Global variation in the costs and ecological benefits of tropical natural regeneration
Research Square (Research Square),
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: May 5, 2025
Abstract
Natural
regeneration
is
a
cost-effective
alternative
to
manual
tree
planting
for
restoring
degraded
and
converted
tropical
forests,
which
contributes
climate
mitigation
biodiversity
recovery.
However,
global
variation
in
its
costs
benefits
remain
poorly
quantified,
limiting
the
ability
of
restoration
programmes
strategically
leverage
full
potential.
Here,
we
assess
ecological
9.85
million
km²
with
biophysical
potential
natural
forest
across
tropics.
If
completely
regenerated,
this
additional
forested
area
could
accumulate
approximately
1.01
Gt
C
per
year
expand
available
distribution
threatened
species
by
12.89%
over
30
years.
We
show
that
Indonesia,
Malaysia,
Thailand,
Vietnam
Laos
have
largest
areas
high
carbon
at
low
costs,
refer
as
‘holistic
hotspots’
regeneration.
find
patterns
either
or
differ
from
those
holistic
hotspots.
These
tradeoffs
achieving
both
reduce
hotspots
only
3.21%
entire
study
region.
The
cost-benefit
maps
provide
can
enable
decision-makers
improve
their
spatial
planning
investing
approaches
achieve
goals.
Language: Английский
Young regrowth forests are worth saving
Nature Ecology & Evolution,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: May 20, 2025
Language: Английский