Regeneration and Residual stand after Wokabaut Samii Operations in seasonally inundated forest near Lae, Papua New Guinea.

Abstract

This study compares undisturbed seasonally inundated lowland rain forest with the same forest 6-8 months after completion of commercial wokabaut somil operations, and with similar forest 6-8 months after conventional logging took place. The results suggest that the commercial wokabaut somil operation reduces the basal area of the total standing stock, the number of trees in the lower diameter classes, and the number of species present in the area directly affected by the operations. The authors conclude that the operation will not be sustainable, unless better felling practices are adopted and TSI measures are implemented following harvesting. While the basal area of the residual stock was greater, and regeneration more abundant in the conventionally logged area than in the wokabaut somil area, the latter operation showed greater harvesting efficiency and less felling damage to the trees in lower diameter classes.