Liana cutting for restoring tropical forests: a rare palaeotropical trial

TY - JOUR

T1 - Liana cutting for restoring tropical forests

T2 - a rare palaeotropical trial

AU - Marshall, Andy

AU - Coates, Michael A.

AU - Archer, Jennifer

AU - Kivambe, Exaud

AU - Mnendendo, Hamidu

AU - Mtoka, Samuel

AU - Mwakisoma, Ruben

AU - Lemos de Figueiredo, Ricardo J. R.

AU - Njilima, Fadhili M.

N1 - © 2016 The Authors

PY - 2016/7/21

Y1 - 2016/7/21

N2 - Liana growth following forest disturbance is threatening the tropical carbon sink by delaying or preventing recov ery. Tree growth can be stimulated by liana cutting; however, its applicability for conservation management remains uncertain, particularly in Africa (the least-studied continent for ecological restoration) and against pervasive barriers such as wildfires. We conducted a small-scale trial to investigate tree sapling regeneration following liana cutting in a lowland African forest prone to low intensity wildfires. We employed a BACI design comprising eighteen 25 m² plots of sapling trees in liana-infested areas. After 5 years of liana cutting, we saw greater recruitment, stem growth and net biomass. Wildfires caused 51% mortality and probably masked liana cutting influences on species and survival, but may have encouraged stem recruitment through interaction with liana cutting. Incorporating our data into a first quantitative review of previous studies, we found that tree growth, recruitment and net growth rates were all consistently higher where lianas were either absent or removed (respectively: 80%, 215%, 633%; n = 14, 3, 4). Tree growth impacts were approximately equivalent across size-classes and continents. We give recommendations for improved plot and sample sizes, but conclude that liana cutting is a promising restoration method for lowland tropical forests, including Africa.

AB - Liana growth following forest disturbance is threatening the tropical carbon sink by delaying or preventing recov ery. Tree growth can be stimulated by liana cutting; however, its applicability for conservation management remains uncertain, particularly in Africa (the least-studied continent for ecological restoration) and against pervasive barriers such as wildfires. We conducted a small-scale trial to investigate tree sapling regeneration following liana cutting in a lowland African forest prone to low intensity wildfires. We employed a BACI design comprising eighteen 25 m² plots of sapling trees in liana-infested areas. After 5 years of liana cutting, we saw greater recruitment, stem growth and net biomass. Wildfires caused 51% mortality and probably masked liana cutting influences on species and survival, but may have encouraged stem recruitment through interaction with liana cutting. Incorporating our data into a first quantitative review of previous studies, we found that tree growth, recruitment and net growth rates were all consistently higher where lianas were either absent or removed (respectively: 80%, 215%, 633%; n = 14, 3, 4). Tree growth impacts were approximately equivalent across size-classes and continents. We give recommendations for improved plot and sample sizes, but conclude that liana cutting is a promising restoration method for lowland tropical forests, including Africa.

U2 - 10.1111/aje.12349

DO - 10.1111/aje.12349

M3 - Article

SN - 0141-6707

JO - African Journal of Ecology

JF - African Journal of Ecology

ER -