Abstract:

Forest development type refers to a guiding model of the nature-inclined forest management that perfectly combines the potential vegetation succession and the economic demands. In this study, We investigated differences in tree species composition, regeneration composition and regeneration status between the two different degraded secondary forests in a tropical region. The results showed the obvious difference in relation to the related parameters between the two forest types. According to the theory of the nature-inclined forest management and current conditions of the different secondary forests, two different forest development types were proposed. For the young secondary forest of early succession, the objectives of the forest development type are protective function and timber production. The dominate tree species in the future stands are Lithocarpus corneus, Syzygium cumini and Liquidambar formosana. The target diameter of Lithocarpus corneus is 50 cm and the felling age is more than 50 years, the final felling age of Syzygium cumini is more than 50 years with the target diameter of 70-60 cm, the target diameter of Liquidambar formosana is 45 cm with final felling age more than 20 years. For the older secondary forest, the main aims of the forest development type is the same as the young secondary forest, however the forest composition is different. In the future stand, the dominate tree species are Cinnamomum porrectum, Syzygium cumini, Machilus chinensis, Liquidambar formosana. The target diameter of Cinnamomum porrectum is 40 cm with felling age more than 50 years, the final felling age of Syzygium cumini is more than 50 years and its target diameter is 70-80 cm, the target diameter of Machilus chinensis is 60-70 cm with final felling age of more than 60 years. The target diameter of Liquidambar formosana is 45 cm with final felling age more than 20 years.

Key words: forest development type, tropical region, degraded secondary forests, nature-inclined forest management