CHARACTERISTICS OF NATURAL REGENERATION AND FOREST RECOVERY POTENTIAL ON BARREN LAND WITH TREE REGENERATION IN MUONG CHIEN COMMUNE, SON LA PROVINCE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70169/VJFS.1272Keywords:
Barren land with regenerating trees, forest restoration, natural regeneration, Son La, species compositionAbstract
Forest degradation and the formation of barren land after shifting cultivation fallows pose a major challenge to forest ecosystem restoration in the mountainous region of Northwest Vietnam. This study was conducted to evaluate the natural regeneration characteristics of timber tree species on barren land with regenerating trees, which formed after shifting cultivation abandonment in Muong Chien commune, Son La province. Data were collected from 30 sample plots (100 m2) distributed across three elevational belts: < 800 m, 800 - 1000 m and > 1000 m. The results indicated that elevation significantly affected the Menhinick species richness index (F = 4.671; p = 0.018) and regeneration density (F = 3.995; p = 0.030), with the lowest belt (< 800 m) exhibiting the highest values (R = 3.03; Density: 10,781 trees/ha) and gradually decreasing with increasing altitude. Conversely, the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (ranging from 1.96 to 2.08), Simpson index, and Pielou evenness index showed no significant differences (p > 0.05). The regeneration species composition was diverse, dominated primarily by Eurya ciliata Merr., Mallotus tetracoccus (Roxb.) Kurz, Wendlandia paniculata (Roxb.) DC. and Betula alnoides Buch. Ham. ex D. Don; additionally, the presence of various native timber species with high ecological and economic value was recorded, including Castanopsis indica (Roxb.) A. DC., Altingia siamensis Craib, Schima wallichii Choisy and Choerospondias axillaris (Roxb) Burtt et Hill. The height structure of the regenerating layer followed a decreasing function in a pyramid distribution, dominated by the < 0.5 m height group (40.61 - 47.14%). The regenerating layer originated predominantly from seeds (> 86%), with high-quality individuals being prominent (> 70%), and the proportion of promising trees remained stable (24.40 - 28.79%), showing no significant variation across elevational belts (p > 0.05). The findings provide an important scientific basis for proposing effective management, conservation, and restoration solutions for natural forests in the region.
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