Changes in understory species diversity during the Nothofagus pumilio forest management cycle.

MARTINEZ PASTUR G; PERI P; FERNANDEZ MC; STAFFIERI G; LENCINAS MV

JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH

Japanese Forestry Society

Lugar: Tokyo; Año: 2002 p. 165 - 174

1341-6979

Human commercial activities mast be compatible with sustainable management to achieve species conservation in the natural environment. After harvesting, diversity and abundance of understory species differ substantially from the pre-harvest situation. Have knowledge of the changes that logging produces in all components of the system allows us to develop management alternatives with reduced impacts. The objective of this work was to evaluate changes in density, biomass and diversity of understory species along a forest shelterwood cut system management cycle in a Nothofagus pumilio forest. Six forest management situations (post-harvesting stands and different phases of forest development) were sampled in a pure N. pumilio forest of Tierra del Fuego (Argentina) of middle-high site class (from class I to III). Species number, density and biomass were modified substantially after a shelterwood cut. These were being greatest after cutting and falling substantially when the forest canopy closes during the initial growth phase, returning to values similar to this virgin forest when the mature phase was reached. The impact of the forest management on understory species diversity is analyzed and discussed. The silvicultural practices applied to N. pumilio forest in Tierra del Fuego permit the introduction of alien flora to the system, and produce great changes during the forest management cycle.