Estrategias para el establecimiento de árboles en pastizales para la restauración de la selva húmeda en Chiapas

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As forest regeneration in abandoned pastures can be very slow, restoration plantings are often established to accelerate tropical forest recovery. Trees can be established either by (i) transplanting nursery-raised seedlings, (ii) establishing tree cuttings or (iii) direct seeding of tree seeds. Although choosing the right tree establishment method increases the cost-efficiency of forest restoration programs, comparative and well replicated field experiments are scarce. Through collaborative research with local farmers, we set up a multi-site tree establishment trial in the Lacandon Jungle in Southern Mexico. We compared initial performance of tree cuttings (Spondias mombin and Bursera simaruba); transplanted tree seedlings (Guazuma ulmifolia and Trichospermum mexicanum) and direct seeded of Inga vera. Establishment costs were highest for nursery-raised seedlings, while cuttings and direct seeding were 20 and 23% cheaper. Tree cuttings had the lowest survival and growth rates, partially due to extreme humidity while the cuttings suffer from rooting. Planting depth, rooting hormones and size of the stakes did not affect their survival rate. In contrast with the other methods, cuttings did not form a canopy and adverse microenvironmental conditions persisted during the first two years. Programs using tree cuttings for forest restoration in abandoned pastures could benefit from pilot experiments to define the best propagation protocols and from planting over several years to minimize risks from extreme weather. eng