Abstract

RAMIREZ SANTIAGO, Rosario et al. Effects of forest management on the repopulation of Pinus spp. in the Northern Sierra of Oaxaca, Mexico. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2015, vol.6, n.32, pp.49-62. ISSN 2007-1132.

The natural repopulation of pine species must be regarded as a major complement of reforestation in areas under forest management in the temperate forests of Mexico. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of regenerative clear-cutting combined with the burning of residues on the soil seed bank, as well as on the emergence and survival of Pinus spp . seedlings in the community of La Trinidad , in the State of Oaxaca . In the year 2009, circular 100 m2 sites were established at random in two intervened areas using the clear-cutting method, accompanied in one of these by the burning of residues. The soil seed bank and seedling emergence and survival were analyzed in the two sites. Both the seed bank and the number of seedlings proved smaller in the area where the residues were burnt. There were no statistical differences in the survival rate between the two areas after the first year. It was concluded that the burning of residues is not a practice that promotes the natural repopulation of pine species in the study area; quite the opposite: it produces adverse effects on the recruiting of new individuals.

Keywords : Seed bank; emergence; forest management; clear-cutting; burning of residues; survival.