Biodiversity conservation maps using environmental niche factor analysis in Nothofagus forests of Tierra del Fuego (Argentina)

MARTÍNEZ PASTUR, G; LENCINAS, MV; SOLER, R; KREPS, G; SCHINDLER, S; PERI, P

Concepción

Conferencia; IUFRO Landscape Ecology Conference; 2012

IUFRO

There is a lack of biodiversity conservation strategies in traditional agriculture and forest management of Argentina. A national legislation (26331/07) promotes forest conservation, but biodiversity values are not included in the classification, regarding most of the protection to marginal unproductive forests. In this study, we develop biodiversity conservation maps using environmental niche factor analysis (ENFA) of understory plants in Nothofagus forests of Tierra del Fuego (Argentina), and propose it use as a decision tool for conservation strategies at regional level. We used data of vascular plants based on the survey of 535 sampling plots taken during 2000-2012. Using ENFA (software Biomapper 4.0) we produced a series of spatially explicit habitat suitability models for 35 vascular plants, based on climatic and topographical predictor variables. These variables were chosen after a correlation analysis of 29 original maps. Further, we produced biodiversity conservation maps (software Arcview 3.0) based on the 20 most important vascular plant species (cover + occurrence) for each forest type. Maps showed different qualities along Tierra del Fuego, e.g. N. pumilio forests presented higher values in the central-northeast areas, while N. antarctica presented higher values in the west, south and east areas, and evergreen forests presented different qualities between east and west. Potential conflicts with past and present timber and cattle production were discussed. Habitat suitability models for selected plant species were very effective to develop a decision support system for conservation strategies at different landscape levels (e.g. natural reserves at regional level and local reserves during forest management planning).