Restoration of the Brazilian savanna after pine silviculture: Pine clearcutting is effective but not enough

摘要: Abstract Planting tree monocultures in Brazilian savannas is a common practice for wood production. However, afforestation and fire suppression have caused significant ecological changes biodiversity loss the Cerrado region. Restoring these modified systems to their pre-plantation states remains considerable challenge. In this study, we compared recovery of savanna vegetation after areas managed with three restoration strategies: (i) old pine plantation stands that are not anymore (control), (ii) passive (natural regeneration clearcutting), (iii) native planting (native seedlings planted at high density clearcutting). To compare outcome each strategy ecosystems were never plantations, sampled cerrado sensu stricto (the desired target), cerradao local alternative state when fire-suppressed). Fifteen years applying approaches, assessed structure, richness, composition plant communities. For analyses, separated upper layer (woody species, diameter breast height (DBH) ≥ 5 cm) ground species height ≥ 50 cm DBH