Conservation and Restoration of the Mountain Forest of Córdoba: Developing Techniques for the Native Tree Maytenus boaria, Argentina

26 Oct 2012 Sierras de Córdoba, Argentina, Central and Latin America Forests

Romina Cecilia Torres

To study the establishment and growth of Maytenus boaria tree and to carry out a reforestation with native trees in degraded areas with volunteer helping.

Planting seedling.

Planting seedling.

The forests of the Córdoba Mountains have been reduced mainly due to human activities as livestock rearing, burning and urbanization. At present, the degree of fragmentation could be a barrier to the natural restoration of mountain forest due to reduced dispersal, germination and establishment of tree species. The conservation and restoration of the mountain forests of Córdoba is important because they hold many endemic species and protect river basins which provide water to over two million people. A forestation program with native species is essential for the forest management and restoration in the Córdoba Mountains. However restoration is hampered by lack of knowledge on re-forestation procedures with native species.

Additionally, large forestation projects with commercial Pinus and Eucalyptus species are being implemented, and several exotic tree species which have escaped from plantations and urbanizations are colonizing the degraded landscape. Thus, native forests are now being replaced by exotic species which do not provide many of the ecosystem services of natives. We need to develop knowledge to optimize the field establishment and growth of native trees, especially for the less known tree species, to promote their use in other forestation programs and conserve the tree diversity of the Córdoba forests. Additionally we propose to promote the participation of volunteers in some activities in order to transmit knowledge about different native trees of Córdoba and their role at the ecosystem and to stimulate the formation of new conservation leaders. We hope to contribute to nature conservation through the increase in the knowledge about the best techniques to plant native species and the formation of environmentally conscious volunteers.

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