Abstract
Selecting suitable species is the most important issue for bare land reforestation, degraded secondary forest restoration, and single-species plantation transformation. However, little information has been documented related to tree species selection for these silvicultural endeavors on tropical Hainan Island of Southern China. The present study employed Baisha County, the ecological core area of Hainan Island, as a case study area. We initially inventoried a slightly disturbed primary forest and attempted to produce diameter distribution curves for each tree species. Second, the tree species were classified into shade intolerant, opportunist, and shade tolerant species based on shape of their diameter distribution curves. Third, market value was determined for each tree species based on published literature and on-site investigations at local wood trading companies. Totally 118 tree species were encountered in the inventoried forest and 13 tree species present were finally identified as potential tree species for our silvicultural endeavor on Hainan Island, of which 3 species are shade intolerant, 5 species are opportunist and 5 species are shade tolerant. Additionally, we also selected 12 tree species that were not in the inventoried forest but were extremely economically valuable and ecologically important. This study should contribute to the formulation of a sustainable forest management strategy on Hainan Island and the methodology might be replicated in other tropical region where suitable species also need to be identified for silvicultural endeavor.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams T, Graeme A, Glenn M (2011) Understanding plantation transformation using a size-structured spatial population model. Forest Ecology and Management 261(3): 799–809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2010.10.036
Aide TM, Zimmerman JK, Pascarella JB, et al. (2000) Forest regeneration in a chronosequence of tropical abandoned pastures: implications for restoration ecology. Restoration ecology 8(4): 328–338. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1526-100x.2000.80048.x
Ashton MS, Gunatilleke CVS, Singhakumara BMP, et al. (2001) Restoration pathways for rain forest in southwest Sri Lanka: a review of concepts and models. Forest Ecology and Management 154(3): 409–430. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(01)00512-6
Bauhus J, Winden APV, Nicotra AB. (2004) Aboveground interactions and productivity in mixed-species plantations of Acacia mearnsii and Eucalyptus globulus. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 34(3): 686–694. https://doi.org/10.1139/x03-243
Bonino EE, Araujo P (2005) Structural differences between a primary and a secondary forest in the Argentine Dry Chaco and management implications. Forest Ecology and Management 206(1): 407–412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2004.11.009
Bouillet JP, Laclau JP, Gonçalves JLM, et al. (2008) Mixedspecies plantations of Acacia mangium and Eucalyptus grandis in Brazil: 2: Nitrogen accumulation in the stands and biological N2 fixation. Forest Ecology and Management 255(12): 3918–3930. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2007.10.050
Chazdon RL (2014) Second growth: the promise of tropical forest regeneration in an age of deforestation: University of Chicago Press. https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226118109.001.0001
Corbin JD, Holl KD (2012) Applied nucleation as a forest restoration strategy. Forest Ecology and Management 265:37–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2011.10.013
Felton A, Lindbladh M, Brunet J, et al. (2010) Replacing coniferous monocultures with mixed-species production stands: an assessment of the potential benefits for forest biodiversity in northern Europe. Forest Ecology and Management 260(6): 939–947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2010.06.011
Forrester DI, Bauhus J, Cowie AL (2006a) Carbon allocation in a mixed-species plantation of Eucalyptus globulus and Acacia mearnsii. Forest Ecology and Management 233(2): 275–284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2006.05.018
Forrester DI, Bauhus J, Cowie AL, et al. (2006b) Mixed-species plantations of Eucalyptus with nitrogen-fixing trees: a review. Forest Ecology and Management 233(2): 211–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2006.05.012
Forrester DI (2004) Mixed-species plantations of nitrogen fixing and non-nitrogen-fixing trees.The Australian National University.
