminata. On the Bracken- and Shrub-sites the natural succession may be optimized by enrichment planting of M. pubescens and T. chrysantha.
