OAK FORESTS TYPES OF Quercus humboldtii IN THE Guantiva-La Rusia-Iguaque CORRIDOR (SANTANDER-BOYACÁ, COLOMBIA)

ABSTRACT Characterizations of oak forests according to their floristic composition and structure and the identification of the main use requirements of local communities were performed. This permitted recommendations for the sustainable use and preservation of these forest types in the Guantiva-La Rusia-Iguaque conservation corridor (Santander-Boyacá, Colombia). The oak forests correspond to the Quercus humboldtii - Billia rosea major forest formation, which can be categorized into a hierarchical structure of seven forest types. The Q. humboldtii - Ocotea calophylla forests present in the high Andean fringe (>2200-3200 m.a.s.l); the Q. humboldtii - Alchornea grandiflora forests, common in the Andean region include two types of forests, Q. humboldtii - Blakea cuatrecasii, and Q. humboldtii - Cyathea multiflora forests; furthermore, these types of forests comprise the Q. humboldtii - Daphnopsis caracasana and Q. humboldtii - Pouteria baehniana forests. The final forest type is the Virola macrocarpa - Q. humboldtii forests present in the sub-Andean life zone. According to interviews with members of local communities oak forests are considered the main components of ecosystems of high cultural and social value. The interviews identified two principle uses of oaks, for fuel and for land tenure and property maintenance (fence posts, stakes for crops, timber and tool handles). According to ecological characterization and conservation status assessments the Virola macrocarpa - Q. humboldtii, Q. humboldtii - Pouteria baehniana and Q. humboldtii - Daphnopsis caracasana forests can be used by the community with technical prescriptions. The Q. humboldtii - Blakea cuatrecasii and Q. humboldtii - Ocotea calophylla forests should not be used under any circumstance and should be subject to strict strategies for their protection and ecological restoration. The future of oak forests is uncertain unless appropriate strategies based on the generation of co-management agreements with local communities for sustainable use and conservation are proposed and implemented. RESUMEN Los bosques de robles en el corredor Guantiva- La Rusia-Iguaque corresponden a la formación mayor de Quercus humboldtii y Billia rosea, los cuales se clasificaron en una estructura jerárquica de siete tipos: Bosques de Q. humboldtii y Ocotea calophylla (franja altoandina >3200 m), la gran formación de Q. humboldtii y Alchornea grandiflora, en la región andina con el robledal de Q. humboldtii -Blakea cuatre