La otra mitad de la conservación forestal

Abstract

The people of Puerto Rico have relied heavily on reservation to conserve natural resources needing protection. Protection was favored by natural reforestation of most of these reserves. These recovered forests, mostly of a few rustic tree species able to dominate exposed exhausted soils are less valuable as sources of conservation that those of the past. Since these reserves became forested at no human cost it is commonly assumed that without further cost they provide fully their potential conservation. It will take more than a generation for this to take place naturally. In the meantime Environmental values including absent species may be lost forever. If we want to see this other half of the conservation it is up to us. We must identify or introduce trees that provide the conservation wanted and provide them space to develop. This can soon restore fully the other plants, and the animals of the past. Proven practices serve as guides ready for application. Concurrently relevant studies can increase our knowledge of recovery.

Citation

Wadsworth, Frank H. 2006. La otra mitad de la conservación forestal. Acta Científica. 20(1-3): 93-97.