PHOTO ESSAY

Restoration of a Tropical Forest: The Orchid

and Botanical Garden of Puyo, Ecuador
Matthew Bare and Omar Tello

E cuador stretches from the Pacific

coast up and across the Andes
Mountains and back down to the
headwacers of the Amazon. The
counrry contains roughly 5% of the
worlds biodiversity in just 0.17% of
its land area (Pearson and Beletsky
2005). Clearing of tropical forests is
driven by a multitude of geopolitical
factors, but the leading causes in the
Amazon are harvest of valuable timber
species and subsequent development
of cattle pasture. Owing to low soil
fertility, tropical regions often support
only two head of cattle per year on
one hectare, and grazing productivité'
begins to drop significandy after only
five to ten years (Nebel and Wrighi
1993).
In a seven-hectare plot of land
located at 950 meters elevation in In 1980 the restoration area and surrounding lands were being used for low intensity cattle
the Andes at the headwaters of the grazing. Cattle ranching has since actually decreased In the region as yields have decreased,
Amazon, a restoration effort was frequently making ranching unprofitable. Photo by Omar Tello
undertaken in 1980 to create a flilly
functioning secondary forest with a secondary forest was located two to The Restoration Process
diversity of plants, insects, and birds three kilometers away.
comparable to that in a primary forest. Tropical rainforests, despite their
This restoration was the inspiration
"The land had previously been used of OmarTelio, an Ecuadorian accoun- biodiversity, are naturally poor in soil
for cattle grazing and was in a much tant who chose to follow a dream and qualit)' and quantity. Average depths
degraded condition, with litde or no create a tropical forest out of an aban- of copsoil range from only 30 to 60
topsoil and primarily a monoculture doned pasture. For the first ten years, centimeters; moreover, soils are tra-
of gramalote pasture grass or car- Sr. Tello ptu^sued most ofthe restora- ditionally acidic and low in nutrients
petgrass {Axonopus scoparius). From tion work by himself, by trial and error (Jordan 1985, Kauffman etal. 1998).
local accounts, we estimated that the (often with what seemed like more Because ofthe much depleted condi-
land was first cleared between 1920 errors than successes), and without tion of the soil, we conducted soil
and 1930 for sugar cane cultivation, support from universities, NGOs, or rehabilitation and fertilization over
and later shifted to catrle ranching. the government. We are not attempt- the entire restoration area. Beginning
By 1980, all neighboring lands were ing a scientific report here; most of our in 1980, soil amendments were cre-
occupied by pasture, and the closest observations are general, and very little ated from locally acquired materi-
als, mostly sawdust and sugar cane
specific data exists. However, we wish
husks. Wood scraps were added to
to present the experience as a lesson in
Ecological Restoration Vol. 28, No. 1, 2010 increase organic matter and prevent
ISSN 1522-4740 E-ISSN 1543-4079 the practice of ecological restoration to
erosion, and manures from chicken
©2010 by the Board of Regents of the be shared with all.
and guinea pigs were added to raise
University of Wisconsin System.

March 2010 ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION 28:1 81

 Omar Telto quit his job as an accountant in
1980 in order to follow his dream of creating
a forest out of an abandoned pasture. Locals
called him crazy for fertilizing his land with
savfdust instead of grazing cows. Today, 30
years later, the reserve is self-sustainable from
tourist entrance fees, has received enough
private donations to build an interpreta-
tive museum and classroom, and receives
students from Ecuador and abroad to cortduct
research. Photo by Matt Bare

Restorationist Omar Tello collects plants for his project from a nearby logged forest. Ecuador suf-
fers from one of the highest rates of deforestation in the entire Amazon basin, and the majority
of deforested land is converted to cattle ranching. Photo by Angela Telio

