POST-LOGGING REGENERATION AND GROWTH OF COMMERCIALLY VALUABLE TREE SPECIES IN EVERGREEN BROADLEAF FOREST, VIETNAM

Abstract

The regeneration and growth of commercially valuable tree species after selective logging are important for sustainable management of forest. This study compared density of seedlings (height < 2 m), saplings (height ≥ 2 m and diameter at breast height (dbh) < 10 cm) and trees (dbh ≥ 10 cm) of 18 commercially valuable tree species in Vietnam after 30 years of selective logging. Data were collected in high impact (where 30 to less than 50% standing volume was extracted), low impact (less than 30% standing volume was extracted) and unlogged forests. Results indicated that tree density in high impact forest was significantly higher than that in low impact and unlogged forests. Basal areas in high and low impact forests were significantly lower than that in unlogged forest. Density of ≥ 5 cm dbh saplings in high impact forest was significantly higher than that in low impact and unlogged forests. Seedling density in high impact forest was highest between the three forest stands. We concluded that a duration of 30 years was insufficient for logged forests to recover to the status of unlogged forest, regardless of logging intensities.