Identifying effective tree planting schemes to restore forest carbon and biodiversity in Shiretoko National Park,Japan

Growing interest in ecosystem restoration has recently turned the focus on tree planting, one of the most widely used restoration tools globally. Here, we study the restoration potential of tree planting in a cool-temperate forest in Shiretoko National Park, northern Japan. We used simulation modeling to investigate the long-term success of tree planting in restoring biodiversity and the climate change mitigation function relative to intact natural forests. Specifically, we investigated 31 different restoration scenarios, consisting of five planting densities (1,000–10,000 trees/ha) × six levels of planted tree species richness (one to six species) + one no-planting scenario. We examined these scenarios at different distances from natural forests serving as a seed source (0–300 m) to quantify the potential for natural regeneration. In restoration areas in close proximity to a natural forest, species-rich high-density planting scenario performed best, reaching >50% of the reference values from intact natural forests within 33 years for both restoration goals. However, variation in restoration outcomes was small when >2,500 trees/ha of more than four species were planted, regardless of distance to seed source. In contrast, biodiversity restoration was considerably delayed in scenarios where planted species richness was low as well as in restoration areas that were far from a seed source yet relied solely on natural regeneration. We here demonstrate how forest landscape simulation can be used to identify viable restoration options for managers across multiple restoration goals as an important step to bridge the research–implementation gap in forest restoration.     

次生林概念与生态干扰度

近一个世纪强烈的人为干扰使世界范围内的原始林面积锐减,次生林已成为中国乃至世界森林资源的主体.虽然在文献与现实中"次生林（Secondary forest）"被广泛使用,但次生林的概念在各个国家,甚至同一国家或地区以及各种不同文献中存在相互矛盾的情况,这给次生林研究与经营实践带来诸多不便;而不准确的次生林定义也为与各个层次的决策制定者及公众之间的交流带来了障碍.本文在查阅大量国内外关于次生林概念文献的基础上,结合近年来关于次生林生态与经营研究实践,综合分析了次生林概念的不确定性,同意以往次生林定义中的基本内涵,并认为：次生林是由于人为破坏性干扰或异常自然干扰使原始林固有的林分结构、物种组成或基本功能发生了显著变化,经过天然更新或人工诱导天然更新恢复形成的林分.但该定义中仍存在着很多不确定性, 如:怎样的干扰为"人为破坏性干扰"和"异常自然干扰";"林分结构、物种组成或基本功能"发生了怎样的变化为"显著变化";"人工诱导天然更新"中"人工"参与的成分比例如何等.次生林概念是在20世纪初由植物演替学家提出,当时未考虑干扰的持续性;而实际上,无论是次生林还是原始林,均是森林生态系统演替过程中的某一状态,在现代森林生态系统研究中,应重新规范"次生林"的概念.考虑到"次生林"定义的不确定性或困难性,建议使用"森林自然度"或"森林生态系统成熟度"或"森林干扰度"来表达现实森林所处的状态,但该方面的研究与实践尚需加强.     

Afromontane old-field vegetation: secondary succession and the return of indigenous species

South‐west Uganda primarily holds afromontane forests within three protected areas: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Echuya Forest Reserve and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. All forests contain portions of old‐field vegetation. The central question of this study, then, is whether and how natural regeneration of afromontane vegetation would take place. A successional pathway consisting of nine plant communities was found for the first 2 years after cessation of agricultural use. A return of afromontane species despite of an initial dominance of neophytes, a diversification of life form spectra and a growing importance of endozoochory with time belonged to the conspicuous characteristics of this secondary succession. To obtain an insight into the role of birds and buffaloes as possible vectors for seed input, I examined their faeces with regard to germinable seeds. Both, bird faeces, as well as buffalo faeces contained germinable seeds originating from the forest flora. Thus, animal dispersal from the forest into the regenerating zones could be documented. The regeneration potential of the soil‐seed bank seems to be limited in its time scale, and only an initial regeneration capacity could be found. A further progressive succession into a secondary afromontane forest depends on an input of diaspores from undisturbed forest sites. Zoochory appears to be one of the most important dispersal mechanisms.     