The reserve works with volunteers and

students from Ecuador and around the world.
Omar Tello (right) surveys the forest with a
botanist from Germany who has helped clas-
sify plants in the reserve. White the reserve
has no formal agreements with Ecuadorian
universities, student internships and theses
have created a foundation for future research
in the reserve. Photo by Malt Bare

consumed by insect pests, specifically

grasshoppers, ladybugs, and various
bunerfly larvae. Planted species espe-
cially vulnerable to pests included
Jacaranda {Jacaranda copaia), Brazil-
Compost was prepared by mixing chicken manure, sawdust, and sugar cane husks. This compost Ian fire tree {Schizolobium spp.), and
was crucial to the success of almost all trees planted in the restoration. Photo by Matt Bare cedrela {CedreLi s'p^.). Other common
trees of the region, mahogany {Swi-
nitrogen content. For plantings, we new species and individuals have been etenia macrophylld), and a tree known
collected seeds from nurseries and sur- added less frequently. Similarly, active locally as guayacán {Tabehuia spp.),
rounding forests, cultivated them in soil rehabilitation was carried out successfully germinated in seed beds
seed beds, and then transplanted the between 1980 and 2000; subsequently but failed to survive on-site because
seedlings. New individuals and species fertilization has been performed only of soil infertility.
were added several times a month for on selected species. After five to ten years, we saw plants
20 years following the beginning of In the first years of restoration, begin to grow with higher rates of
the restoration; for the last ten years, almost all species we planted were success as topsoi! noticeably increased;

82 March 2010 ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION 28:1

 (Top Left): [acaranda {¡acarando copaia) and
stilt palm {Irianea deltoideo) are visible in
this photo from 2005. The restored canopy
reached 10 to 15 meters after 25 years. A
particular emphasis in the reserve is placed on
orchids, as it is located in one of the regions
of highest orchid endemism in the world. We
use orchids as a vehicle to educate visitors
about the importance of biodiversity and
ecological restoration. Photo by Omar Tello

(Bottom Left): Lupe Tello, Omar Tello's wife,

teaches local students about the importance
of insects and the food chain. She is in a
newly built interpretive center, made possible
by private donations of visitors to the reserve.
The museum is fiiled with photos taken every
year of the restoration, beginning In 1980.
Visitors can see the progression of the forest
colonization, beginning with grasshoppers
and increasing to include the current diversity
of spiders, amphibians, snakes, and small
mammals. Photo by Matt Bare

topsoil was measured to a greater

depth, and a greater quantity of
organic matter was observed. The first
tree species to grow successfully were
uva del monte [Pourouma bicolor),
guarumo {Cecropia sciadophylla), and
pigue {Piptocoma discolor). The first
species observed to produce seeds were
sweerwood {Ocotea spp.) and Jaca-
randa, aftet approximately ten years.
After about 16 to 20 years, we saw
a sharp increase in insect diversity,
including a variety of pollinating and
predatory species including spiders.
In addition, as springs began to flow
in areas that had previously been dry,
we observed a greater abundance of
reptiles and amphibians. Twenty years
after the inception of the reserve, we
ceased rehabilitation and fertilization
of the soil. An adequate layer of topsoil
existed, enough trees were present to
.inchor the soil, and leaf litrer was pro-
viding appropriate levels of nutrients
to the soil. Additionally, insect diver-
sity and trophic levels were regulat-
ing plant herbivory by insects. Today,
almost 30 years since the creation of
the reserve, the majority of plant spe-
cies are reproducing without assistance,
and the topsoil layer is comparable to
that of primary forests (30-60 cm).
Hand fertilization is still necessary with
certain tree species, namely the slower
growing hardwoods such as mahogany
and ceibo {Ceiba spp.)

March 2010 ECOLOCICAL RESTORATION 28:1 t» 83

 Omar Tello takes local students on a tour of the reserve, pointing out medicinal plants used by the indigenous cultures of the Amazon, edible piants,
orchids, and more. The reserve is working to begin collaborations with local NGOs to expand their work in schools in order to have a greater impact
in the field of environmental education in Ecuador. Photo by Matt Bare

Reflections regulated by spiders, amphibians, and to the abandonment of certain cattle

