NATURAL REGENERATION OF Pinus tropicalis MORELET AND AFTER FIRE ASSOCIATED VEGETATION

Abstract

The research was carried out at the Mantua Silviculture Unit in areas of natural pinegroves owned by Macurije Forest Enterprise, Pinar del Río province, Cuba. Its objective was to characterize the associate vegetation and the behaviour of the natural regeneration of Pinus Tropicalis in post fires stages. Plots with 10 m² were installed for the characterization and identification of the associate vegetation and to count the natural regeneration. The corresponding methodology was applied for the vegetation study and the presence of 21 species distributed in 17 families and 21 genuses were observed, prevailing the faneropyto species. The natural regeneration increased 35% in the first 11 months. Later on, a decreasing in the seedling emergencies was observed, reaching 10.5% at the end of the evaluation period (2004). The natural regeneration increased in the first months and decreased after the shrubs appearance. The vegetation associated to the Pinus tropicalis recolonized the area quickly after the fires and new species appeared.  It stands out the possility of managing the natural regeneration as a way to re-establish the areas affected by the fires.