The ecology, silviculture and biogeography of mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla): a critical review of the evidence

Recent studies of Swietenia macrophylla King argue that natural regeneration of this highly valued tree is episodic and occurs only after infrequent catastrophic disturbance. An analysis of 14 population size-distributions in natural forests shows that population structure varies across this species' range. In forests that are in successional transition from open deciduous forest to evergreen forest there is often prolific regeneration. We show that in this type of forest in southern Pará (Brazil) patches of even-sized trees are small. Large-scale disturbance may be necessary for regeneration only in evergreen forests where little light penetrates through the canopy. The transition zone between evergreen and deciduous forest in Pará is moving south, and we propose that mahogany populations to the north are in the process of competitive exclusion. Sustainable harvesting of mahogany must take account of the successional stage of the forest