TIEMPOS DE RECOMPOSICIÓN DE LA DIVERSIDAD ARBÓREA A LO LARGO DE LA SUCESIÓN VEGETAL EN LOS BOSQUES DEL VALLE DE CHANCHAMAYO / JUNÍN / PERÚ

A current topic in forestry concerns the regeneration of forests and degraded lands. An important aspect in this respect refers to the timing that different forests take to recover naturally, recomposing their original levels of diversity and other parameters key to their functioning as ecosystems. The present work focuses on the above mentioned, in premontane humid forests of central Peru, in the valley of Chanchamayo, Department of Junín, between 1 000 – 1 500 masl. A total of 19 Gentry's Transects of 2 × 500 m, including all woody plants ≥ 2.5 cm Diameter at Breast Height, were performed in areas of mature forests, and forests of different ages subsequent to clearing without burning. Alpha-diversity and composition of the tree flora under these conditions were compared and analyzed. From 40 years of age on, the value of Fisher's Alfa diversity index becomes quite similar to the one of mature forests; from 30 years onwards, the taxonomic composition of species under different ages reaches a similarity of 69-73% with those in mature forests. Families, genera and species were compared, and it was found out that forests up to 20 years are characterized by the presence of Piperaceae; from 30 years on, by the Moraceae family.