VEGETATION SUCCESSION OF LOGGED FOREST IN THE WESTERN ALLUVIAL PLAINS OF VENEZUELA

Abstract

Lozada JR, Arends E, Sánchez D, Villarreal A, Soriano P & Costa M.
2012. Vegetation succession of logged forest in the western alluvial plains of Venezuela. Nearly all forests
in the Venezuelan alluvial plains are converted to agricultural lands. However, in forest reserves, logging is
a selective extraction activity that disturbs part of the ecosystem. This work was aimed at studying floristic
composition changes over longer periods of time in a forest with different logging intensities. We measured
11 plots distributed in random block design of 1 ha each. The importance value index (IVI) was calculated
for all species and was used in a canonical correspondence analysis to evaluate species behaviour. Cecropia
peltata and Inga sp. dominated the first successional stage attaining a maximum IVI close to 12 years but
showed clear decline thereafter. The next successional phase was dominated by late secondary species such
as Triplaris americana and Guazuma ulmifolia. Climax species such as Pouteria reticulata and Pachira quinata
showed drastic reduction in importance and very slow recovery. This study was based on 16-year-observation
period, a rare work which could make use of such long period of direct observation. Our results could be
used to guide ecological restoration in deforested areas. Forest management strategies should be redrawn
to make it a sustainable option.