Deutscher Tropentag, October 8 - 10, 2003 in Göttingen "Technological and Institutional Innovations for Sustainable Rural Development"

Management of Laurel (Cordia alliodora) within Agroforestry System in the Canton Loreto, Ecquador

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Institute of Forest Management, Germany

Abstract

Second forests become widespread due to socioeconomic reasons especially for ever growing population in the tropical region of the world. The management of secondary forest has become a very important aspect of scientific investigation in the region. The potential value of this resource, which covers extensive areas in the Ecquadorian Amazon Region, is not always recognized. A species of great potential in the secondary forest and in abandoned agricultural lands is Cordia alliodora, which is know as Laurel in the Spanish language. Laurel regenerates naturally and thus production costs are potentially low. Growth is rapid, the wood qualities meet the requirements of the industry and the species seems to be suitable for agroforestry systems. Viable agroforestry systems in terms of social and economics aspects of the local communities is necessary to check extent of the secondary forests and to help conserve the primary forests. The objective of this contribution is to present first results of a growth and regeneration study of Cordia alliodora within an agroforestry experiment in the community of Wamaní, Ecquador. Necessary tree growth parameters were collected and analyzed. Results include information about the response of nine one quart ha plots to different thinning intensities, including height growth, individual tree volume equations and diameter distributions. It is recommended that on similar sites in the region one should take advantage of the natural regeneration of Cordia alliodora in the first years in order to establish future agroforestry systems leaving between 175 and 225 trees per ha.

Keywords: Agroforestry system, height growth, tree volume

Contact Address: Alvaro Cañadas, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Institute of Forest Management, Büsgenweg 5, 37077 Göttingen, Germany, e-mail: acanadauni-forst.gwdg.de