Skip to main content
WCS
Menu
Library
Library Catalog
eJournals & eBooks
WCS Research
Archives
Research Use
Finding Aids
Digital Collections
WCS History
WCS Research
Research Publications
Science Data
Services for WCS Researchers
Archives Shop
Bronx Zoo
Department of Tropical Research
Browse By Product
About Us
FAQs
Intern or Volunteer
Staff
Donate
Search WCS.org
Search
search
Popular Search Terms
WCS History
Library and Archives
Library and Archives Menu
Library
Archives
WCS Research
Archives Shop
About Us
Donate
en
fr
Title
Biomass accumulation in tropical lands with different disturbance histories: Contrasts within one landscape and across regions
Author(s)
Omeja, P. A.;Obua, J.;Rwetsiba, A.;Chapman, C. A.
Published
2012
Publisher
Forest Ecology and Management
Published Version DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2011.12.044
Abstract
Large areas of tropical forests have been converted to agricultural land and subsequently abandoned. If restoration can occur on these abandoned lands, it offers great potential for biodiversity recovery, carbon sequestration, and enhanced ecosystem services. To understand the interaction between different forms of anthropogenic degradation and restoration strategies we examined biomass accumulation at two different scales. First, using small scale comparisons where the tree species pool, climate, and dispersers were similar, we quantified regeneration in degraded sites in Kibale National Park, Uganda subjected to different restoration strategies. Second, we contrasted biomass accumulation for 57 tropical studies where the nature and time since disturbance differed. The above ground biomass of 10-32. year old forest in Kibale ranged from 15,675 to 34,294. kg/ha and was a function of the type of the management strategy used to promote regeneration. The above ground biomass accumulation from other tropical sites ranged extensively; from 470. kg/ha in an 8. year old abandoned pasture in Brazil to 272,000. kg/ha in a 16. year old abandoned agricultural field in Mexico. Overall, the time since abandonment was a good predictor of biomass accumulation. This review demonstrates that once left to regenerate, secondary forests accumulate above ground biomass in a very positive manner; however, the speed of biomass accumulation can be facilitated by site-specific restoration strategies. Both the cost and efficiency of different restoration strategies vary dramatically and our research in Kibale suggests that making larger financial investments does not necessarily result in more positive biomass accumulation. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.
Keywords
Anthropogenic disturbance;Biomass accumulation;Carbon sequestration;Regeneration rate;Restoration
Access Full Text
A full-text copy of this article may be available. Please email the
WCS Library
to request.
Back
PUB14454