A new pantropical carbon database synthesizes data from 146 studies to better understand the effects of forest degradation and regeneration on the global carbon cycle. The study reveals that degraded forests recover faster than fully cleared land, accumulating more above-ground carbon over time.
A research team found that tropical forest plants increase root carbon exudation to stimulate phosphatase activity, mineralize organic P, and release organic acids to dissolve mineral-bound P. This adaptation helps alleviate P limitation under long-term N enrichment, sustaining productivity.
A new study reveals that old-growth forests in Sweden store 72% more carbon per acre than managed forests, with a significant gap due to soil losses. Restoring primary forests could keep nearly 8 billion tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
Global study finds that nitrogen pollution causes forests to follow two distinct patterns in response to added nutrients, with some experiencing a boost and others collapsing. The findings highlight the importance of reducing nitrogen levels to stabilize forest soil carbon pools and maintain natural respiration rhythms.
A recent study published in Nature Sustainability analyzed global forest disturbance patterns from 2002 to 2014, identifying four main types of patches and mapping their distribution across different biomes. Human activities tend to leave similar patterns globally, with potential implications for forest resilience.
Researchers found that logged forests have higher average temperatures and lower humidity, hastening the transition of bird species to higher elevations. Small bird species colonize logged forests better due to temperature tolerance, while larger species remain in primary forests.
A new study from Lund University found that secondary forests in Sweden were more affected by the 2018 drought than primary forests. The research team analyzed satellite images and vegetation indexes to compare the impact of drought on both forest types.
A major Amazon study reveals ecological threats, including deforestation, but also opportunities for sustainability through actions like halting deforestation and protecting secondary forests. Researchers found biodiversity and carbon storage gains from allowing mature secondary forests to regrow.
A new study reveals that many primary forests in Europe are not protected and are at risk of being destroyed. The researchers found that only a small percentage of the forest types they assessed had more than half of their old growth strictly protected, highlighting the need for strict conservation protections to be put in place.
Primary forests in Europe are scarce and irreplaceable, requiring top priority protection. Restoration is a viable option where no primary forests remain, storing carbon and benefiting biodiversity. An expansion of protected areas by just 1% can suffice to safeguard most remaining primary forests.
Researchers found that secondary forest cutting has increased, but deforestation of primary forests remained stable. Secondary forests now account for 72% of overall forest loss in the Brazilian Amazon.
Scientists have shown that monkeys disperse seeds from primary forests to secondary forests, leading to increased biodiversity. Over 20 years of study, researchers found that moustached and black-fronted tamarins were responsible for dispersing over 10% of the seeds, which germinated and survived for at least a year.
A new study reveals that secondary forests adjacent to extensive primary forests can host diverse bird communities and boost populations of forest specialist birds. The research, published in Biotropica, challenges previous assertions about the conservation potential of young secondary forests.
Deforestation in Haiti has led to the loss of primary forest cover on 42 of its 50 largest mountains. This has resulted in mass extinctions among reptiles, amphibians, and other vertebrates. The study's findings suggest that over the next two decades, all of Haiti's remaining primary forest will be lost.
A research collaboration found that Haiti has lost over 99% of its primary forests, triggering an ongoing mass extinction of reptiles, amphibians, and other species. The country is expected to lose all remaining primary forest cover in less than two decades, resulting in the disappearance of most endemic species.
Researchers found Haiti's primary forest declined from 4.4% to 0.32% between 1988 and 2016, with 42 of 50 highest peaks deforested in the same period. The study predicts near-total loss by 2035, with up to 83% of species becoming extinct due to deforestation.
A new study found that primary tropical forests contain more biodiversity and carbon than even mature regenerating forests. Secondary forests, on the other hand, can still play a vital role in biodiversity conservation and carbon storage, with some areas recovering to over 80% of levels found in undisturbed primary forests.
A new study has mapped over 3.4 million acres of Europe's last wild forests, revealing that primary forests are widely distributed throughout the continent. The study highlights the importance of preserving these remaining fragments of primary forest, which provide exceptional ecological values and habitat for biodiversity.
A new study found that deforestation in Borneo's forests leads to a decline in frog species richness, with only 20% of primary forest species remaining in young oil palm plantations. The study highlights the need for rigorously enforcing riparian buffer zones to mitigate the impact of industrial monocultures on amphibian populations.
A new study reveals that only five percent of the world's pre-agricultural primary forest cover is found in protected areas, with most forests under threat from industrial logging, mining, and agriculture. Experts call for international policies to reduce pressure on primary forests, preserving their biodiversity and ecosystem services.
A comprehensive assessment of tropical forests found primary forests sustain the highest levels of biodiversity and are vital to many species. Human activities like logging and agricultural expansion have transformed most remaining primary forests, leaving little unaltered.
A new biodiversity survey reveals that primary rainforests are home to over half of all terrestrial species, with many species found nowhere else. The study emphasizes the need for conservation and sustainable land-use practices, highlighting the importance of protecting large areas of intact forest habitat.