次生林经营基础研究进展

次生林是中国森林的主体,在结构组成,林木生长,生产力,林分环境等诸多方面与原始林和人工林有着显著的不同,因此,经营好次生林对中国天然林保护等林业工程实施及国家生态安全建设具有重大意义。本文在广泛收集国内外有关次生林研究结果的基础上,探讨了次生林领域中基础研究所涉内容,揭示出次生林经营研究中所关注的基础问题,提出了次生林经营基础研究的主要内容与方向,对今后次生林经营研究和中国天然林保护等林业工程建设具有参考价值。     

防护林学研究现状与展望

防护林学是研究防护林构建及经营的理论与技术的科学, 其核心内容包括防护林构建理论与技术、防护林经营理论与技术和防护林效益评价。防护林学发展的终极目的是构建与经营防护林, 使其防护功能或生态服务功能高效、稳定并可持续。防护林学是偏重实用的应用基础学科, 其发展始终依托防护林工程建设需求, 特别是以国家运作方式开展的大型防护林工程建设, 对推动防护林学发展做出了巨大贡献。国外著名的防护林工程有美国大平原各州林业工程(罗斯福工程)、前苏联斯大林改造大自然计划、日本的治山治水防护林工程和北非五国“绿色坝”跨国防护林工程等。围绕这些工程, 在防护林规划设计、树种选择、空间配置、造林方法, 结构、抚育、间伐、衰退机制与更新, 以及效益评价等各个方面开展了相关研究, 其中, 以效益评价及效益与结构的关系研究最为广泛与深入。中国幅员辽阔、自然条件复杂、森林资源相对匮乏且分布不均、自然环境恶劣, 对防护林的需求极大, 自“三北”防护林体系建设工程启动以来, 中国防护林建设规模已居世界首位, 防护林学在中国得到了长足发展, 尤其在防护林经营理论与技术研究方面取得突破性进展。防护林学以效益评价为桥梁将防护林构建和经营组合在一起, 效益与结构的关系为防护林构建及现有防护林经营提供了科学依据。未来防护林学研究将以更广泛的生态公益林或防护性森林为对象, 在研究方法上将由以林分尺度为主向更微观和更宏观两个方向拓展; 在防护林构建方面, 仍以林学理论与技术为主体, 并重点与生态系统稳定性原理、景观生态学原理相结合, 开展防护林(体系)区域分异规划设计、营建理论与技术研究; 在防护林经营方面, 将以防护林衰退与恢复机制、带状防护林更新和非带状防护林近自然经营理论与技术为重点开展研究; 在效益评价方面, 将采用遥感等技术, 以防护林(体系)、大规模防护林建设的生态环境效应评价等为主要内容开展研究。     

张家界国家森林公园土地利用格局变化

借助地理信息系统（GIS）技术对张家界国家森林公园1990～2000年土地利用格局变化进行了研究。结果表明：（1）1990～2000年问,张家界国家森林公园保护效果显著。近成过熟林面积基本稳定,1990年97．57％的阔叶近成过熟林、96．77％的马尾松近成过熟林和77．92％的杉木近成过熟林至2000年仍保存良好;未利用地恢复较好、灌木林保护较好,25．38％的未利用地、30％以上的灌木林分别转变为阔叶林、马尾松林或杉木林;中龄林、幼龄林保护较好,很大一部分中龄林、幼龄林分别转变为近成过熟林和中龄林。建议继续强化管理,落实《张家界国家森林公园森林经营方案》,避免重经济利益轻生态环境保护现象发生;（2）森林砍伐、农田侵占现象仍然存在。2000年,100％的马尾松幼龄林由1990年马尾松中龄林转变而来,74．06％杉木幼龄林由杉木近成过熟林转变而来,将近10％未利用地由阔叶近成过熟林或阔叶中龄林转变而来。2000年,11．19％居民点及道路与34．82％经济林均由农田转变而来。建议引导社区积极参与生态旅游,通过开展生态旅游切实提高农民收入,减小社区居民对森林公园的胁迫作用;同时注重耕地资源的保护。     

Effects of Clearfell Harvesting on Lucanid Beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) in Wet and Dry Sclerophyll Forests in Tasmania

