Tree Census Data of Tropical Dry Forest Succession in Permanent Plots at Palo Verde National Park, Costa Rica (1999–2004), Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS)

This data package contains tree census data from eight permanent forest plots established in 1999 across four successional sites within the tropical dry forest of Palo Verde National Park, Guanacaste, Costa Rica (10°21’N, 85°21’W). The plots were established to study forest structure, composition, and successional dynamics under different disturbance histories in the lowland dry forest ecosystem of northwestern Costa Rica. Each site represents a distinct successional stage, ranging from an early grass-dominated field (Jaragua) to an older partially disturbed remnant forest stand (Varillal). Two permanent 50×50 m plots were established at each site and subdivided into 10×10 m subplots. All woody stems with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 10 cm were tagged, identified to species, and spatially referenced using X–Y coordinates within each plot. For multi-stemmed individuals, all stems meeting the diameter threshold were measured separately. Tree diameter, condition, and taxonomic identification were recorded during four measurement campaigns in 1999, 2001, 2002, and 2004. The dataset includes species identity, DBH, measurement year, individual condition, and subplot coordinates for each stem. These data provide a baseline for understanding forest regeneration, mortality, recruitment, and species composition changes in tropical dry forest succession under varying land-use histories. The dataset represents the historical component of an ongoing long-term monitoring program of forest succession conducted by the Organization for Tropical Studies at Palo Verde National Park, led, developed and supported by Eugenio González since its establishment in 1999.