title: Selection of Native Tree Species for Subtropical Forest Restoration in Southwest China.
abstract: The use of native species in forest restoration has been increasingly recognized as an effective means of restoring ecosystem functions and biodiversity to degraded areas across the world. However, successful selection of species adapted to local conditions requires specific knowledge which is often lacking, especially in developing countries. In order to scale up forest restoration, experimental data on the responses of native species to propagation and restoration treatments across a range of local conditions are required. In this study, the restoration potential of 34 native tree species was evaluated based on nursery research and field planting experiments at a highly degraded site in a subtropical area of southwest China. We examined species performance in terms of germination rates as well as survival rates and growth over 2 years after planting. Of the 34 species examined, 25 had a germination percentage greater than 50%. Survivorship ranged from 0 to 97% across species and was greater than 50% for 20 species. Mean monthly growth increments varied between species. Pioneer species performed well, and 14 mid- and late-successional species performed reasonably well to very well in this study. However, the remaining 16 mid- and late-successional species performed poorly. These results indicate that carefully selected mid- and late-successional species can be effectively incorporated into mixed species plantings. This data can be used to inform restoration planning, helping to identify suitable species and so enhance the biodiversity and resilience of restored forests.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.|Institute of Ecology and Geobotany, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.|World Agroforestry Centre, ICRAF East and Central Asia, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
authors.forename: Sailesh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ranjitkar
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.|World Agroforestry Centre, East and Southern Africa Region, Lusaka, Zambia.
authors.forename: Rhett D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.|World Agroforestry Centre, ICRAF East and Central Asia, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
authors.forename: Jianchu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ecology and Geobotany, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
authors.forename: Xiaokun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xuelan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Borderland Ethnic Studies in Southwest China, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.|School of Ethnology and Sociology, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D002681:China; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D017753:Ecosystem; D065928:Forests; D018525:Germination; D013045:Species Specificity; D014197:Trees / Q000254:growth & development*; D014329:Tropical Climate