Abstract

NEGREROS-CASTILLO, Patricia  and  MARTINEZ SALAZAR, Imelda. Growth and advanced regeneration of Lysiloma latisiliquum (L.) Benth. in a tropical forest in Quintana Roo state. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2011, vol.2, n.5, pp.15-27. ISSN 2007-1132.

Although many tropical timber species are commercially harvested, few research studies have focused on their regeneration, growth rates and/or techniques for sustainable harvesting. The absence of this type of information is one of the main weaknesses of forest management plans developed in the Mexican tropics. This is reflected, for example, in the continuous reduction of harvested volume of mahogany ( Swietenia macrophylla ) and Spanish cedar ( Cedrela odorata ) from the tropical forests of Quintana Roo, México. A secondary effect of the reduced commercial volume of mahogany and Spanish cedar is an increment of the number of species harvested and the volume of those species. Among these species is Tzalam ( Lysiloma latisiliquum ), and the objective of this study was to contribute to the knowledge about the growth and regeneration of this species in Quintana Roo. By studying 74 Tzalam trees from 2002 to 2008 (within a commercially managed forest), it was found an annual growth rate of 0.41 cm and no presence of individuals with DBH between 2 and 10 cm in 176 30-m2 plots. Of Tzalam trees that were found, 84% were on black soil which represents only 5% of soil in the forest. The future sustainability of Tzalam is seriously threatened by the lack of individuals with DBH between 2 and 10 cm.

Keywords : Tropical trees; timber; forestry; soils; Tzalam; Yucatan.

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