The Rain Forest in Tropical America: Forest Dynamics, Reforestation, Seed Handling, and Problems of Management
During our lifetime we are seeing the high evergreen rain forests of tropical America being destroyed at overwhelming speed. There is still a considerable lack of basic knowledge about forest dynamics and proper management for this complex type of plant community. The understanding of the natural regeneration processes that take place after spontaneous gap formations in the mature forest is shedding light on this matter. The role of the fast-growing but short-living pioneer trees that first colonize light gaps in the reestablishment of the forest environment may be decisive in the development of management and reforestation techniques using native species. Seed storage and handling is difficult for most valuable timber and fruit species due to the high moisture content and rapid metabolic rate of most rain forest seed species. This creates a lack in both the availability of seeds of native trees for reforestation and the creation and maintenance of nurseries. Much more research is needed in order to solve these problems. Tree Planters' Notes 43(4):114-118; 1992.
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Author(s): Carlos Vazquez-Yanes, Alma Orozco-Segovia
Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volumes 43, Number 4 (1992)
Section: Invited Peer-Reviewed Review Articles
Volume: 43
Number: 4
