TITLE:
Natural Regeneration of Indigenous Species under Plantation Forests of Mahoganis (Swietenia macrophylla and Swietenia xaubrevilleana): The Case of Martinique
AUTHORS:
Philippe Joseph, Kévine Baillard, Jean-Philippe Claude, Yelji Abati, Séverine Ely-Marius, Stéphane Sophie, Yanis Jean-Francois, Jean-Emile Simphor, Peguy Major
KEYWORDS:
Martinique, Bioclimates, Swietenia, Native Species, Regeneration, Forest, Anthropization, Reforestation
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.9 No.1,
January
13,
2022
ABSTRACT: In many geographic areas influenced by tropical and temperate climates, natural forest ecosystems have been destroyed in favour of plantations of allochthonous trees which are economically profitable for different aspects of the timber industry. Some of these mature plantations degrade the soils and inhibit natural regeneration of the local flora; others, due to the physical constraints they impose, can contribute to the installation and the development of autochthonous taxa. The plantations of Swietenia macrophylla and Swietenia xaubrevilleana (Mahoganys) in the Lesser Antilles are part of these pro- cesses. To study the natural regeneration process of forest plant species native to Martinique under plantations of Mahoganys, we carried out surveys in thirteen transects (stations) under humid and subhumid bioclimates. The results showed that groups of indigenous species typical of various stages of plant succession colonise the plots of mature Mahoganys. This study suggests that mature plantations of not very competitive introduced forest species may favor the succession of plant communities. It would be therefore possible to use these introduced species (Swietenia macrophylla and Swietenia xaubrevilleana) in reforestation programs of Lesser Antilles biotopes with sylvicultural potential degraded by anthropisation.