International Dissertation Enhancement Research: Natural Forest Management Plans in Costa Rica: A Potential Framework For Assessing Tree Biodiversity

这项美洲计划论文研究将在康涅狄格大学 Robin Chazdon 博士的监督下以及哥斯达黎加热带研究组织 (OTS) La Selva 生物站科学主任 Luis D. Gomez 博士的赞助下为博士生 Juan P. Arroyo 提供支持。 该研究旨在解决和测试天然林管理计划生成的采伐前树木清单数据的实用性和准确性，以评估哥斯达黎加圣胡安-拉塞尔瓦生物走廊当地、景观和区域层面的树木生物多样性。拟议的研究有四个组成部分：1）基于现有天然林管理计划（NFMP）生成的数据库，在当地、景观和区域尺度上进行树木生物多样性评估； 2) 基于独立、标准化的同一农场生物多样性清查方法的树木多样性评估； 3）NFMP数据与标准化生物多样性数据的结果比较； 4) 对区域景观内选定的具有保护意义的商业和非商业树种进行种群生存力分析。该研究可以作为一个模型，广泛应用于许多有天然林管理计划的热带国家，从而允许开发树木多样性数据库，用于生物多样性评估、基线保护数据和土地利用规划。该项目结束时，将在拉塞尔瓦生物站组织并举行研讨会，与农场主、林业技术人员、当地保护团体、研究人员和政府人员分享方法、结果和结论。研讨会将展示区域保护和生物多样性研究计划如何从森林管理计划生成的数据中受益，以及如何通过独立调查数据修改或补充这些计划，以提供区域一级保护规划所需的数据。

This Americas Program dissertation research will support doctoral student Juan P. Arroyo under the supervision of Dr. Robin Chazdon of the University of Connecticut and under the sponsorship of Dr. Luis D. Gomez, Scientific Director of the La Selva Biological Station of the Organization of Tropical Studies (OTS) in Costa Rica. The research intends to address and test the utility and accuracy of pre-harvesting tree inventory data generated by natural forest management plans for assessment of tree biodiversity at the local, landscape and regional levels in the San Juan- La Selva Biological Corridor in Costa Rica. The proposed study has four components: 1) tree biodiversity assessment at local, landscape, and regional scales based on databases generated from existing natural forest management plans (NFMP); 2) tree diversity assessment based on an independent, standardized biodiversity inventory methodology in the same farms; 3) comparison of results between NFMP data and standardized biodiversity data; and 4) a population viability analysis of selected commercial and non-commercial tree species of conservation concern within the regional landscape. The study could serve as a model to be widely applied across many tropical countries where natural forest management plans are available, permitting the development of tree diversity databases for use in biodiversity assessment, baseline conservation data, and land-use planning. At the conclusion of this project, a workshop will be organized and held at La Selva Biological Station to share methodology, results, and conclusions with farm owners, forestry technicians, local conservation groups, researchers, and government personnel. The workshop will demonstrate how regional conservation and biodiversity research programs can benefit from data generated from forest management plans and how these plans could be modified or supplemented by independent survey data to supply data needed for conservation planning at the regional level.