ASSESSMENT OF THE RECOVERY OF A SECONDARY TROPICAL DRY FOREST AFTER HUMAN DISTURBANCE IN CENTRAL MYANMAR

Abstract

We examined the recovery of a secondary tropical dry forest using 30 quadrats (20 m × 20 m). The objectives of this study were to describe the species composition and stand structure of a secondary tropical dry forest after human disturbance and to assess its recovery. In total, 30 species from 16 families were observed in the quadrats. In the 24-year period, the tropical dry forest had recovered to 706 (± 99 standard error) individuals ha^-1 with an average total height of 4.3 ± 1.5 m and basal area of 2.92 ± 0.51 m² ha^-1. To assess the recovery of the tropical dry forest, its diversity measures and structural attributes were compared with the values of an old-growth forest of over 70 years old. Species richness, exponential of Shannon’s index and Fisher’s α recovered by 43, 40 and 34% respectively. Stem density, average total height and basal area recovered by 57, 48 and 14% respectively. The species diversity of the secondary tropical dry forest had potential to increase but might not attain the level of the old-growth forest. However, the structure of the secondary tropical dry forest was on the way to the status of the old-growth forest. Long-term conservation or silvicultural interventions would be required for the forest to reach its full recovery.