Natural regeneration of the high Andean secondary forest under the influence of different types of native plant cover and exotic plantations in the El Cajas National Park in the Azuay Provice.

The High Andean region has been characterized by a constant change in land use, by deforestation and abandonment of non -productive areas, as well as the establishment and lack of management of forest plantations with exotic species of the genres Pinus and Eucalyptus. Although exotic species have been attributed negative impacts on native vegetation and soil, it is known that these species can facilitate natural regeneration and the consequent formation of secondary forests; Although there are few studies at the Andes level. This project seeks to describe the natural regeneration patterns of montan secondary forests developed under the influence of pine and eucalyptus abandoned in the protected areas of Mazán and Llaviuco in the Cajas National Park in the Azuay province. For which wealth, diversity and floristic structure will be evaluated at two levels i) at the ecosystem level and II) in primary and secondary forests subjected to secondary succession. Finally, the relationship and variation of the edaphic conditions within each successional state of the secondary plant communities investigated will be evaluated. With this studies it is expected to contribute to the management of pine and eucalyptus plantations as facilitators of the restoration and conservation of native vegetation. On the other hand, this proposal has the potential to integrate within a research platform known as "Transfer Project", funded by the German Research Foundation and led by Ecuadorian and German universities.