ASSESSING THE ECOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF NATURAL AND ASSISTED REGENERATION IN MONTE - ALTO NATURAL FOREST RESERVE

Adewole OLAGOKE (Nigeria), Luke Thomas HEFFERNAN (Ireland), Teresa FRESU (Italy) Teweldebrehan Tesfay GEBREMEDHIN (Ethiopia)
In the 90s, of the Monte Alto Reserve has initiated a restoration project on very degraded land resulting from an agricultural use, with the main objective of hydrological regulation and increase of water availability. The restoration technique is based on assisted regeneration, which consists in planting native species to enhance natural regeneration. Less degraded areas have been abandoned in the period, without any active management, allowing natural succession process. According to local people, there has been an increase of the water availability in the river since the restoration project has been implemented.

BACKGROUN the local community D

Assisted regeneration Trees are planted to assist the process of natural regeneration Natural Regeneration The regeneration process takes place without human intervention

OBJECTIVE
To assess and contrast the characteristics of assisted and natural regeneration with regard to ecological restoration in a dry tropical forest.

RESULTS
Species Similarities and Diversity

METHODS

Plot Layout
Sapling plot [ <5 cm diameter, > 1.3 m height] Diameter plot [>5 cm diameter]

1 m2

7.5 m

- Seedling, sapling and canopy assessments: - Variables measured: Diameter, relative relative dominance, ground cover Seedling and ground abundance, cover plots and composition, canopy cover. 30 m - Indices used for site comparison: Shannon diversity index Shannon Evenness 2m Sorensen similarity index - All stand parameters and site attributes were subjected to T-test for comparison between the two sites.

CONTACT
Adewole OLAGOKE Email: adewoleolagoke@gmail.com Luke Thomas HEFFERNAN Email: luke.thomas.heffernan@gmail.com Teresa FRESU Email: teresafre@yahoo.it Teweldebrehan Tesfay GEBREMEDHIN

Assisted Regeneration

Natural Regeneration

Both sites restorative attributes (indigenous species reproducing, integration with surrounds, shows resilience to environmental threats) Assisted or natural? Depends on surrounding environment, desired species, economic resources, and urgency required (restoration staircase) A full assessment should be implemented before taking action

CONCLUSIONS display have begun to

Limited time meant limited data could be gathered (75% aim) Numerous external factors e.g. previous land use & microclimate No older sites to see longer term effects More research required to see true picture e.g. climax spp., fleshy or wind dispersed seeds, functional biodiversity

LIMITATIONS