Conservation of tropical forest tree species in a native timber plantation landscape

摘要: Tropical terrestrial environments are becoming dominated by anthropogenic land-uses, making retention of biodiversity in production landscapes critical conservation importance. Native timber plantations may represent a land-use capable balancing and potentially supporting understorey plant tree species otherwise restricted to old-growth forests, with little impact on yield. In this study we investigated the value native plantation forests lowlands New Britain, Papua Guinea. We compared composition (⩾10 cm DBH) unlogged forest those different aged Eucalyptus deglupta intervening (historically logged) secondary forests. found high capacity for within plantations, 70% persisting mature (13–15 years old). However, compositional analyses revealed lower numbers large individuals both late-successional non-vertebrate-dispersed indicating difficulty retaining trees land-uses. Secondary protected reserves was compositionally indistinct forest. Our results demonstrate potential tropical contribute biodiversity. appropriate management is required ensure persistence source populations species. With careful planning balance between can be achieved lowland regions.