The effects of commercial forestry harvest and regeneration practices (clearfelling and slash-burning) on the lucanid fauna of the wet sclerophyll forests of southern Tasmania and the dry sclerophyll forests of eastern Tasmania were examined using pitfall catches. Lucanids are saproxylic beetles, dependent on dead, moribund and decaying wood. Samples taken from old-growth forest and from a chronosequence of sites regenerating after logging, in each forest type, were used to compare the species richness and abundance of the lucanid assemblages. In both forest types, species richness and abundance was highest in the youngest regeneration sites (1–3 year), reflecting the species richness of the original and adjacent unlogged forest, lowest in the older (20–25 year) sites, and variable in the old-growth sites. TWINSPAN cluster analysis showed no clear distinction between regeneration and old-growth forest. The post-harvest slash and stump residue provided an important refugium and initial habitat, but our research indicates that some species may not maintain populations in the long term. Our results suggest that most species of lucanids will find a continuous supply of suitable habitat only in old-growth forests; and such species may become less common as clearfell harvesting leads to a replacement of heterogeneous old-growth forest with single-aged monospecific stands. Continuity of supply of wood in all decay stages, the maintenance of sufficient source areas, and biological connectivity between old-growth stands to enable dispersal, are all likely to be essential to maintain lucanid beetle community integrity. If similar principles apply to other saproxylic species of invertebrate, then clearfelling and slash-burning may cause a gradual extinction of an important element of the forest biota.     

Game Vertebrate Densities in Hunted and Nonhunted Forest Sites in Manu National Park,Peru

Manu National Park of southern Peru is one of the most renowned protected areas in the world, yet large-bodied vertebrate surveys conducted to date have been restricted to Cocha Cashu Biological Station, a research station covering <0.06 percent of the 1.7 Mha park. Manu Park is occupied by >460 settled Matsigenka Amerindians, 300–400 isolated Matsigenka, and several, little-known groups of isolated hunter–gatherers, yet the impact of these native Amazonians on game vertebrate populations within the park remains poorly understood. On the basis of 1495 km of standardized line-transect censuses, we present density and biomass estimates for 23 mammal, bird, and reptile species for seven lowland and upland forest sites in Manu Park, including Cocha Cashu. We compare these estimates between hunted and nonhunted sites within Manu Park, and with other Neotropical forest sites. Manu Park safeguards some of the most species-rich and highest biomass assemblages of arboreal and terrestrial mammals ever recorded in Neotropical forests, most likely because of its direct Andean influence and high levels of soil fertility. Relative to Barro Colorado Island, seed predators and arboreal folivores in Manu are rare, and generalist frugivores specializing on mature fruit pulp are abundant. The impact of such a qualitative shift in the vertebrate community on the dynamics of plant regeneration, and therefore, on our understanding of tropical plant ecology, must be profound. Despite a number of external threats, Manu Park continues to serve as a baseline against which other Neotropical forests can be gauged. Abstract in Spanish is available at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/btp .     

A recent history of forest fragmentation in southwestern Ivory Coast

This study provides monitoring and spatial analysis of forest fragmentation based on high-resolution remote sensing, in order to give a framework for assessing residual biodiversity in the Guiglo-Taï region. Massive deforestation has taken place, mainly in the last 20 years, 79% of unprotected forests have been eliminated on the 100 × 100 km study area. Deforestation is also beginning to encroach on protected areas. Forest fragments are mainly found close to the deforestation front. In areas which were first deforested, forest fragments are very scarce and are restricted to less productive soils; they are often severely degraded. Young secondary forests develop on abandoned fields, but primary forest regeneration seems unlikely in light of the distance from seed sources and the increase in population pressure. Conservation initiatives in this zone of high biodiversity should focus on protected areas, taking into account short and long term benefits for the local population.     

