Establishment of early-stage planted seedlings of a native woody species under a closed canopy of invasive Casuarina equisetifolia in the subtropical oceanic Ogasawara Islands

A groundbreaking study in the Ogasawara Islands demonstrates that native tree seedlings, specifically Schima mertensiana, can successfully establish and grow under a closed canopy of invasive Casuarina equisetifolia without requiring its removal. This finding challenges conventional restoration practices, which often rely on extirpating invasive species to restore native ecosystems. Researchers planted seedlings of varying initial sizes and monitored their survival and growth for 69 months, observing over 75% survival rates with steady growth across all size classes. The study provides a novel approach to conservation, suggesting that planted native seedlings can thrive in invasive-dominated forests, at least for several years, thereby offering a potential strategy for restoring degraded ecosystems without the need for aggressive invasive species management.

Hata, K., & Kachi, N. (2017). Establishment of early-stage planted seedlings of a native woody species under a closed canopy of invasive Casuarina equisetifolia in the subtropical oceanic Ogasawara Islands. Journal of Forest Research, 22(2), 135–140. https://doi.org/10.1080/13416979.2017.1284031