Groundbreaking work from the University of Oxford shows that replacing cleared tropical forests with a diverse mix of saplings can speed up forest recovery. The study, published in Science Developments, tracked two decades of forest restoration and highlights how biodiversity fuels resilience in tropical ecosystems.
Researchers used satellite imagery to monitor 125 sites of previously cleared rainforest on the island of Borneo, part of Malaysia. They compared plots planted with a mix of 16 native tree species to those planted with only one to four species. The findings indicate that mixed-species reforestation enhanced canopy cover and total tree biomass more quickly than single-species planting. Even areas with a single tree species recovered faster than plots left to natural regeneration.
The study offers a plausible explanation: different tree species interact in ways that strengthen ecosystem function and stability. Some tropical trees, for instance, are more drought-tolerant because they produce more preservatives, which helps the forest endure periods of lower rainfall.
The lead author notes a crucial implication: cleared forests can rebound if they are not converted to agricultural uses such as palm oil plantations. The work also underscores the importance of preserving biodiversity in intact forests to support biodiversity restoration in deforested areas. Source: Oxford University research team.
Tropical forests cover a small portion of the world’s land yet harbor a majority of the planet’s known species and play a vital role in absorbing greenhouse gases. Between 2004 and 2017, approximately 43 million hectares of tropical forest were lost, underscoring the urgency of informed restoration strategies.
In related discussions, experts have highlighted ongoing concerns about illegal logging in Russia, stressing that enforcement and monitoring remain critical to protecting forested regions and sustaining recovery efforts.