中国天然林保护工程区森林覆盖遥感监测

天然林资源保护工程（天保工程）自1998年开始实施至2020年底结束,标志着我国林业由以木材生产为主向以生态建设为主进行转变,对天然林资源开展定量监测与评估,有助于全面、及时、科学地评价天保工程对森林资源的保护成效。基于公开发布的土地覆盖产品,利用新的遥感数据合成算法构建了森林类型综合提升方法,生产了一套我国天保工程区的森林覆盖产品,对天保工程区1997年至2020年间的森林覆盖情况开展监测与评估。利用中国森林生态系统定位研究网络数据（CFERN）、森林资源规划设计调查数据和地面调查数据进行精度检验,森林类型的分类精度优于90%。分析结果显示,自天保工程实施以来,工程区的森林覆盖度总体呈恢复性增长趋势,森林覆盖从1997年的30.15%增长到2020年的31.74%,净增长1.59%,其中,长江上游地区森林增长量最高,占全工程区森林增长面积的50.97%。研究结果表明我国天保工程区内森林资源得到有效保护和恢复,天保工程实施效果显著。     

Effects of forest disturbance on the structure of ground-foraging ant communities in central Amazonia

This study evaluates biotic responses, using ants as bio-indicators, to relatively recent anthropogenic disturbances to mature forest in central Amazonia. The structure of the ground-foraging ant community was compared in four habitats that represented a gradient of disturbance associated with differences in land use. Ants were collected in undisturbed, mature forest, in an abandoned pasture, in a young regrowth forest (situated in a former pasture area), and in an old regrowth forest (established where mature forest was just cleared and abandoned). More ant species were found in mature and old regrowth forest than in the abandoned pasture. By contrast, ant abundance tended to decrease with forest maturity. Both pasture and young regrowth forest exhibited a distinct ant species composition compared to mature forest, whereas species composition in the old regrowth forest showed greater similarity to that of mature forest. In spite of differences in fallow time between former pasture areas and non-pasture areas, there is evidence that different land-management practices do result in different rates of recovery of the ant forest fauna after land abandonment. In any case, recuperation of the ground-foraging ant fauna appears to be faster than regeneration of the woody-plant community. In this sense, regrowth forests may be valuable for the conservation of ground-foraging ants and perhaps for other components of mature-forest leaf-litter fauna within the context of a fragmented landscape.     

林业活动和森林片断化对甲虫多样性的影响及保护对策

森林片断化是造成生物多样性丧失的主要原因之一,而林业活动是导致森林片断化的重要因素,同时也在森林恢复中起重要作用。本文从小尺度、局域尺度以及生物地理尺度（大尺度）3个生态尺度分析林业活动和森林片断化对甲虫多样性的影响。在小尺度下,林业活动能够通过改变森林生境或微生境的类型和特性而影响甲虫物种分布。在局域尺度下,林业活动（尤其是森林砍伐）往往能提高许多甲虫类群（如步甲）的物种丰富度（α多样性）,这主要与来自周围环境物种扩散以及保留了若干耐受新环境能力较强的森林物种有关;然而,对森林生境依赖性很强的特有种受到了森林片断化的负面影响,面临局域种群灭绝的危险。在生物地理尺度下,林业活动（伐木或森林恢复）使森林生境单一化、异质性降低,从而导致对森林生境变化敏感的物种种群数量降低甚至灭绝。基于以上结果,可以归纳出3个基本原则用于指导林业管理,既能保证林业经济收益,又能维持森林生物多样性。首先,保留大面积的原始森林作为特有种的栖息环境基地,为这些物种在将来森林恢复后重新定居提供资源;其次,由于保护区内原始森林面积有限,且所代表的生境类型有限,所以发展依据自然干扰模式的新伐木方法十分必要;最后,依据自然规律（如火灾）进行森林恢复和天然演替,避免森林的单一化,丰富森林生境类型。     

Application of Assisted Natural Regeneration to Restore Degraded Tropical Forestlands

Assisted natural regeneration (ANR) is a simple, low‐cost forest restoration method that can effectively convert deforested lands of degraded vegetation to more productive forests. The method aims to accelerate, rather than replace, natural successional processes by removing or reducing barriers to natural forest regeneration such as soil degradation, competition with weedy species, and recurring disturbances (e.g., fire, grazing, and wood harvesting). Compared to conventional reforestation methods involving planting of tree seedlings, ANR offers significant cost advantages because it reduces or eliminates the costs associated with propagating, raising, and planting seedlings. It is most effectively utilized at the landscape level in restoring the protective functions of forests such as watershed protection and soil conservation. ANR techniques are flexible and allow for the integration of various values such as timber production, biodiversity recovery, and cultivation of crops, fruit trees, and non‐timber forest products in the restored forest. This paper describes the steps of applying ANR and conditions under which it will be most effective. It also discusses ANR’s comparative advantages as well as some of its constraints.     

