Data from: Dynamics of dry forests in New Caledonia after protection against large herbivores

These datasets were used in the following manuscript: Ibanez, T., Boissenin, M., Bourget, E., Eltabet, N., Gillespie, T., Héquet, V., Lagrange, A., Vandrot, H. Dynamics of dry forests in New Caledonia after protection against large herbivores. Submitted for publication in Bois et Forêts des Tropiques. Data users are kindly asked to cite this manuscript. We also encourage potential users to contact the Agence Néo-Calédonienne de la Biodiversité (ANCB) to discuss potential collaboration ([e-mail]). Between July 2007 and November 2009, ten 2 × 50 m plots were established at each of six dry forest sites in New Caledonia. For each site, at least three plots were located in open environments, three in closed-canopy forest, and three along the forest edge. The remaining plot was positioned in a degraded formation representative of local conditions. Edge plots were installed perpendicular to the forest margin, with half of the plot extending into open habitat and half into closed-canopy forest. Each plot was permanently marked with metal stakes at both ends, enabling a 50 m transect to be re-established for subsequent surveys. Vegetation was recorded within 1 m on either side of this transect. All woody individuals with a diameter at breast height (DBH; measured at 1.3 m) ≥ 2 cm were identified to species whenever possible and measured (Data_large.csv). For multi-stemmed individuals, only the largest stem was measured. Individuals with DBH < 2 cm were recorded within ten 1 m² subplots placed systematically along each plot (Data_small.csv). Plots were resurveyed between November 2018 and March 2024. Of the 60 original plots, 47 could be relocated and resampled. Stakes could not be relocated for one closed-canopy plot, five edge plots, and seven open-environment plots. At the Marais Fournier site, no open-environment plots and only one edge plot were successfully resurveyed. Variable descriptions Site – Name of the study site Plot_ID – Plot identifierOpenness – Openness level of the environment (open, edge, closed)Year_1 – Year of the first surveyYear_2 – Year of the second survey NN_Y1 – Number of individuals of native species in the first surveyNN_Y2 – Number of individuals of native species in the second survey RN_Y1 – Number of native species in the first surveyRN_Y2 – Number of native species in the second survey NI_Y1 – Number of individuals of non-native species in the first surveyNI_Y2 – Number of individuals of non-native species in the second survey RI_Y1 – Number of non-native species in the first surveyRI_Y2 – Number of non-native species in the second survey