Stand Dynamics of Tropical Seasonal Evergreen Forest in Central Cambodia

抄録

Information on tree and stand growth is essential to ensure sustained timber yield in tropical natural forests, but very little is known about stand dynamics of tropical seasonal forests, especially in the mainland Southeast Asia. Stand dynamics of seasonal evergreen forest in central Cambodia were estimated from 20 sample plots measured in 1998 and 2003. Data for all trees with diameter at breast height (DBH)≧10cm and for commercial species DBH≧10cm or DBH≧minimum diameter cutting limit (MDCL) were evaluated. In 1998, 67 species, of which 19 were commercial trees with DBH≧MDCL, were found at tree densities of 544.5 and 23.4 trees/ha, basal areas of 23.8 and 6.3m^2/ha, and stem volumes of 192.9 and 64.3m^3/ha. The mean diameter increment between 1998 and 2003 was 0.33 for all species and 0.32cm for commercial species; mean mortality rates were 2.4% and 0.5%, mean recruitment rates were 2.5% and 1.4% and volume increments were 1.09 and 0.86m^3/ha. These values are similar to those reported from tropical rain forests in Amazon and Southeast Asia. Estimated volume increment (0.86m^3/ha/year) for commercial trees with DBH≧MDCL was significantly larger than the figure (0.33m^3/ha/year) previously used in Cambodian management systems.