Tropical Native Species Reforestation Information Clearinghouse (TRIC)

Resource Details

Early growth performance of native and introduced fast growing tree species in wet to sub-humid climates of the Southern region of Costa Rica

Calvo-Alvarado, J.C., Arias, D. & Richter, D.D. 2007, "Early growth performance of native and introduced fast growing tree species in wet to sub-humid climates of the Southern region of Costa Rica", Forest Ecology and Management, vol. 242, no. 2-3, pp. 227-235

Contact Info

Corresponding Author: jucalvo@itcr.ac.cr

Affiliations

• Escuela de Ingeniería Forestal, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR), Cartago, Costa Rica
• Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. USA

Link(s)

Forest Ecology & Management

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Species Info

• Gmelina arborea (exotic)
• Vochysia ferruginea
• Vochysia guatemalensis
• Hieronyma alchorneoides
• Calophyllum brasiliense
• Schizolobium parahyba
• Terminalia amazonia

Description

• The authors present information on the growth of seven-year old native tree species planted in abandon pasture with low fertility acid soils in the southern pacific region of Costa Rica.
• They evaluated trees in four different ecoregions of varying elevation and precipitation.
• The exotic Gmelina arborea had the highest height growth in 3 of the four ecoregions, but also exhibits the greatest different in maximum and minimum yield.
• Vochysia guatemalensis was more stable and had the highest growth of the native species, but still was only 46% of the growth of G. arborea and 60% of Pinus Caribaea.
• P. caribaea had high growth except in the high-moisture conditions of one eco-region. Calophyllum brasiliense and Schizolobium parabyba had high mortality rates.
• The other native species (Vochysia ferruginea, Vochysia guatemalensis, Hieronyma alchorneoides, Terminalia amazonia) had good potential for reforestation.
• In areas with high moisture, the difference between species was less significant, whereas in the areas with more dry seasons and lower rainfall, the exotic species greatly outperformed the native species.

Related Publications and Projects

• Butler, R., Montagnini, F., & Arroyo, P. 2008. "Woody understory plant diversity in pure and mixed native tree plantations at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica", Forest Ecology and Management, Vol. 25, No. 7, pp. 2251-2263.
• Butterfield, R.P. & Mariano, E.C. 1995, "Screening trial of 14 tropical hardwoods with an emphasis on species native to Costa Rica: Fourth year results", New Forests, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 135-145.
• Butterfield, R.P. 1995, "Promoting biodiversity: advances in evaluating native species for reforestation", Forest Ecology and Management, vol. 75, no. 1-3, pp. 111-121.
• Butterfield, R.P. 1996, "Early species selection for tropical reforestation: A consideration of stability", Forest Ecology and Management, vol. 81, no. 1-3, pp. 161-168.
• Byard, R., Lewis, K.C. & Montagnini, F. 1996, "Leaf litter decomposition and mulch performance from mixed and monospecific plantations of native tree species in Costa Rica", Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, vol. 58, no. 2-3, pp. 145-155.
• Carnevale, N.J. & Montagnini, F. 2002, "Facilitating regeneration of secondary forests with the use of mixed and pure plantations of indigenous tree species", Forest Ecology and Management, vol. 163, no. 1-3, pp. 217-227.
• Cusack, D. & Montagnini, F. 2004, "The role of native species plantations in recovery of understory woody diversity in degraded pasturelands of Costa Rica", Forest Ecology and Management, vol. 188, no. 1-3, pp. 1-15.
• Eugenio González, J. & Fisher, R.F. 1994, "Growth of native forest species planted on abandoned pasture land in Costa Rica", Forest Ecology and Management, vol. 70, no. 1-3, pp. 159-167.
• Guariguata, M.R., Rheingans, R. & Montagnini, F. 1995, "Early Woody Invasion Under Tree Plantations in Costa Rica: Implications for Forest Restoration", Restoration Ecology, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 252-260.
• Haggar, J.P., Briscoe, C.B. & Butterfield, R.P. 1998, "Native species: a resource for the diversification of forestry production in the lowland humid tropics", Forest Ecology and Management, vol. 106, no. 2-3, pp. 195-203.
• Hummel, S. 2000, "Understory development in young Cordia alliodora plantations", New Forests, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 159-170.
• Kelm, D.H., Wiesner, K.R. & Helversen, O.V. 2008, "Effects of Artificial Roosts for Frugivorous Bats on Seed Dispersal in a Neotropical Forest Pasture Mosaic", Conservation Biology, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 733-741.
• La Selva Biological Station - Reforestation Project
• Montagnini, F. 2001, “Strategies for the recovery of degraded ecosystems: Experiences from Latin America”, Interciencia, vol. 26, no. 10, pp. 498-503.
• Piotto, D., Craven, D., Montagnini, F., and Alice, F. 2010, “Silvicultural and economic aspects of pure and mixed native tree species plantations on degraded pasturelands in humid Costa Rica”, New Forests, vol. 39, pp. 369-385.

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