林窗对格氏栲天然林更新层物种生态位的影响

采用改进更新生态位宽度和更新生态位重叠模型分析林窗干扰对福建三明市格氏栲天然林更新层物种生态位的影响。结果表明:林窗中格氏栲更新生态宽度值大于林下,林窗在促进格氏栲更新过程中具有重要作用。林窗和林下更新生态位宽度最大的为桂北木姜子,其与格氏栲更新生态位重叠值也较大。林窗中的格氏栲与其它物种更新生态位重叠值低于0.6,林窗微生境的异质性导致格氏栲与其它树种间对资源的利用存在明显的共享趋势,促进了物种间共存。林下的格氏栲与木荷、木荚红豆和短尾越桔的更新生态位重叠值均高于0.6,格氏栲与这些物种相互争夺资源与空间,种间竞争较强。格氏栲天然林未来树种组成中,主要由桂北木姜子、木荷、矩圆叶鼠刺与格氏栲等组成的混交群落,整个群落正向物种组成多样化的方向演变。     

Long-Term Impacts of Fuelwood Extraction on a Tropical Montane Cloud Forest

Fuelwood extracted from natural forests serves as a principal energy source in rural regions of many tropical countries. Although fuelwood extraction (even low intensities) might strongly impact the structure and species composition of natural forests, long-term studies remain scarce. Here, we estimate the potential long-term impacts (over several hundred years) of such repeated harvesting of single trees on tropical montane cloud forest in central Veracruz, Mexico, by applying a process-based forest growth model. We simulate a wide range of possible harvesting scenarios differing in wood volume harvested and preferred tree species and sizes, and use a set of indicators to compare their impacts on forest size structure and community composition. Results showed that the overall impact on forest structure and community composition increased linearly with the amount of harvested wood volume. Even at low levels of harvesting, forest size structure became more homogeneous in the long term because large old trees disappeared from the forest, but these changes might take decades or even centuries. Although recruitment of harvested species benefited from harvesting, species composition shifted to tree species that are not used for fuelwood. Our results demonstrate that fuelwood extraction can have marked long-term impacts on tropical montane cloud forests. The results also offer the possibility to support the design of management strategies for the natural species-rich forests that achieve a balance between economic needs and ecological goals of the stakeholders. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Long lasting impact of forest harvesting on the diversity of herbivorous insects

Many of the protected forest areas in Uganda have been subject to logging in the past. It is known that logging changes communities, but how long these changes last is unclear. Most of the studies on butterflies and moths have looked at the effects of logging relatively shortly (<15 years) after the logging took place. In this study we investigated community of herbivorous lepidopteran larvae and its temporal dynamics in a natural forest and three differently managed forest compartments after 40 years of regeneration. We collected samples of larvae from the leaves of Neoboutonia macrocalyx Pax. between April 2006 and March 2008 in Kibale National Park, Western Uganda. Herbivory, density of larvae, and species richness were significantly lower in logged compartments than in natural forest. Furthermore, the community composition differed significantly between the logged compartments and the natural forest. There was seasonal variation in larval density, species richness and diversity. In species richness and diversity the variation was synchronous in all the study areas, but larval density did not vary synchronously across the compartments, probably due to the impact of logging on the environment. We also observed changes in the community composition during different seasons in all the study areas. We attribute the long term impact of logging to the hindered regeneration of logged compartments and recommend restoration activities to help to return the logged areas closer to the natural state.     

