CONCLUSIONS

Indigenous forest species are generally hard to establish in deforested areas. A time tested method described here has shown that those species can be successfully established and such lands can be gradually converted to woodlands with the assistance of appropriate silvicultural methods. Once tree cover is established to provide shade it will further facilitates the establishment of more and more seedlings. When regeneration continues progressively for several years a sufficient seedling and sapling bank is created and the land comes to a self-sustained level paving the way for a multi-storied natural forest. The empirical experience gained from this study and the past management work in the Arboretum and Woodlands shows the potential of rejuvenating degraded Dry Zone lands with assisted natural regeneration.
