The Andean montane forests provide a wide range of ecosystem services like water supply, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity preservation. Restoration of these forests is critical due to their degraded state and the need to recover, maintain and enhance the ecosystem services they provide. However, we lack understanding of aboveground biomass ( AGB ) accumulation in restored Andean montane forests. AGB is a key indicator of ecosystem productivity and provides essential data on vegetation carbon stocks, permitting the assess successfulness of restoration efforts. In 2010 the initiative Más Bosques para Medellín was formulated in Medellín City, tropical Andes, Colombia, aiming to restore the forests located in the surrounding rural areas of the city, with interest in preserving the ecosystems services like water supply. The project established 548 ha of mixed plantations with native species. After 13 years, our study aims to developed in situ allometric equations and to evaluate AGB accumulation to assess restoration performance. We measured, harvested, and weighted 144 individuals from these arrangements to fit a general equation for the project and six specific equations for each one of the six most frequent species. The AGB had a positive correlation with diameter at breast height ( D ), total height ( H ) and specific wood density ( WD ). The best general equation uses D and WD as predictors ( R ² = 0.928). The specific species equations certainly responded to the functional traits of each species. Using the latest inventory of permanent plots of the project we estimated a mean AGB accumulation of 41.91 ± 30.34 Mg ha ^–1 and a total accumulation of 22,996.05 Mg of AGB for the 548 ha. We compared these results with studies developed for natural forest in the region and other land covers. We found contrast behaviors in the AGB accumulation across our study zones. The developed equations have broad applicability across the Andes region, offering valuable insights for similar restoration initiatives. Furthermore, will facilitate the assessment of current restoration efforts and inform scientifically based decisions for future mixed plantation practices.

The growing deforestation of tropical forests requires the implementation of restoration actions capable of assisting the recovery of biodiversity and the functioning of these ecosystems. This research aimed to identify the environmental factors that influence the abundance and diversity of woody plant recruitment in an Andean forest restoration project in Medellin (Colombia). Data from woody plant individuals taller than 80 cm were collected in 22 plots of 200·m⁻². The environmental factors selected were edaphic variables, plantation structure, slope, elevation, prior land use, and landscape forest cover. Generalized linear models (GLM) were used to analyze recruitment densit and Linear Mixed Models (LMM) to assess recruited species richness, diversity, and dominance. Woody plant recruitment attributes in our study area were similar to those of secondary succession in an Andean forest, but planted trees contributed little to recruitment density and diversity. While recruitment density was affected by slope, canopy closure, and landscape forest cover, recruitment diversity was influenced by physical (bulk density) and chemical (pH, aluminum, Cation Exchange Capacity) edaphic factors, planted tree diversity (species richness and composition), canopy closure, and the mortality rate of planted trees. We conclude that sites with lower mortality rates of planted trees and denser canopies enhance both recruitment density and diversity, indicating a synergy between active restoration and passive regeneration processes.

The growing deforestation of tropical forests requires the implementation of restoration actions capable of assisting the recovery of biodiversity and functioning of these ecosystems. This research aimed to identify the environmental factors that influence woody plant recruitment abundance and diversity in an Andean forest restoration project in Medellin (Colombia). Data from all individuals taller than 80 cm was collected in 22 plots of 200 m2. The environmental factors selected were edaphic variables, plantation structure, slope, elevation, prior land use and landscape forest cover. A generalized linear model was adjusted for recruitment density, and linear mixed models were built for recruited species richness, diversity and dominance. Woody plant recruitment attributes in our study area were similar to a typical secondary succession in an Andean forest, but planted trees contributed little to these attributes. While recruitment density was affected by slope, canopy closure and landscape forest cover, recruitment diversity was influenced by physical (bulk density) and chemical (pH, aluminum, CEC) edaphic factors, planted trees diversity (species richness and composition), canopy closure and mortality rate of planted trees. We conclude that a good development of planted trees enhances both recruitment attributes, indicating a synergy between active restoration and passive regeneration processes.

La restauración ecológica de áreas degradadas por actividades agrícolas y ganaderas es una necesidad creciente. El presente estudio se realizó con el objetivo de evaluar el desempeño de 29 especies nativas plantadas y su relación con algunas variables edáficas y topográficas en áreas del programa “Más Bosques para Medellín”. Este implementa un modelo de restauración ecológica con especies nativas en zonas rurales del municipio de Medellín. Se tomaron las variables dasométricas diámetro a la base del cuello (DBC), diámetro a la altura de pecho (DAP) y altura total (HT) en 30 parcelas circulares permanentes. Se analizó la relación entre el incremento en volumen de las especies con las variables edáficas y se calculó el índice de plasticidad fenotípica (principal medio de aclimatación a la heterogeneidad ambiental). Los mayores incrementos en volumen estuvieron relacionados con los sitios que presentaron mayor pH, mayor contenido de macronutrientes y alto contenido de materia orgánica. La tasa de crecimiento de las especies no mostró relación significativa con la plasticidad. Especies como Alnus acuminata, Montanoa quadrangularis y Croton magdalenensis, mostraron los mayores valores de incremento en volumen, lo cual sugiere que tienen alto potencial en las primeras etapas del proceso de restauración ecológica. Mientras que especies con índices de plasticidad altos y medios y con tasas de crecimiento bajas, como Weinmannia pubescens, Cecropia angustifolia, Meriania nobilis, Vismia sp., Turpinia occidentalis y Myrcia sp., se podrían introducir en etapas más avanzadas del proceso, una vez se haya controlado la competencia con las pasturas y otras condiciones.