Florencia Montagnini
Professor in the Practice of Tropical Forestry and Director of the Program in Tropical Forestry of the Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry
Research Statement
My research focuses on variables controlling the sustainability of managed ecosystems in the tropics, with special emphasis on Latin America. In my research, I collaborate with institutions such as CATIE (Tropical Agriculture Research and Higher Education Center, Costa Rica), as well as with universities in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Argentina, and Mexico. I direct the Program in Tropical Forestry, which is part of the Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry. The research is part of the Program, and we also conduct other program activities such as workshops and seminars for dissemination of results.I am currently conducting projects to examine the role of native tree species in plantations and agroforestry systems in reclaiming degraded areas with species of economic value; the identification and quantification of ecological services provided by forests (biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration); and tropical plantation silviculture. My research integrates ecological principles with economic and social factors in the design of sustainable land use schemes in tropical regions.
In Costa Rica, we are continuing long term research on the role of native tree species in plantations and agroforestry ecosystems in reclaiming degraded areas with species of economic value. We are currently testing our allometric models and using them to estimate carbon sequestration in experimental plantations as well as in farmers’ land. In addition, we are measuring seed rain, seed dispersal and animal activity in mixed and pure plantations with native species to estimate the value of plantations in recovering biodiversity in degraded pasture landscapes.
In Misiones, NE Argentina, we are following up on experiments started in the 1990s, consisting of pure and mixed plantations with native timber species on degraded land; enrichment of degraded forests; and native trees in agroforestry with commercial crops. We continue the long-term follow up of the experimental settings, and we plant trees in local municipalities, as part of community forestry projects for obtaining tree products and improving local environmental conditions.
In Santiago del Estero we are conducting research on agrosilvopastoral systems and dry forest restoration. The Chaco, a semi-arid region that was severely logged in the 1900s, covers over a million km2 in Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. Successful restoration techniques are needed for alleviating environmental and economic problems under harsh ecologic and economic conditions.
In Mexico, in the state of Hidalgo we are conducting evaluations of forest ecosystem degradation and selecting tree species for restoration. This is a participatory research/dissemination project. Local communities participate in all activities of the project including nursery management and tree planting.
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