Mitigation of biodiversity loss in Nothofagus pumilio managed forests of South Patagonia

LENCINAS, MV; MARTÍNEZ PASTUR, G; GALLO, E; MORETTO A; BUSSO C; PERI P

Understanding biodiversity loss: an overview of forest fragmentation in South America. Part III: Landscape ecology for conservation, management and restoration

International Association of Landscape Ecology

Lugar: Grenoble; Año: 2007; p. 112 - 120

Forest management is mainly based on economical and forest structure variables, but ecology must be considered to develop new silvicultural systems. The aim was to analyze the impact of traditional methods compared to aggregated and dispersed retention proposals, over species richness in Nothofagus pumilio forests. Understory plants, birds and insects were sampled after three years of harvesting. Total richness inside the aggregates was more similar to primary forests than harvested sectors (dispersed retention or clearcuts). The major impact was the richness increment due to species incorporation from associated environments. Harvesting allowed the introduction of exotic plant species and birds from open places. The combined retention treatment conserved most of the original insect richness inside the aggregates (74%). The regeneration methods with aggregated and dispersed retention appear as an effective alternative for biodiversity conservation, because aggregates conserve some of the original heterogeneity and the environmental conditions of the primary forests.