Abstract
Neglecting conservation value of degraded tropical landscapes? Tree diversity following shifting cultivation in the upland Philippines
51st Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation Annual Meeting Book of Abstracts
Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) Annual Meeting: The future of Tropical Biology and Conservation, 51st (Cairns, Australia, 20-Jul-2014–24-Jul-2014)
2014
Abstract
The Philippines archipelago is one of the global biodiversity hotspot with many endemic species. The country also experienced one of the highest rates of deforestation in Southeast Asia. Shifting cultivation, locally known as kaingin is common in upland areas of Philippines and regarded as one of the main drivers of deforestation and forest degradation. Reforestation using mixed and sometimes with exotic species is a common measure to replenish such degraded landscapes across the country. Such type of efforts however requires commitments from different institutions as well as a secure financial investment. Secondary growth following disturbances in such context could offer an easy way of forest restoration though their effectiveness for biodiversity conservation has rarely been tested. We investigated tree diversity along a kaingin fallow chronosequence. Fallow areas that have been abandoned for 0-5 years, 6-10 years, 11-20 years and 21-30 years were inventoried. Additionally secondary forests with no prior history of kaingin were investigated. Altogether we measured 2918 tree individuals from 100 transects of 250 m2 (50 m x 5 m) size laid in 25 individual sites. We found 131 tree species belonging to 46 families. Among the species 42 were endemic, 80 were native and 5 were exotic. Also, 10 of the identified species were critically endangered, followed by 1 endangered and 12 vulnerable. Surprisingly we found that, secondary forests after 6-10 years of abandonment after kaingin could restore most of its tree diversity as compared to undisturbed forest and therefore could be considered as a cost-effective restoration approach.
Details
- Title
- Neglecting conservation value of degraded tropical landscapes? Tree diversity following shifting cultivation in the upland Philippines
- Authors
- Sharif A Mukul (Author) - University of QueenslandJohn L Herbohn (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringJennifer Firn (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
- Publication details
- 51st Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation Annual Meeting Book of Abstracts
- Conference details
- Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) Annual Meeting: The future of Tropical Biology and Conservation, 51st (Cairns, Australia, 20-Jul-2014–24-Jul-2014)
- Publisher
- Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation
- Date published
- 2014
- Organisation Unit
- Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; Tropical Forests and People Research Centre; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Forest Research Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99449930702621
- Output Type
- Abstract
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