Abstract In the mountains of southern Ecuador there are areas occupied by high Andean secondary forests formed as a result of anthropogenic activities. Here we identified different secondary forest communities located above 2,900 m a.s.l., based on their floristic similarity. In each community the floristic composition was described by total, exclusive and shared species. Estimation curves were used to provide richness and diversity metrics. Structure was analyzed according to abundance and basal area. In addition, the role of environmental variables in explaining floristic conformation and structure was evaluated through principal component and redundancy analysis. Three forest communities were identified. The highest value in diversity and basal area was for the community located at the highest altitude and lowest temperature. Variation in species composition was explained by climatic and geographic environmental variables, density by edaphic and climatic variables, and basal area by topographic variables. Species richness and basal area did not show a similar altitudinal distribution pattern with other Andean tropical forests. Therefore, it was deduced that floristic variation, species richness and basal area are also explained by the chronological age of secondary succession, as shown by indicator species belonging to different ecological groups. It was concluded that floristic composition, richness and vegetation structure in forest communities of high Andean secondary forests are influenced by climatic, topographic, physiographic and geographic variables linked to the age of succession.

Abstract Tropical forests are globally important for their biodiversity and the ecosystem services, and they are key to the global water cycle. Anthropogenic changes and pressures affecting tropical forests affect the fundamental role of tropical forests in water supply. This study evaluates the relationship between the vegetation coverage in the high Andean forest of the “El Malmo” Protected Forest Reserve and the quality and quantity of intercepted runoff; the life zone analyzed comprises four types of cover: dense high Andean forest, low secondary vegetation, broadleaf plantation and mosaic of pasture with natural spaces. Eight setups (two per cover) were installed, each composed of a runoff plot and a precipitation meter under the canopy; data collection was carried out every eight days for 24 weeks. The results indicate that precipitation interception does not vary in each canopy, while surface runoff and its quality with respect to sediment are affected, which is mainly due to differences in soil physical conditions. The cover that allows the best dimensions of water quality and quantity is the dense high Andean forest. The influence of anthropic intervention in the area and the presence of invasive species negatively affect these variables. This work provides knowledge on the hydrological behavior of the reserve for forest management. It also generates information on the interception/runoff relationship in the forests of the Cundiboyacense region, which has not been available until now, becoming an starting point of comparison for further research in high Andean ecosystems.

Abstract Tropical deciduous forest is highly threatened and transformed by agricultural activities in Chiapas; however, little is known about its successional dynamics and regeneration potential. The objective of this research was to evaluate the regenerative capacity of secondary forests through changes in richness, diversity, composition, and structure in a forest reserve in the Central Depression of Chiapas. Twenty sampling units (SU) of 1,000 m 2  were established in forests with different ages of abandonment ( C10, C19, C35 and >C40, representing 10 years, 19 years, 35 years and 40 years, respectively), in which all individuals ≥ 5 cm normal diameter (ND) were measured. Attributes of structure and diversity were compared in each condition by analysis of varia nce and Tukey mean comparison test ( p  < 0.05) and floristic composition by ordination and classification analysis. A total of 142 species grouped in 96 genera and 41 families were recorded. Leguminosae was the family with the most species and individuals. The species with the highest relative abundances were Montanoa tomentosa  (5.1%) and Tecoma stans  (5%). Significant differences ( p  < 0.05) were found in cumulative richness, diversity (Shannon-Weiner H’ and 1D), density of individuals (ind ha -1 ), maximum height (m), basal area (m 2  ha -1 ) and aboveground biomass (Mg ha -1 ). The multivariate analysis of variance procedure with permutations indicated significant differences ( p  < 0.05) in species composition between early (C10 and C19) and later (C35–C40) conditions. It was concluded that the structure and floristic composition of the secondary forest is recovering slowly (low resilience), so it is necessary to implement activities conducive to its conservation in the short term.

Abstract The reform of collective forest property rights is of great significance to realize the sustainable growth of China’s forest resources from the perspective of collective forest property right and its structure. This paper summarizes and analyzes the research on the reform of collective forest property right and the impact of forest property right security on the change of forest resources at home and abroad in recent 20 years. In order to clarify the research views and disputes on the impact of collective forest property right reform on forest resources, and analyze the defects and future research directions. Most of the existing studies believe that the reform of collective forest property rights can stimulate farmers’ afforestation management and protection, reduce deforestation and forest degradation, and effectively achieve the growth of forest resources. The existing literature provides valuable clues for further research on the relationship between the two, but the existing theoretical research fails to investigate the objective situation of China’s non-agricultural transfer, and ignores the interaction mechanism between forest rights; The empirical study lacks the analysis of the dynamic effects of collective forest property rights on forest resources, and fails to properly deal with the endogenous problems in the model. The future research should be improved from the following aspects: (1) bring the situation of labor non-agricultural transfer into the theoretical model, and investigate the interaction mechanism between forest rights; (2) scientifically identify the dynamic effects of property right and its structure on forest resources; (3) in econometric analysis, we should focus on the endogenous problems caused by measurement bias, missing variables, self-selection bias and two-way causality.

Abstract Urban forests provide different ecosystem services, such as the removal of atmospheric pollutants, carbon sequestration, water and microclimate regulation, and habitat for wildlife. This improves environmental quality and the well-being of the population. In this study, the structure of the urban forest of the Aburrá Valley was analyzed and its contribution to the removal of atmospheric pollutants was estimated and valued using the i-Tree Eco software. For this purpose, 398 forest sampling plots were established and secondary information on climatic and pollution conditions was used. A 23% tree cover was found in the study area and a removal of 228 tons of pollutants per year (approximate value of 2.1 million USD). Finally, strategies are recommended for the optimization of this service and the creation of mechanisms to compensate for the loss of tree cover.