SEED TREE RETENTION CONSIDERATIONS FOR UNEVENAGED MANAGEMENT IN BOLIVIAN TROPICAL FORESTS

Abstract

Current best forestry management practices in Bolivia require the retention of seed trees after logging to provide for forest regeneration. However, current seed tree retention guidelines do not consider differences in the relative abundance of tree species, nor speciesspecific differences in seed production, germination, mode of regeneration, or microsite requirements that will likely affect the amount of successful regeneration produced per seed tree. In this study, we examined the ecological characteristics of timber tree species in a tropical dry forest and a tropical humid forest in Bolivia in order to classify species into groups according to the relative quantity of seed trees to be retained. Seed tree groups ranged from species that regenerate mostly from sprouts and require few (if any) seed trees, to rare tree species that reproduce primarily by seed, but with poor seed production, germination, and seedling survival that will likely require the retention of many seed trees to maintain current densities. Best management practices should consider these species differences when formulating guidelines for seed tree retention.