Reforestation at Cloudbridge Nature Reserve in Costa Rica: Monitoring

Reforestation at Cloudbridge

Bridging a Costa Rican Cloud Forest

Step 5: Monitoring progress.

Discussing the trees' progress: Victor, Tim, Heriberto

In the first year of planting we were concerned about several things: whether the smallest trees would make it; whether the rapidly growing grass and weeds of the former pasture would overwhelm the saplings; how fast the different trees would grow; to what extent rain and wind would damage the trees; and what other threats, including pests, would be encountered. We also wanted to have a periodic measure of the health and growth rate of the different trees, and to correlate these with different conditions.

In the photo, Victor, Tim Woodruff and Heriberto discuss the trees' condition.

Progress of an alder (Alnus acuminata) Aug 02

The monitoring project began in late 2003, a little over a year from the first plantings. The methodology is described in the Research Reports section of this website, along with links to the data that we have collected to date. The measurements have been supplemented with a photographic database. Here's what we have concluded so far:

Identification can be difficult, and requires a written Guide (which we have now compiled) as well as practice.
Stakes are needed to locate the trees, and in a few cases to support them.
As expected, the trees are growing at different rates. The growth rate is affected by light, soil, drainage, root competition and other factors -- but the biggest difference is by species.
Approximately 7% died within the first two months, mostly the result of shock and transport trauma. By the end of the first year, we estimate that 15%-20% had died or were lost in the undergrowth. A far smaller percentage perished in the second year of planting, as we learned how to maintain the plantation.
Nursery-grown trees seem to be more robust than seedlings pulled from the forest. However the latter usually recover from their initial shock. The few seeds that we have planted directly have done surprisingly well.
Some of the trees that we have planted are sun-loving pioneer species, and they seem to grow well in exposed areas. Examples are Alder (Alnus acuminata) and Yos (Sapium pachystachis). Others are slower-growing, shade-tolerant trees. These include Dama (Cytharexylum donnell-smithii) and Oak (Quercus spp.). In between are species like Mexican elm (Ulmus mexicana) and Sweet cedar (Cedrela tonduzii).

The future: More trees to plant.

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