Title
El impacto de los principales usos indígenas del suelo en la estructura, la diversidad y la composición de especies arbóreas en la Reserva de la Biosfera de Bosawás, Nicaragua / Impact of indigenous land uses on tree structure, diversity, and species composition in Bosawás Biosphere Reserve, Nicaragua
Author(s)
D.M. Griffith; I. Coronado; C. Asa; J. Polisar; I. Carmona
Published
2012
Publisher
Ecosistemas: Revista Científica De Ecología Y Medio Ambiente
Abstract
Traditionally, it is claimed that indigenous societies inhabiting tropical forests preserve biodiversity and natural resources through their traditional livelihood patterns. However, few studies have quantified the relative impact of these land-use patterns on the structure and biodiversity of forest species. This study compared tree size, density, diversity and composition among the three main land-use zones (agriculture, hunting and conservation) in an indigenous territory of the Bosawás Reserve. Trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 10 cm were identified and measured in 13 1 km long transects distributed among the three zones. The first hypothesis states that tree size, density and diversity are lower in the forest mosaic of the agricultural zone than in the forests of the hunting and conservation zones. This was accepted only for the case of total DBH per transect, while mean height, mean DBH, density of individuals, density of stems (some individuals consisted of multiple stems) and estimated diversity were not significantly different between the three land use zones. The second hypothesis considers that tree species composition is different in the agricultural zone. The results confirm this statement, however the composition was also different between the hunting and conservation zones, and this was not significantly related to the distance to the communities. Although the agricultural zone encompasses all agricultural activity and most of the extraction of forest products in the indigenous territories, the mosaic of secondary and mature forests that constitutes the largest area of this zone was similar in structure and diversity to the conservation zone, where human impact is almost nil. However, indigenous land uses had an impact on species composition, emphasizing the need to maintain remnants of mature forest in the agricultural zone to serve as refuges for species and to strengthen the regulations that protect the forest in the hunting and conservation zones. / Indigenous societies inhabiting tropical forests have been recognized for their role in conserving biodiversity and natural resources through traditional patterns of subsistence. However, few studies have quantified the relative impact of these land use patterns on the structure and diversity of forest species. This study compared the size, density, diversity, and species composition of trees between three principal land use zones (agriculture, hunting, and conservation) in an indigenous territory of Bosawas Biosphere Reserve. Trees with a minimum diameter at breast height (DBH) of 10 cm were identified and measured in 13 1-km transects located among the three zones. The first hypothesis was that tree size, density, and diversity are less in the forest mosaic of the agricultural zone than in the forests of the hunting and conservation zones. This hypothesis was accepted in the case of total DBH per transect, while mean height, mean DBH, individual tree density, stem density (some trees had multiple stems), and estimated diversity were not significantly different among the three zones. The second hypothesis that tree species composition in the agricultural zone is distinct from that of the other two zones was accepted. However, composition was also different between the hunting and conservation zones and was not significantly related to distance from the nearest indigenous community. Although all indigenous farming and nearly all forest product extraction occurs in the agricultural zone, the mosaic of secondary and mature forests that constitute the majority of land use cover in this zone exhibited tree structure and diversity similar to that of the conservation zone, where human impact is minuscule. In contrast, indigenous land uses influenced species composition. This last result emphasizes the importance of maintaining remnants of mature forest in the agricultural zone to serve as species refuges and of strengthening traditional norms that insure forest protection in the hunting and conservation zones.
Keywords
tropical forest; agriculture; agriculture; hunting; conservation; landscape; landscape; conservation; hunting; conservation; landscape
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