Monitoring of a sub-Andean Forest in restoration process in the Munchique National Natural Park

Abstract

The Munchique National Natural Park conserves strategic ecosystems that have been altered by anthropogenic factors; therefore, a passive ecological restoration strategy is implemented as an alternative to recover plant cover and protect biodiversity. The monitoring was carried out in a sub-Andean forest through 20 Gentry-type transects in two processes called advanced restoration and early restoration, only for the years 2013, 2015 and 2017, for reasons of public order. Individuals with DBH ≥1 cm were censored. The richness in advanced restoration was 35/2013, 39/2015 and 45/2017 species, while in early restoration a richness of 31/2013, 44/2015 and 45/2017 was recorded. In the three sampling periods and for both processes, the families Rubiaceae and Melastomataceae were the most frequent. Advanced restoration presented a marked dominance of Miconia theizans with 98 %/2013, 83 %/2015 and 65 %/2017 for the importance value (IVI) and in early restoration the most important species was Meriana speciosa with 38 %/2013 , 50 %/2015 and 55 %/2017. Long-term monitoring in both restoration scenarios revealed a slow but effective recovery for increased diversity and improved plant structure.