Long-term effects of the removal of the exotic species Mimosa caesalpiniifolia (sansão-do-campo) in restored forests.

• Grant number: 24/03037-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2024
• End date: April 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Forestry Resources and Forestry Engineering - Nature Conservation
• Principal Investigator: Diego Sotto Podadera
• Grantee: Mayara Martins Bueno
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas (FCA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Global attention to climate change has led to the search for improved forest restoration techniques. In Brazil, random plantings have been replaced by the prioritization of regional native species due to international principles for ecological restoration. However, many exotic species, by virtue of their beneficial functional attributes for forest structure, can be used as framework species, although their use requires caution owing to potential negative effects caused by their competitive advantage, especially on regenerants. In this case, thinning of these species can be applied to realign the successional trajectory and stimulate regeneration. Due to the inherent instability of ecosystems in early stages of succession, long-term evaluation of adaptive management actions becomes necessary, in order to assess whether patterns observed within a short term after interventions are a main trend, whether new effects manifest themselves and to evaluate management was effective. The objective of this study is to test the long-term effects of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia thinning on natural regeneration of forest restoration systems. The study will be conducted in the municipality of Botucatu (SP), in two experimental areas with different soil types, testing the effects of removing M. caesalpiniifolia individuals in two restoration models (modified "taungya" agroforestry system; and mixed plantation using commercial timber and firewood tree species). The experiment was designed in randomized blocks with split plots. We will develop a temporal analysis of the basal area, density, and diversity of natural regeneration to assess the long-term effects of elimination, comparing data between treatments and areas.