Presenter: Hans Verbeeck - UGent
COFOREC made operational a forest plot network for long-term ecological research on biodiversity and eco-system functioning in natural and reforested areas along a large environmental gradient in a highly diverse, strongly anthropogenic tropical landscape (Andean-Chocó). With COFOREC II we aim at 1) improving data quantity and quality (taxonomy, functional traits, biomass estimates) of our permanent plots, 2) enhancing the research skills of young local ecologists.