Influence of climate warming and resin collection on the growth of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) in a subtropical forest, southern China

Influence of climate warming and resin collection on the growth of Masson pine. Using tree-ring analysis coupled with the resin tapping history and climate data, we investigated the effects of climate warming and resin collection on the radial growth of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) in southern China. Fifty Masson pine trees from untapped (LDC) and tapped (WLS) stands were sampled from Changting, southern China. The radial growth of Masson pine at the LDC site was positively influenced by previous November and current February temperature and current July precipitation. There is an abrupt change point of the LDC series in 2002, which may be linked with regional climate warming. An increasing trend in the LDC series over the last 20 years is also found. Resin collection had a negative effect on the radial growth of Masson pine at the WLS site, especially on old trees. The positive effect of climate warming on the radial growth of Masson pine was offset by the negative effect of the resin collection. Therefore, in order to keep timber production, the unplanned resin collection should be forbidden.