Foster DR, Orwlg DA, McLachlan JS (1996) Ecological and conservation insights from reconstructive studies of temperate old-growth forests. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 11(10): 419–424. https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-5347(96)10047-1
Gärtner S, Reif A (2004) The impact of forest transformation on stand structure and ground vegetation in the southern Black Forest, Germany. Plant and soil 264 (1–2): 35–51. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:PLSO.0000047751.25915.77
Haggar J, Wightman K, Fisher R.(1997). The potential of plantations to foster woody regeneration within a deforested landscape in lowland Costa Rica. Forest Ecology and Management 99(1): 55–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(97)00194-1
Hao JH, Tao JP, Zhao K, et al. (2011) The Effects of Lianas on Community Structure and Regeneration of Vatica astrotricha Plantations in Bawangling Nature Reserve,Hainan Province,China. Journal of Southwest University 33(2): 6. (In Chinese). https://doi.org/10.13718/j.cnki.xdzk.2011.02.008
Hao ZQ, Zhang J, Song B, et al. (2007) Vertical structure and spatial associations of dominant tree species in an old-growth temperate forest. Forest Ecology and Management 252(1): 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2007.06.026
Harmer R, Kiewitt A, Morgan G (2012) Effects of overstorey retention on ash regeneration and bramble growth during conversion of a pine plantation to native broadleaved woodland. European Journal of Forest Research 131(6): 1833–1843. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-012-0636-3
Haywoo A (2002) Growth of advanced European beech trees in the transformation phase in the southern Black Forest. Dissertationsschrift, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg.
He YJ, Qin L, Li ZY, et al. (2013) Carbon storage capacity of monoculture and mixed-species plantations in subtropical China. Forest Ecology and Management 295: 193–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2013.01.020
Hill JL, Curran PJ (2003) Area, shape and isolation of tropical forest fragments: effects on tree species diversity and implications for conservation. Journal of Biogeography 30(9): 1391–1403. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2699.2003.00930.x
Holl KD, Loik ME, Lin EHV, et al. (2000) Tropical montane forest restoration in Costa Rica: overcoming barriers to dispersal and establishment. Restoration Ecology 8(4): 339–349. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1526-100x.2000.80049.x
Huang, XR, Guo PP, Wu WW, et al. (2016) Influence of simulated nitrogen deposition enhancement on soil microbial community of different tree species. Chinese Journal of Ecology 35(6): 1420–1426. https://doi.org/10.13292/j.1000-4890.201606.025
Kelty MJ (2006) The role of species mixtures in plantation forestry. Forest Ecology and Management 233(2): 195–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2006.05.011
Lamb D, Erskine PD, Parrotta JA (2005) Restoration of degraded tropical forest landscapes. Science 310 (5754): 1628–1632. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1111773
Lamprecht H (1989) Silviculture in the tropics: tropical forest ecosystems and their tree species: possibilities and methods for their long-term utilization: Eschborn, DE: GTZ.
Larsen JB (1995) Ecological stability of forests and sustainable silviculture. Forest Ecology and Management 73(1): 85–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-1127(94)03501-M
Leopold AC, Andrus R, Finkeldey A, et al. (2001) Attempting restoration of wet tropical forests in Costa Rica. Forest Ecology and Management 142(1): 243–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(00)00354-6
Li, WH. (2004) Degradation and restoration of forest ecosystems in China. Forest Ecology and Management 201(1): 33–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2004.06.010
Li YD, Zeng QB, Wu ZM, et al. (1999) Research on Benefits of Three Agroforestry Systems in Jianfengling, Hainan Island. Forest Research 12(2): 7. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.13275/j.cnki.lykxyj.1999.02.005
Liang JZ (1999) Indigenous tree species on Haina Island. Tropical Forestry 27 (1): 4. (In Chinese)
Liao LP, Zhao SD (1999) Theoretical and practical approaches to ecosystem management of Chinese fir plantations. Resource science 21(4): 4. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.3321/j.issn:1007-7588.1999.04.001
Liu, JG, Linderman M, Ouyang ZY, et al. (2001) Ecological degradation in protected areas: the case of Wolong Nature Reserve for giant pandas. Science 292(5514): 98–101. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1058104
Long WX, Zang RG, Ding Y, et al. (2013) Effects of competition and facilitation on species assemblage in two types of tropical cloud forest. Plos One 8(4): e60252. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0060252
Lu, SY, Cheng JD, Brooks KN (2001) Managing forests for watershed protection in Taiwan. Forest Ecology and Management 143(1–3): 77–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-1127(00)00507-7
Lugo AE (1997) The apparent paradox of reestablishing species richness on degraded lands with tree monocultures. Forest Ecology and Management 99(1): 9–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(97)00191-6
Malcolm DC, Mason WL, Clarke GC (2001). The transformation of conifer forests in Britain—regeneration, gap size and silvicultural systems. Forest Ecology and Management 151(1): 7–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(00)00692-7
Mansourian S, Lamb D, Gilmour D (2005) Overview of technical approaches to restoring tree cover at the site level, Forest Restoration in Landscapes: Springer. pp. 241–249. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-29112-1_35
McLeod KW (2000) Species selection trials and silvicultural techniques for the restoration of bottomland hardwood forests. Ecological Engineering 15: S35–S46. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925-8574(99)00070-1
Meng JH, Lu YC, Lei XD, et al. (2011) Structure and floristics of tropical forests and their implications for restoration of degraded forests of China’s Hainan Island. Tropical Ecology 52(2): 177–191.
