The Effect of Abandoned Plantations of Pinus patula and Cupressus lusitanica on Soils and Regeneration of a Tropical Montane Rain Forest in Colombia

Researchers working in the central Andes of Colombia compared values for species richness, biodiversity, and physical and chemical soil characteristics for a mature lower montane rain forest (LMRF) and abandoned plantations of introduced Pinus patula and Cupressus lusitanica. The abandoned plantations were roughly 21 years old. The LMRF lands exhibited higher species richness and diversity (based on the Shannon and Simpson indices) than the abandoned plantation lands. The LMRF region supported 56 species and 30 families of higher plants. The P. patula plantation supported 26 species and 15 families of higher plants. The C. lusitanica plantation supported 18 species and 10 families of higher plants. No remarkable differences were detected in the soil physical and chemical properties between different land uses.