Non‐Timber Forest Products Integrated with Natural Forest Management, Rio San Juan, Nicaragua

Abstract

In the Atlantic lowland tropical rainforests of the Rio San Juan region, Nicaragua, we are conducting applied vegetation community analyses within an attempt to integrate non—timber forest products with natural forest management. Two long—term sampling plots were evaluated: one primary tropical rainforest plot before and 1 yr after selective logging, and another plot 9 yr after selective logging with and without Hutchinson Liberation Silviculture treatment (in which selected young trees are released from competition for light). The purpose of the study was to evaluate changes in community ecology variables with logging, damage, regeneration, and silviculture, both for useful plant species and for the plant community as a whole, and to evaluate the potential for incorporating non—timber forest product management with silvicultural management. One year after logging there was an increase in species (from 19± 5 to 33± 10 species/10m2) and density (from 42 ± 19 to 120 ± 60 plants/10m2) due to establishment or increase of secondary species (vines, grasses, balsa, cecropia) and to seedling regeneration after logging. The more severe the logging damage the more severe were the effects on some variables, particularly increased densities of vines and secondary species. Forest plots 9 yr post—harvest appeared to be returning to pre—harvest levels of species (28 ± 6 species/10m2) and density (76 ± 21 plants/10m2). Hutchinson Liberation Silviculture, while promoting growth of desired timber, did not significantly affect either non—timber forest products or the basic physiognomy of the forest. These results are contrasted with other silvicultural systems, particularly the Hartshorn Strip Clearcut, in which regeneration was dominated by resprouts and the proportion of vines was even higher. Hutchinson Liberation Silviculture provides the potential for simultaneous management of non—timber forest products, and moreover, non—timber forest product management holds the potential for significantly reinforcing silvicultural management.

Hacia un manejo múltiple en bosques tropicales: Consideraciones sobre la compatibilidad del manejo de madera y productos forestales no maderables

“…En las tierras bajas de Nicaragua, Salick et al (1995) observaron que la densidad de plantas leñosas localmente útiles fue similar entre parcelas aprovechadas y no aprovechadas. Del mismo modo, nueve años después de la aplicación de tala de impacto reducido en un bosque montano de Costa Rica, la biomasa aprovechable de epífitas no vasculares (un PFNM de importancia local), igualaba a la de parcelas adyacentes, no aprovechadas (Romero 1999).…”

Commercialisation of non-timber forest products: review and analysis of research

“…One of the most carefully designed research experiments on the production and regeneration of NTFPs within timber management was conducted in the Atlantic lowland tropical rainforests of the Rio San Juan region of Nicaragua (Salick et al 1995). The intent of the study was to quantify the abundance, density and diversity of NTFPs before and after logging and evaluate the potential for incorporating their management with silvicultural treatments.…”

“…What is the best timing to apply treatments for optimal results for both timber and NTFP production? Field experiments, such as that conducted by Salick et al (1995) in Nicaragua, are essential for to address these types of issues. However, promising management strategies can also be acquired from studies by ecologists on tropical forest dynamics (e.g.…”

Growth pattern of Prinsepia. utilis (Bhenkal) at different girth classes growing naturally at inner Himalayan region

“…Several non-timber forest products (NTFP) are able to withstand higher harvest levels and have greater capacities for regeneration in secondary forests than in primary forests, due to availability of their more light (Siebert, 2000;Svenning, 2002;Ticktin et al,2003). Despite the fact that non-timber species are often harvested in conjunction with logging operations, there exists little ecological data on how these types of extraction interact (Salick et al, 1995). Rates of growth and reproduction of NTFP growing in agro forestry systems, enhancement forest plantings and home gardens may also differ significantly from those in unmanaged forest environments, due to differences in availability of light (Velasquez-Runk, 1998) in intraspecific competition (Ticktin et al, 2003), or in a combination of factors (Martinez-Ballestéet et al, 2002).…”