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  1. Cutover tropical forest productivity potential merits assessment, Puerto Rico

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    Author(s): Frank H. Wadsworth; Brynne Bryan; Julio Figueroa-Colón
    Date: 2010
    Source: Bois et Forets des Tropiques. 305(3):33-41
    Publication Series: Scientific Journal (JRNL)
    Station: International Institute of Tropical Forestry
    PDF: Download Publication  (1.0 MB)

    Description

    Timber extraction continues to add to vast cutover tropical forests. They are unattractive economically because of the loss of merchantable timber and the long delay foreseen for recovery. Despite this, wood in cutover tropical forests is in line to become more marketable as demand continues and old-growth forests become less accessible. In a cutover forest in Puerto Rico a well formed immature trees of timber species was found. They were ubiquitous, growing throughout the foothills of a mountain on both convex and concave land surfaces, on steep as well as low slopes, and exposed to prevailing winds as well as protected. Higher tree productivity generally accompanied freedom from competitors, crown exposure, or crown size. One quarter of these trees, apparently enough for a second crop, had been producing at more than double the rate of the rest, approaching maturity in half the time. Appreciation of this potential might prevent wanton conversion of cutover forests to other land uses.

    Publication Notes

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    • This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and is therefore in the public domain.

    Citation

    Wadsworth, Frank H.; Bryan, Brynne; Figueroa-Colón, Julio. 2010. Cutover tropical forest productivity potential merits assessment, Puerto Rico. Bois et Forets des Tropiques. 305(3):33-41.

    Keywords

    tree productivity, tree competition, tropical forest, cutover forest, forest site, Puerto Rico.

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