Restoration potential of native forests after removal of conifer plantation: A perspective from Australia

Abstract

This study investigates whether undertaking a rotation of pine plantation on abandoned farmland facilitates the return of native species. Plant functional traits were used as a means of assessing the effects of land-use change on vegetation. We explored the relationships among plant traits, time since harvesting and environmental variables for the vegetation found in Pinus radiata plantations after clear-felling. Vegetation was monitored 1-3. years following harvesting and repeated eight years later. We compared species richness, composition and traits to those in reference native forest and abandoned farmland. There was a significant temporal shift in attribute associations of harvested pla..