RESTORATION ECOLOGY
Most of the northern region of the Yucatán Peninsula
has been subjected to all kinds of human and natural disturbances since
prehistoric times. In the last 20 years the forests of the area have
been unusually
impacted by one hurricane (Gilberto) and two big forest fires
(1989 and 1995). The process of natural succession is already going
on and, if no more drastic disturbances occur, the regeneration of
the original forest may be successful. However this process may be
very slow, since the extensive fires have eliminated many of the seed
sources of the large mature trees. What is happening in this area is
what already occurred in the state of Yucatan to the west: an arrested
succession dominated by fire resistant secondary trees will be the
builders of a new vegetation type. Our hypothesis is that, instead
of regenerating a semi-evergreen forests of chicozapote and ramon that
existed here since the ancient times, a low semi-deciduous selva will
prevail.
A series of experiments on biodiversity restoration
of recently forest burned areas are underway at the reserve.
The main goal of this program is to speed the regeneration
process by introducing the keystone arboreal species of the ancient
Maya forests early in the succession using the same methods used
by the present day Maya to create their forest home gardens.
A study on the role of micorhiza in the establishment of the
trees is also underway.
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