Predicting site productivity of the timber tree Pterocarpus angolensis

Vera De Cauwer; Esther Fichtler; Hans Beeckman; F. Patrick Graz; Jan Mertens; Sam Van Holsbeeck; Bart Muys

doi:10.2989/20702620.2016.1256042

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Predicting site productivity of the timber tree Pterocarpus angolensis

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Predicting site productivity of the timber tree Pterocarpus angolensis

Vera De Cauwer, Esther Fichtler, Hans Beeckman, F. Patrick Graz, Jan Mertens, Sam Van Holsbeeck and Bart Muys

Southern Forests, Vol.79(3), pp.259-268

2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2989/20702620.2016.1256042

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Abstract

basal area

boosted regression trees

diameter growth

miombo

site form

Pterocarpus angolensis is an important timber tree of the miombo woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. The species only grows in natural mixed forests and little is known about is productivity potential. This study aimed at investigating productivity of P. angolensis on a local scale in Namibia and Angola and on a regional scale in southern Africa. The most commonly accepted productivity indicator is stem diameter increment and this was used to study productivity at a regional scale. Indicators of productivity used at the local scale were basal area, proportional basal area and site form, which were derived from 217 forest inventory plots in Namibia and Angola. The productivity measures were modelled with abiotic site factors; biotic factors were added for the local scale. Results indicated that the most consistent site factors at local and regional scale were not related to climate but to forest cover, with the species having a competitive advantage in more open forests. Mean annual diameter increment in the open forests of Namibia was 0.51 cm after 50 years. Boosted regression tree models at a local scale showed that species presence can be modelled more successfully than species basal area, proportional basal area (correlation of 0.72 vs 0.56 and 0.45, respectively) and site form. The sites with the highest productivity of P. angolensis at the local scale had a temperature seasonality below 34.5 degrees C, a slope of less than 1.5 degrees, tree cover less than 20% and stand basal area higher than 9 m(2) ha(-1). The results can assist in establishing a site-dependent growth model for the species and direct forest and fire management towards the most productive areas.

Details

Title: Predicting site productivity of the timber tree Pterocarpus angolensis
Authors: Vera De Cauwer (Corresponding Author) - Namibia University of Science and Technology
Esther Fichtler (Author) - University of Göttingen
Hans Beeckman (Author) - Royal Museum for Central Africa
F. Patrick Graz (Author) - Namibia University of Science and Technology
Jan Mertens (Author) - Ghent University
Sam Van Holsbeeck (Author) - Ghent University
Bart Muys (Author) - KU Leuven
Publication details: Southern Forests, Vol.79(3), pp.259-268
Publisher: National Inquiry Services Centre
DOI: 10.2989/20702620.2016.1256042
ISSN: 2070-2639
Organisation Unit: Forest Industries Research Centre; Forest Research Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99712278002621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Forestry

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