[MPWG] Follow up to Native Plants and Disasters

[Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov]

Last month, there was some discussion of native plants and their resilience
in light of natural disasters.

Logic dictates that plants, as immobile denizens of their environment,
would evolve a certain ability to survive stochastic events such as fires,
hurricanes and tsunamis.  Every so often we are reminded that this is the
case.  In fact, research shows that certain species not only survive but
actually thrive under these conditions.

One medicinal plant (tree) that falls into this 'thrill-seeking" disaster
survivor/thriver category (but is, perhaps, better known for its timber)
is: Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla)

In Mexico, a long-term mahogany regeneration study by Dr. Laura Snook
revealed that pervading tropical silviculture techniques, such as
enrichment planting (which introduces additional native species into
existing forest areas and minimizes disturbance of remnant vegetation)
create the least optimal conditions for mahogany regeneration.
Conclusions: Mahogany regeneration is disturbance-connected; it is found in
environments prone to catastrophic gap openings (resulting from hurricanes
and fires); and, the slash and burn methods utilized by local farmers in
the forested regions created more favorable conditions for mahogany
regeneration.  See publication, “Slash burn for more mahogany in Mexico
”-CIFOR 2002 -
http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/docs/_ref/publications/areports/english2001/slash_and_burn.htm

Dr. Snook's research has broader implications for empowering local or
communal landholders to manage their lands; here's an excerpt from the
above article:
   The best conditions for mahogany survival and growth were produced by
   slashing, felling and burning.” Thousands of local farmers use this
   technique every year to create agricultural clearings, where they grow
   maize and other crops for a year or two before the area is abandoned to
   regenerate naturally. These clearings are the perfect environment for
   mahogany seedlings. So now the researchers are encouraging the Mayan
   Indians who harvest mahogany to plant seedlings in their slash and burn
   fields the year the clearings are burned, along with their agricultural
   crops.

Yet another contribution to sustainable harvest practices!

-Patricia

Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group
US Fish & Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 750
Arlington, VA  22203
703-358-1708 x1753
FAX: 703-358-2276
Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green natural
resources.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>