山西太岳山油松群落对采伐干扰的生态响应

森林群落受到采伐干扰后的生态响应程度一直是森林生态学领域关注的研究前沿。本文以太岳山的油松林为对象,选择受不同采伐干扰强度和恢复时间的4块样地,通过固定标准地群落的调查获得数据资料,选用丰富度指数、Simpson指数（λ）、Shannon-Wiener指数（H'）、均匀度指数（E1）和Jaccard、Sprenson两种相似性指数,研究油松林对不同采伐方式生态响应,探讨不同采伐干扰强度和恢复时间下油松林生物多样性变化和更新演替规律。研究结果表明：1）受采伐干扰的样地中阳性植物的种类明显增多,随着恢复时间的增长,植物处于生长逐步旺盛、物种逐步丰富的阶段,其种类组成表现出由简单到复杂、由喜阳植物垄断到耐阴种类不断增多、种类由少变多的动态特征。2）适度的择伐可以提高群落整体的多样性,但皆伐则降低了群落的综合物种多样性。3）受相同择伐强度干扰后,群落之间保持了最高的相似性,皆伐干扰使群落环境有了本质的变化,与天然林的物种相似性最低。4）受采伐干扰后形成的次生林内,恢复初期中更新幼苗幼树出现6个树种,主要以油松和辽东栎（Quercus liaodungensi）为主。天然林中的环境最有利于油松幼苗的生长,择伐后恢复初期18a间幼树数量最高,幼苗数量最低,皆伐后更新幼苗幼树数量最少,环境条件最不利于更新。     

Tree communities of different aged logged areas in an Afrotropical rainforest

Predicting the recovery processes in tree communities after logging is critical when developing conservation strategies. We assessed the patterns in tree communities in logged and primary forests in Kibale National Park, Uganda, representing 9‐ to 19‐year‐old clear‐cuts of former conifer plantations, 42‐ to 43‐year‐old logged forests and primary forests. Species density and diversity were lower and dominance higher in the 9‐ to 19‐year‐old forests compared to the 42‐ to 43‐year‐old forests or primary forests. The tree species density, diversity and dominance of 42‐ to 43‐year‐old forests did not differ significantly from primary forests. However, they had a lower stem density, and higher cover of Acanthus pubescens, a shrub known to arrest the succession in Kibale. The tree community compositions of 9‐ to 19‐year‐old, 42‐ to 43‐year‐old and primary forests differed from each other. A large group of tree species (21) were primary forest indicators, that is, they were either missing or relatively rare in logged forests. The results of this study show that even after four decades of natural recovery, logged Afrotropical forests can still be distinguished from primary forests in their tree community compositions, emphasizing the slow community recovery and the important role of primary forests when preserving the tree communities in tropical rainforests.     

Lowland tapirs facilitate seed dispersal in degraded Amazonian forests

The forests of southeastern Amazonia are highly threatened by disturbances such as fragmentation, understory fires, and extreme climatic events. Large‐bodied frugivores such as the lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) have the potential to offset this process, supporting natural forest regeneration by dispersing a variety of seeds over long distances to disturbed forests. However, we know little about their effectiveness as seed dispersers in degraded forest landscapes. Here, we investigate the seed dispersal function of lowland tapirs in Amazonian forests subject to a range of human (fire and fragmentation) and natural (extreme droughts and windstorms) disturbances, using a combination of field observations, camera traps, and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data. Tapirs travel and defecate more often in degraded forests, dispersing much more seeds in these areas [9,822 seeds per ha/year (CI_95% = 9,106; 11,838)] than in undisturbed forests [2,950 seeds per ha/year (CI_95% = 2,961; 3,771)]. By effectively dispersing seeds across disturbed forests, tapirs may contribute to natural forest regeneration—the cheapest and usually the most feasible way to achieve large‐scale restoration of tropical forests. Through the dispersal of large‐seeded species that eventually become large trees, such frugivores also contribute indirectly to maintaining forest carbon stocks. These functions may be critical in helping tropical countries to achieve their goals to maintain and restore biodiversity and its ecosystem services. Ultimately, preserving these animals along with their habitats may help in the process of natural recovery of degraded forests throughout the tropics. Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.     

云南宁蒗县小凉山的三尖杉林

本文报道滇西北宁蒗县的三尖杉天然森林群落的特征和树种。这种森林分布于海拔2300—2500米的喀斯特河谷。具有两个乔木层,其中乔木亚层是优势层,由三尖杉组成。林内共有58科84属95种维管束植物。主要是喜钙的和湿润生的生态类型。森林生态的和植物群落的特征反映出森林从亚热带向暖温带的过渡性。同时,该林具有较好的自然更新能力。