Natural succession and tree plantation as alternatives for restoring abandoned lands in the Andes of Southern Ecuador: Aspects of facilitation and competition

Resumen

On abandoned lands restoration is feasible, either by natural succession (passive) or reforestation (active). Both alternatives were analyzed on three sites (recently abandoned Pasture, Bracken, Shrub) in a tropical mountain forest in Southern Ecuador. Reforestation with native species was evaluated including the effects of removal of competing vegetation and seedlings pretreatment (e.g. fertilization, inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi).