Publicaciones 2026. Native fruit trees for rainforest restoration: acclimation of Atlantic Forest species planted in forested and deforested areas

ABSTRACT

Nontimber forest products can contribute to the economic development of rural areas, and specific policies have been developed to encourage their sale. Native fruits can stimulate rainforest restoration and provide a valuable food source, but the amount of fruit extracted should not exceed what the rainforest can provide. This study aimed to determine whether two fruit trees (Campomanesia xanthocarpa and Campomanesia guazumifolia) could be cultivated in deforested areas for fruit production and landscape restoration. Morpho-physiological acclimation was evaluated under three coverage levels: full sun and sparse shade in deforested areas and under the rainforest canopy. Campomanesia xanthocarpa survived and grew in these three microenvironments, and exhibited high acclimation responses, including low slenderness, specific leaf area and chlorophyll content, and high carotenoid content and transpiration. It could be used to establish orchards in deforested areas and enrich degraded rainforests. In contrast, C. guazumifloia exhibited very low survival and growth rates in open areas; therefore, it is only suitable for enhancing the economic value of degraded rainforests or for planting under the shelter of other trees. These results provide a basis for active ecological restoration in degraded rainforests and for introducing these edible fruit trees into local agroforestry systems.

GAUNA,J.M., OLGUÍN,F.Y., GORTARI,F., PINAZO,M.A. & GRACIANO,C. (2026). Native fruit trees for rainforest restoration: acclimation of Atlantic Forest species planted in forested and deforested areas. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 56, 2026: e4703. DOI: 10.1139/cjfr-2025-0123. 
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