Tropical forest regrowth seen as urgent need

The urgent need for tropical forest restoration in the Americas to preserve biodiversity is the topic being discussed by 61 scientists from seven countries this week at a National Science Foundation-sponsored conference in Mexico organized by two scientists in CLAS and their Mexican colleagues.

Robin Chazdon and Michael Willig, professors of ecology and evolutionary biology, are organizers and session leaders of the conference, which brings together for the first time scientists from around the world to discuss how to combat the rapid loss of old-growth tropical forests in the Americas.

"We organized this conference because there is a strong need to begin to synthesize information about secondary forest regeneration and restoration in the American tropics," says Chazdon, whose research focuses on the topic.

"Our goal is to develop ideas and make concrete plans and assignments to write proposals to a range of funding agencies in the U.S. and abroad for new collaborative research projects, training programs, and more international workshops."

Chazdon and Willig, who also directs the Center for Environmental Science and Engineering at UConn, are working with colleagues at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Morelia, which is hosting the conference.

"Forest regrowth and restoration depends strongly on the surrounding landscape, climate, history, and land use as well as the size, proximity, and spatial configuration of remaining forest fragments," says Chazdon.

Tropical regrowth areas are important for recovering biodiversity, and her research has shown that seedlings and tree species from original growth tropical forests are finding suitable habitats in regrowth areas.

Interest in regrowth areas is gaining ground as original growth forest is lost to development. Chazdon was part of a Smithsonian Institution panel last year that called attention to the issue.

To hear a podcast by Chazdon, go to http://www.clas.uconn.edu/facultysnapshots/podcasts/chazdon.mp3

For more information, go to http://www.oikos.unam.mx/neoselvas/index.html