Recovery of biomass and merchantable timber volumes twenty years after conventional and reduced-impact logging in Amazonian Brazil

摘要: Abstract Concerns about the sustainability of tropical forestry motivated this study on post-logging timber and carbon dynamics over a 20-year period in Paragominas, Para, Brazil. Previously unlogged forest was subjected to conventional logging (CL), reduced-impact (RIL), or set aside as an control. All trees ⩾25 cm DBH all commercial species ⩾10 cm were monitored 24.5 ha plot each treatment, with 5.25 ha subplot for monitoring DBH. Above-ground biomass bole volumes merchantable tracked based 10 inventories made between 1993 2014. Pre-logging estimated 237, 231, 211 Mg ha−1, 78, 80, 70 m3 ha−1, RIL, CL, plots, respectively. One year after logging, reduced 14% by RIL 24% CL corresponding volume reductions 21% 31%. By 2014, had recovered 95% 98% their pre-logging stocks but only 76% 72% plot, respectively; from large (⩾50 cm DBH) 81% 53% plot. Over first twenty years average increments substantially higher (0.72 m3 ha−1 year−1) than (0.08 m3 ha−1 year−1). Recovery both temporarily reversed 2009 2014 due 4-fold increase annual mortality rates 5.5-fold (as well 3-fold control plot), presumably related extreme drought 2010. Our findings support claim that use techniques accelerates stock recovery selective logging.