How only a few tree species drive Amazon forest recovery
A new study reveals that a small group of 15-25 pioneer tree species are responsible for the majority of forest recovery in the Brazilian Amazon. These species are essential for stabilizing soil and creating the necessary shade for mature forest trees to return.
Why it matters
Understanding these specific species is critical for effective reforestation efforts and climate change mitigation strategies in the Amazon.
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Add as preferred source This aerial view shows the Amazon rainforest in Para - the most deforestated state in Brazil. When a destroyed section of the Amazon rainforest begins to recover, nature deploys only a few tree species that can withstand poor soil conditions and blazing sun and grow rapidly, a Brazilian study has shown.
Out of thousands of tree species in the Amazon, a small group of 15–25 species do most of the work in regenerating forest and storing carbon when farmers and landowners leave, Fernando Elias, a researcher at the Emilio Goeldi Museum of Pará, told AFP on Saturday.
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