How only a few tree species drive Amazon forest recovery

A Brazilian study has revealed that only a select few tree species are responsible for the recovery of damaged sections of the Amazon rainforest. Fernando Elias, a researcher at the Emilio Goeldi Museum of Pará, explained to AFP that among the thousands of tree species in the Amazon, a group of 15-25 species play a crucial role in regenerating the forest and storing carbon when farmers and landowners abandon the land.

Elias emphasized the resilience of these pioneer species, which can rapidly colonize the area and provide a foundation for the growth of species found in mature, primary forests, including shade-tolerant ones. The study, published in the journal Global Change Biology, aimed to understand the secondary forests that emerge in areas where the Amazon has been cleared.

Secondary forests, which cover an area the size of Uruguay across nine countries, are crucial for carbon storage and climate regulation. The research identified dominant tree and palm species, such as Cecropia palmata, Inga alba, Inaja, and babassu palm, which produce large amounts of leaves that enrich the soil, enabling the establishment of mature forest species.

These fast-growing pioneers also reduce temperatures under the canopy by up to 6 degrees Celsius. Elias believes that understanding which species dominate carbon stocks and ecosystem functioning can help direct restoration efforts, potentially speeding up the recovery process. Brazil has pledged to restore 12 million hectares of land under its Paris Agreement commitments, with deforestation levels at their lowest in a decade under President Lula da Silva's administration.