Our eíForcs indicate chat rehabilitation reptiles. The reemergence of freshwa- ranches, there are actually more forest
of degraded rainforest may require sig- ter springs was crucial for creating new patches in the area surrounding the
nificant manual labor to build soil in habitats for different trophic levels. restoration than there were in 1980.
areas where soil degradation is high. TTiis experience is backed by other Connecting the restoration area to an
Two key elements were necessary for studies showing rhat greater diversity ecological corridor is one priority that
our restoration: a sufficient quantity of leads to greater overall ecosystem sta- we would like to pursue in the future.
healthy topsoil and control of Insect bility and pest control (for example, Currently, we are working with the
pests. Certain tree species, especially Kricherl998). local authorities to acquire neighbor-
uva del monte and guarumo, played a Distance from surrounding for- ing land (see www. orch ideo nservation
significant role in regenerating topsoil ests was a major factor influencing coalition.org).
because of their copious leaf litter, rhe presence of insect species in the Another important factor in restora-
a fiact corroborated in other studies reserve. Almost all insect species tion was the selection of a diversity of
(Malmer et al. 1998). A diversity of colonized the reserve from adjacent tree species co include those thac grow
plant and insect species was also cru- secondary forest and more distant easily in degraded soils and others that
cial in order to control pest otitbreaks, primary forest. A closer proximity aid in nutrient cycling and provide
and this was possible only after the CO secondary and especially primary bird and animal habicat. In addi-
forest began to grow and build up forest mighc have provided a greater tion, soil rehabilitation, an invaluable
defense mechanisms. The same insect stability of insect diversity in the first component of our restoration, was
pests from 1980 exist today but are years ofthe reserve, aiding in the con- accomplished with locally acquired
trol of insect plagues. Today, owing materials, such as chicken manure and

84 * March 2010 ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION 28:1

sawdust, but required careful moni- Acknowledgments Tropical Forest Ecosystems: Characteris-
toring. If we had abandoned our soil The authors would like offer sincere grati- tics, Ecology, and Management. Berlin:
Springer-Verlag.
restoration eíForts after even ten years, tude to Omar Tello's family for their support
Nebel. B.J. and R.T. Wright. 1993.
planted trees would have mosdy been and friendship, and to Peace Corps Ecuador Environmental Science: The Way the
replaced by invasive pasture and pio- for making this project possible. World Works. Chicago: University of
neer species. Currendy, in 2009, little Chicago Press.
hand managetnent is conducted in the References Pearson. D.L. and L. Bdetsky. 2005.
restoration, and we assume that the Jordan, C.F. 1985. Soils of the Amazon Ecuador and the Galapagos: Traveler's
forest can maintain, if not increase, Rainforest. Pages 83-94 in G.T. Wildlifi Guide. Northampton MA:
Prance and T.E. Lovejoy (eds), Interlink Publishing.
its current diversity as it has for the
last 29 years. Amazonia. Oxford; Pergamon Press.
Kauffman, S., W. Somhroek and S.
Ecuador, in addition to many other
Mantel. 1998. Soils of rainforests
tropical countries, is paying more characterization and major constraints
attention to the field of reforestation. of dominant forest soils in the humid Matt Bare is a Peace Corps volunteer
Worldwide, climate change treaties tropics. Pages 20-25 in A. Schulte luorking in Ecuador with the reserve. His
are beginning to include more incen- and D. Ruhiyat (ed.s), Soils of Trop- contact information is Casilla 16 01 710,
tives for carbon sequestration through ical Forest Ecosystems: Characteris- Puyo, Ecuador, mattbareO3@gmail.com.
tics, Ecology and Management. Bedin:
reforestation and tropical forest con-
Springer-Verlag. Omar Tillo is the owner of the Orchid and
servation, and we hope that our res- Botanical Garden of Puyo, Ecuador, and
Kricher, John. 1997. A Neotropical
toration efFort can serve as a model Companion. Princeton, New Jersey: has spent the last 30 years of his life creat-
for future restoration activities in the Princeton Universitj' Press. ing this project. He can be reached
Amazon region. Malmer, A., E. Johannson and M. Kluge. at Jardin Botánico las Orquideas,
1988. Natural rehahil¡ration ofdis- Barrio Los Angeles, Puyo, Ecuador, Jbl_
rurbed tropical rainfore.st soils in orquideas^ahoo. com; also visit www
Sabah, MaJaj^ia. Pages 199-205 in h. .jardinbotanicolasorquideas. com.
Schulte and D. Ruhiyat {cás^. Soils of

March 2010 ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION 28:1 85

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