Limestone Plateau Cloud Forest
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
The Reference State (1) may transition to the Naturalized Grassland State (2) by mechanical clearing of the land followed by invasion by or planting of introduced forage species.
More details -
Transition T1B
The Reference State (1) may transition to the Cleared and Abandoned State (3) by clearing the forest, temporary cultivation of crops, abandonment, and invasion by mostly introduced species.
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
The Naturalized Grassland State (2) can be restored to a facsimile of the Reference State (1) by suppressing the forage species and replanting native trees.
More details -
Transition T2A
The Naturalized Grassland State (2) will transition to the Cleared and Abandoned State (3) from community phase 2.1 if the forage species are reduced in cover and vitality by heavy grazing before abandonment, allowing invasion of the site by weedy shrub, forb, and vine species.
More details -
Restoration pathway R3B
The Cleared and Abandoned State (3) can be restored to a facsimile of the Reference State (1) by brush and weed control followed by replanting of native trees.
More details -
Restoration pathway R3A
The Cleared and Abandoned State (3) may be restored to the Naturalized Grassland State (2) by brush control, weed control, reseeding of desired forage species, and cutting back white leadtree to a shorter stature.
More details -
Transition T3A
The Cleared and Abandoned State (3) will transition to the Grazed Woodland State (4) by continued growth and spread of small Philippine acacia, possible invasion by other tree species, and closure of the overstory to shade out most shrubs, forbs, and grasses.
More details -
Restoration pathway R4A
The Grazed Woodland State (4) may be restored to a facsimile of the Reference State (1) by brush and weed control followed by replanting of native trees.
More details -
Restoration pathway R4B
The Grazed Woodland State (4) may be restored to the Cleared and Abandoned State (3) by clearing and abandoning the site, allowing lower-growing species that require sunlight to invade.
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The Reference State (1) has two community phases both consisting of a diverse native forest.
Submodel
Description
The Naturalized Grassland State (2) consists of two community phases consisting mostly of introduced grass species.
Submodel
Description
The Cleared and Abandoned State (3) consists of one community phase dominated by weedy, mostly introduced species.
Submodel
Description
The Grazed Woodland State (4) consists of a variable mix of introduced tree species, sometimes with a few native species, that form a dense forest. Small Philippine acacia (Acacia confusa) may dominate, or other tree species may gradually invade a site. Cattle may forage in these forests, but carrying capacity is low (CNMI SWARS Council, 2010; Donnegan et al., 2011; Liske-Clark, 2015; Willsey et al., 2019).
Submodel
Mechanism
The Reference State (1) may transition to the Naturalized Grassland State (2) by mechanical clearing of the land followed by invasion by or planting of introduced forage species.
Mechanism
The Reference State (1) may transition to the Cleared and Abandoned State (3) by clearing the forest, temporary cultivation of crops, abandonment, and invasion by mostly introduced species.
Mechanism
The Naturalized Grassland State (2) can be restored to a facsimile of the Reference State (1) by suppressing the forage species and replanting native trees.
Mechanism
The Naturalized Grassland State (2) will transition to the Cleared and Abandoned State (3) from community phase 2.1 if the forage species are reduced in cover and vitality by heavy grazing before abandonment, allowing invasion of the site by weedy shrub, forb, and vine species.
Mechanism
The Cleared and Abandoned State (3) can be restored to a facsimile of the Reference State (1) by brush and weed control followed by replanting of native trees.
Mechanism
The Cleared and Abandoned State (3) may be restored to the Naturalized Grassland State (2) by brush control, weed control, reseeding of desired forage species, and cutting back white leadtree to a shorter stature.
Mechanism
The Cleared and Abandoned State (3) will transition to the Grazed Woodland State (4) by continued growth and spread of small Philippine acacia, possible invasion by other tree species, and closure of the overstory to shade out most shrubs, forbs, and grasses.
Mechanism
The Grazed Woodland State (4) may be restored to a facsimile of the Reference State (1) by brush and weed control followed by replanting of native trees.
Model keys
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