These low altitude forests occur along steep slopes.
The low-altitude forest is known locally as 'Restinga forest', a close-to-the-sea and seasonally flooded forest, referred to in our study as 'sea-level site' (Núcleo Picinguaba, 23°17′ 34′S and 45°02′ 11′W).
However, LAI appears to be higher in low-altitude forests compared to forests at higher altitudes.
It is apparent from these maps that the low-altitude forests around the coast store less carbon than those in the mountains.
The explanation for low ACD in the low-altitude forests is most probably related to humans, because many areas have been modified through clearing, fire, invasive species, and logging, leaving a patchy distribution of undisturbed forests.
Two forest communities – high altitude moist afromontane forest and low altitude dry afromontane forest – are identified.
At low altitude, soils under the natural forest land use system had the highest mean soil exchangeable Na+ concentrations (0.85 cmol /kg soil) while those under E. saligna plantation had the lowest concentration (0.58 cmol /kg soil).
At low altitude, the soils under natural forest land cover systems also had the highest mean soil total nitrogen content (0.28%), while those under savanna land use had the lowest values (0.19%).
At low altitude, the soils under natural forest and those under natural savanna land cover systems had the highest mean soil organic carbon content (3.10%) followed by soils under E. saligna plantations (3.05%) (Table 4).
At low altitude, the soils under the natural forest land cover system had the highest percentage of clay content (18.5%) while those under E. saligna plantation had the lowest (12.8%).
These groups are distinct arboreal or non-arboreal formations and give pictures of the vegetation from the arid coastal herbs located on the seashore to the deciduous forest developed at low altitude.
