Study on ecological restoration of vegetation along Laoying Section of Dabao Hingway
大保高速公路老营段路域植被生态恢复

Restoration of roadside vegetation restoration is a key issue in both road ecology and restoration ecology. In order to cealrify the effect of restoration practices and restoration duration on process and mechanism of vegetation restoration, a case study was done on the reforested lands which were over-cultivated with agricultural development and rural growth along Laoying Section of Dabao Highway, Longitudinal Range-Gorge Region of Yunnan Province. There are 8 different reforest practices (RP), which are operationally natural restoration or planting with different tree seedlings. The proportions of native species and funactional groups (tree, shrub and herbage) in vegetation composition by recording the plant species in the different restoration plots (5-8 hm2 each in sizes). Plant coverage, height and species diversity of both plant community and functional groups were investigated and similarities of different communities were identified by randomly investigating three 10m×10m quadrats. The results show that the species composition, plant cover and species diversity of replanted communities varied with reforest strategies and time. Higher species number, proportion of native species and woody plants, canopy cover and species diversity can be can be found in the plots that were naturally restored plots or replanted with native trees. Preliminary conclusion can be drawn that plant coverage, species diversity might be used major indicators to assess the ecosystem function status in vegetation restoration. Natural restoration or reforestation with native dominant plants can be reasonable choice for vegetation restoration or improvement along roadside of Dabao Highway.