Meng JH, Lu YC, Zeng J (2014) Transformation of a degraded pinus massoniana plantation into a mixed-species irregular forest: Impacts on stand structure and growth in southern China. Forests 5(12): 3199–3221. https://doi.org/10.3390/f5123199
O’Hara K (2014) Multiaged silviculture: managing for complex forest stand structures: Oxford University Press, USA.
Paquette A, Hawryshyn J, Senikas AV, et al. (2009) Enrichment planting in secondary forests: a promising clean development mechanism to increase terrestrial carbon sinks. Ecology & Society 14(1): 31. https://doi.org/10.5751/es-02781-140131
Parrotta, JA, Turnbull JW, Jones N (1997) Catalyzing native forest regeneration on degraded tropical lands. Forest Ecology and Management 99(1): 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(97)00190-4
Petit B, Montagnini F (2006) Growth in pure and mixed plantations of tree species used in reforesting rural areas of the humid region of Costa Rica, Central America. Forest Ecology and Management 233(2): 338–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2006.05.030
Piotto D, Craven D, Montagnini F, et al. (2010) Silvicultural and economic aspects of pure and mixed native tree species plantations on degraded pasturelands in humid Costa Rica. New Forests 39(3): 369–385. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-009-9177-0
Poorter L (2004) Biodiversity of West African forests: an ecological atlas of woody plant species: CABI.
Quoc HP (2008) Structure and Light Factor in Differently Logged Moist Forests in Vu Quang-Huong Son, Vietnam: Cuvillier Verlag.
Redondo-Brenes A, Montagnini F (2006) Growth, productivity, aboveground biomass, and carbon sequestration of pure and mixed native tree plantations in the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica. Forest Ecology and Management 232(1): 168–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2006.05.067
Reid JL, Harris JBC, Zahawi RA (2012) Avian habitat preference in tropical forest restoration in southern Costa Rica. Biotropica 44(3): 350–359. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7429.2011.00814.x
Richards AE, Forrester DI, Bauhus J, et al. (2010) The influence of mixed tree plantations on the nutrition of individual species: a review. Tree Physiology 30(9): 1192–1208. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpq035
Richards P W.(1996) The tropical rain forest. An ecological study. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
Rothe A, Binkley D (2001) Nutritional interactions in mixed species forests: a synthesis. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 31(11): 1855–1870. https://doi.org/10.1139/x01-120
Schroth G (1995) Tree root characteristics as criteria for species selection and systems design in agroforestry, Agroforestry: Science, Policy and Practice: Springer. pp. 125–143. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0681-0_6
Seeling U (2001) Transformation of plantation forests— expected wood properties of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) within the period of stand stabilisation. Forest Ecology and Management 151(1): 195–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(00)00708-8
SFA (2014) Report of forest resources in China (2009–2013). Beijing: China Forestry Press. (In Chinese)
Shao QH (2003) An Elucidation to Nature-approximating Forestry and Forestry Target. World Forestry Research 16(6): 1–5. https://doi.org/10.13348/j.cnki.sjlyyj.2003.06.001
Shono K, Cadaweng EA, Durst PB (2007) Application of assisted natural regeneration to restore degraded tropical forestlands. Restoration Ecology 15(4): 620–626. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2007.00274.x
Song CH, Zhang YX (2009) Forest cover in China from 1949 to 2006, Reforesting Landscapes: Springer. pp. 341–356. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9656-3_15
Song XZ, Huang LS, Li YM (1980) The study on mineral nutrition diognostics of Homalium hainanense plantation. SCIENTIA SILVAE SINICAE 16(3): 9. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9656-3_15
