Mongabay · Natuur

Key tree species boost Amazon forest restoration, new study shows

A study published in Global Change Biology reveals that a small group of 15 to 25 tree species are crucial for the recovery of biodiversity and carbon storage in regrowing Amazonian forests. These hyperdominant species could guide restoration strategies to help Brazil meet its reforestation goals.

Researchers analyzed 102 plots of naturally regenerating forests in Brazil's Pará state, finding that a limited number of species account for nearly half of the trees and carbon stocks. Key species include embaúba (Cecropia palmata) and tatapiririca (Tapirira guianensis).

Understanding these forest dynamics is vital for Brazil's commitment to restore 12 million hectares of forest by 2030. Fernando Elias, the study's coordinator, emphasized the importance of understanding how these secondary forests, which cover over 140,000 square kilometers in the Brazilian Amazon, behave as they regenerate.

While many deforested areas can recover naturally, close monitoring is necessary to prevent fires, cattle ranching, and land grabbing, and to ensure proper ecological recovery. Experts like Beto Mesquita from Conservation International highlight the need to assess if forests are on a restoration path or heading towards poor ground cover.

The study's findings can help establish parameters for evaluating restoration success and identifying areas needing intervention, such as soil enrichment or planting specific species. Brazil's National Plan for the Recovery of Native Vegetation (Planaveg) supports restoration through concessions to private companies that generate carbon credits.

Pioneer species, which grow quickly in direct sunlight, are the first to establish but are eventually replaced by more robust trees. A lack of this succession can lead to forest decline. In extremely degraded areas, interventions like planting seeds and seedlings may be required.

New methods, including drone-based seeding, are being developed for large-scale restoration. Research in Bahia tested drones for aerial seeding, showing reduced costs and increased effectiveness, particularly in difficult-to-access areas. However, bare seeds proved more effective than encapsulated seeds in terms of establishment and cost-efficiency.

Mesquita also noted the importance of clearly defining study areas, as the term 'secondary forests' can encompass areas with vastly different histories of human impact, affecting their natural regeneration potential and species diversity.

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