Combining ecological, social and technical criteria to select species for forest restoration
Identifiers
Permanent link (URI): http://hdl.handle.net/10017/22917DOI: 10.1111/avsc.12096
ISSN: 1402-2001
Publisher
Wiley Blackwell
Date
2014Bibliographic citation
Applied Vegetation Science, 2014, v.17, n.4, p.744-753
Keywords
Forest restoration
Indicators
Mexico
Natural regeneration
Propagation
Re-vegetation
Social value
Tropical riparian forest
Project
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MICINN//CGL2010-18312/ES/RESTAURACION DE LA BIODIVERSIDAD Y LOS SERVICIOS ECOSISTEMICOS EN SISTEMAS AGRARIOS. UN ENFOQUE MULTI-ESCALA/
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/CAM//S2009%2FAMB-1783/ES/Restauración y conservación de los ecosistemas madrileños: respuesta frente al cambio global/
Document type
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Version
info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion
Publisher's version
http://www.dx.doi.org/10.1111/avsc.12096Rights
Atribución-NoComercial-SinDerivadas 3.0 España
© International Association for Vegetation Science, 2014
Access rights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Abstract
Question How to evaluate and integrate relevant ecological, social and technical criteria to select species to be introduced in restoration projects of highly diverse ecosystems such as tropical riparian forests. Location Riparian forest, Marqués de Comillas municipality, southeast Mexico (16°54′N, 92°05′W). Methods We proposed a 'species selection index' ( SSI) using five independent criteria related to ecological, social and technical information. SSI targeted species that (1) are important in the reference forest; (2) are less likely to establish following disturbance; (3) are not specific to a particular habitat; (4) are socially accepted; and (5) their propagation requires a reasonable time and financial investment. SSI may range between zero and 50, with higher values meaning higher potential for restoration purposes. Results Out of a local pool of 97 species, we identified 30 target tree species that together represented >60% of total importance value index in the reference riparian forests. SSI averaged 28.3 ± 1.0 over the studied species, suggesting that species with high values are not frequent. For 20 species, reintroduction by means of active forest restoration was deemed necessary. Species that established through natural regeneration, following secondary regrowth, had lower social value among local farmers. Nearly half of the identified species showed technical constraints for easy propagation and seeding. Conclusions The proposed procedure is useful for selecting species to initiate forest restoration projects and of other woody ecosystems that harbour high biodiversity, and is suitable for several stakeholders interested in restoration.
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