Regeneration of Species of Natural Flora of the French Antilles Under Plantation Forests of Mahoganis (Swietenia Macrophylla and Aubrevilleana): First Data, the Case of Martinique
Abstract BackgroundIn many geographic areas influenced by tropical and temperate climates, natural forest ecosystems have been destroyed in favour of plantations of allochthonous trees which are economically profitable for different aspects of the timber industry. Some of these mature plantations degrade the soils and inhibit the regenerations of local flora species; others, due to the physical constraints which they impose, can contribute to the installation and the morphogenetic development of autochthonous taxa. The plantations of Swietenia macrophylla and Swietenia aubrevilleana (Mahoganys) in the Lesser Antilles are part of these processes. MethodsTo study the regeneration methods of forest plant species native to Martinique under plantations of Mahoganys, we carried out surveys in thirteen transects (stations) influenced by humid and subhumid bioclimates. ResultsThe results showed that affine natural flora species from various stages of the plant succession colonise the plots of mature Mahoganys. ConclusionsThis study shows that mature plantations of not very competitive introduced forest species can greatly accelerate phytocenotic succession and increase specific richness. It is therefore possible to use these introduced species (Swietenia macrophylla and Swietenia aubrevilleana) in reforestation processes of Lesser Antilles biotopes of sylvan potentiality degraded by anthropisation.