Natural reforestation of abandoned eucalypt plantations in the Brasilia National Forest

  • Authors:
  • Charles E. Knadler, Jr.;Georgia Sinimbu

  • Affiliations:
  • Alpine, UT;The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings of the Winter Simulation Conference
  • Year:
  • 2011

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Abstract

Using data from a census of trees in both native Cerrado and eucalypt plantation areas in the Brasilia National Forest, a discrete event simulation was developed and used to predict the results of fifty-years of natural reforestation. The model predicts long-term equilibrium between eucalypt and native Cerrado species with the eucalypt population dominating. Field observations suggest that eucalypt species are not a threat to the adjacent undisturbed Cerrado areas. It is hypothesized that the native grasses inhibit the successful dispersal and germination of the Eucalyptus' anemochoric (air-borne) seeds in the Cerrado habitat.