Abstract

DIAZ-TRIANA, Julián Esteban; TORRES-RODRIGUEZ, Selene; MUNOZ-P, Leslye  and  AVELLA-M., Andrés. Monitoring of ecological restoration in an interandean dry tropical forest (Huila, Colombia): program and preliminary results. Caldasia [online]. 2019, vol.41, n.1, pp.60-77. ISSN 0366-5232.  https://doi.org/10.15446/caldasia.v41n1.71318.

Monitoring is a key component of ecological restoration projects success, it is required to demonstrate the effectiveness of ecological restoration strategies, and to make adaptive management decisions. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of a monitoring program for the assessment and follow-up of six strategies of floristic intervention that were implemented in a tropical dry forest area. Stages and objectives of monitoring were proposed in coherence with restoration goals and objectives of the project; also, scales, parameters, indicators, monitoring frequencies and data collection protocols were determined. Survival, phytosanitary state, and growth were prioritized parameters for monitoring strategies for one and a half year, among other parameters of ecological effectiveness relevant to longer terms. We obtained a mean survival of 87 % and gradual increasing of individual frequency without apparent phytosanitary affectations, with some remarkable species: Albizia saman, Senna spectabilis, Maclura tinctoria and Celtis iguanaea. We present results from three of the six strategies. We observed height (>2.9 cm/month) and diameter at tree base (>1 mm/ month) increasing increments on the three strategies, comparatively superiors during the rainy period. Results show that species selection and management actions were appropriate for achieving the establishment of floristic arrangements for the presented strategies. We propose to consolidate the monitoring program for long term in the area.

Keywords : Ecological effectiveness; ecological indicators; ecological restoration strategies; plant performance.

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