Facilitation of biodiversity by shelter effects of Pinus patula and Alnus acuminata in montane ecosystems of South Ecuador

DFG研究小组可以为厄瓜多尔南部的本地物种恢复和重新造林建立一个合理的科学基线。初步的田间试验表明，许多高木材价值的本地物种表现出令人惊讶的良好性能的差距松树人工林。这种庇护所效应在世界其他地区是众所周知的，但对厄瓜多尔松树种植园来说是新的。在厄瓜多尔的实际林业中尚未考虑重新造林具有较高生态和经济稳定性的本地物种和混交林。尽管松树林对生态造成了负面影响，但它受到了更高的关注。在这个试验项目中，我们的目标是通过在松树林和赤杨林下种植和应用造林处理，促进建立与当地物种的混交林。通过这种方法，将把单一树种转变为生态和经济稳定性更高的混交林。厄瓜多尔林业不接受国际经验和执行不力的一个主要原因是缺乏技术转让机构和缺少证明科学成果实际可行性的试点项目。在与厄瓜多尔同行的密切合作下，我们正在提出一个环境科学试点项目，以克服知识转让的这些体制障碍，并在现实的实际条件和广泛的环境条件下测试DFG研究小组的科学成果的可行性。

DFG-research groups could establish a sound scientific baseline for restoration and reforestation with native species in Southern Ecuador. Preliminary field experiments indicated that many native species of high timber value showed surprisingly good performance in gaps of pine plantations. This shelter effect is well known from other regions of the word, but it is new for Ecuadorian pine plantations. Reforestation of native species and mixed forests with higher ecological and economic stability are not yet considered in practical forestry in Ecuador. Pine forests receive much higher attention despite their negative ecological consequences. In this pilot project we aim at fostering the establishment of mixed forests with native species by underplanting of pine plantations and Alnus stands and by application of silvicultural treatments. By this means monocultures shall be converted into mixed forests with higher ecological and economic stability. One major reason for poor acceptance of international experiences and poor implementation in Ecuadorian forestry are the lack of institutions for technology transfer and missing pilot projects, proving the practical feasibility of scientific results. In close cooperation with counterparts from Ecuador, we are proposing a pilot project for environmental sciences to overcome these institutional barriers of knowledge transfer and to test the feasibility of scientific results of DFG-research groups under realistic practical conditions and a wide range of environmental conditions.