Stone R (2009) Nursing China’s ailing forests back to health. Science 325(5940): 556–558. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.325_556
Swaine MD, Hall JB (1983) Early succession on cleared forest land in Ghana. Journal of Ecology 71(2):601–627. https://doi.org/10.2307/2259737
Wang QK, Wang SL, Huang Y (2008) Comparisons of litterfall, litter decomposition and nutrient return in a monoculture Cunninghamia lanceolata and a mixed stand in southern China. Forest Ecology and Management 255(3): 1210–1218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2007.10.026
Wang XL, Zhao J, Wu JP, et al. (2011) Impacts of understory species removal and/or addition on soil respiration in a mixed forest plantation with native species in southern China. Forest Ecology and Management 261(6): 1053–1060. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2010.12.027
Wetzel S, Burgess D (2001) Understorey environment and vegetation response after partial cutting and site preparation in Pinus strobus L. stands. Forest Ecology and Management 151(1): 43–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(00)00695-2
Weyerhaeuser H, Andreas W, Fredrich K (2005) Local impacts and responses to regional forest conservation and rehabilitation programs in China’s northwest Yunnan province. Agricultural Systems 85(3): 234–253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2005.06.008
Xing Y (2004) A primary anatomical study on the wood of Vatica astrotricha plantation. Bulletin of Botanical Research 24(2): 4. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1673-5102.2004.02.011
Yang YS, Guo JF, Chen GS, et al. (2009) Effects of forest conversion on soil labile organic carbon fractions and aggregate stability in subtropical China. Plant and Soil 323(1–2): 153–162. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-009-9921-4
Yin RS (1998) Forestry and the environment in China: the current situation and strategic choices. World development 26(12): 2153–2167. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0305-750x(98)00106-5
Zhao ZZ (2001) Status and perspectives on secondary forests in tropical China. Journal of Tropical Forest Science 13(4): 639–651.
Zeng WS, Tomppo E, Healey SP, et al. (2015) The national forest inventory in China: history-results-international context. Forest Ecosystems 2(1): 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40663-015-0047-2
Zhang, XQ, Xu DY (2003) Potential carbon sequestration in China’s forests. Environmental Science & Policy 6(5): 421–432. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1462-9011(03)00072-8
Zhang, YQ, Uusivuori J, Kuuluvainen J (2000) Econometric analysis of the causes of forest land use changes in Hainan, China. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 30(12): 1913–1921. https://doi.org/10.1139/x00-123
Zhao HY, Kang XG, Guo ZQ, et al. (2012) Species Interactions in Spruce-Fir Mixed Stands and Implications for Enrichment Planting in the Changbai Mountains, China. Mountain Research and Development 32(2): 187–196. https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-11-00125.1
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to CHEN Min, GUO Dong-ce and HE Hui for their assistance in the field work. This study was supported by National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFC0505604).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Electronic supplementary material
11629_2018_4861_MOESM1_ESM.pdf
Identifying indigenous tree species for land reforestation, forest restoration, and plantation transformation in Hainan Island, China
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, Jj., Meng, Jh. Identifying indigenous tree species for land reforestation, forest restoration, and plantation transformation on Hainan Island, China. J. Mt. Sci. 15, 2433–2444 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-018-4861-1
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-018-4861-1