The importance of distinguishing between natural and managed tree cover gains in the moist tropics
Abstract Naturally regenerated forests and managed tree systems provide different levels of carbon, biodiversity, and livelihood benefits. Here, we show that tree cover gains in the moist tropics during 1982–2015 were 56% ± 3% naturally regenerated forests and 27% ± 2.6% managed tree systems, with t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59196-1 |
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| author | Xueyuan Gao Peter B. Reich Jeffrey R. Vincent Matthew E. Fagan Robin L. Chazdon Steffen Fritz Dmitry Schepaschenko Matthew D. Potts Matthew C. Hansen Martin Jung Pedro H. S. Brancalion María Uriarte Trevor F. Keenan Thomas W. Crowther Ralph O. Dubayah Myroslava Lesiv Shunlin Liang Dongdong Wang |
| author_facet | Xueyuan Gao Peter B. Reich Jeffrey R. Vincent Matthew E. Fagan Robin L. Chazdon Steffen Fritz Dmitry Schepaschenko Matthew D. Potts Matthew C. Hansen Martin Jung Pedro H. S. Brancalion María Uriarte Trevor F. Keenan Thomas W. Crowther Ralph O. Dubayah Myroslava Lesiv Shunlin Liang Dongdong Wang |
| author_sort | Xueyuan Gao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Naturally regenerated forests and managed tree systems provide different levels of carbon, biodiversity, and livelihood benefits. Here, we show that tree cover gains in the moist tropics during 1982–2015 were 56% ± 3% naturally regenerated forests and 27% ± 2.6% managed tree systems, with these differences in forest type, not only natural conditions (climate, soil, and topography), driving observed carbon recovery rates. The remaining 17% ± 3% likely represents small, unmanaged tree patches within non-forest cover types. Achieving global forest restoration goals requires robust monitoring, reporting, and verification of forest types established by restoration initiatives. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ac9c4436c89c4a4f973c1f43d6543dd4 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-ac9c4436c89c4a4f973c1f43d6543dd42025-08-20T03:03:29ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-011611610.1038/s41467-025-59196-1The importance of distinguishing between natural and managed tree cover gains in the moist tropicsXueyuan Gao0Peter B. Reich1Jeffrey R. Vincent2Matthew E. Fagan3Robin L. Chazdon4Steffen Fritz5Dmitry Schepaschenko6Matthew D. Potts7Matthew C. Hansen8Martin Jung9Pedro H. S. Brancalion10María Uriarte11Trevor F. Keenan12Thomas W. Crowther13Ralph O. Dubayah14Myroslava Lesiv15Shunlin Liang16Dongdong Wang17Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton UniversityInstitute for Global Change Biology, University of MichiganNicholas School of the Environment, Duke UniversityDepartment of Geography and Environmental Systems, University of Maryland Baltimore CountyForest Research Institute, University of the Sunshine CoastAdvancing Systems Analysis Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)Advancing Systems Analysis Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Geographical Sciences, University of MarylandBiodiversity and Natural Resources Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)Department of Forest Sciences, University of São PauloDepartment of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia UniversityDepartment of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of CaliforniaInstitute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)Department of Geographical Sciences, University of MarylandAdvancing Systems Analysis Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)Jockey Club Laboratory of Quantitative Remote Sensing, Department of Geography, University of Hong KongDepartment of Geographical Sciences, University of MarylandAbstract Naturally regenerated forests and managed tree systems provide different levels of carbon, biodiversity, and livelihood benefits. Here, we show that tree cover gains in the moist tropics during 1982–2015 were 56% ± 3% naturally regenerated forests and 27% ± 2.6% managed tree systems, with these differences in forest type, not only natural conditions (climate, soil, and topography), driving observed carbon recovery rates. The remaining 17% ± 3% likely represents small, unmanaged tree patches within non-forest cover types. Achieving global forest restoration goals requires robust monitoring, reporting, and verification of forest types established by restoration initiatives.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59196-1 |
| spellingShingle | Xueyuan Gao Peter B. Reich Jeffrey R. Vincent Matthew E. Fagan Robin L. Chazdon Steffen Fritz Dmitry Schepaschenko Matthew D. Potts Matthew C. Hansen Martin Jung Pedro H. S. Brancalion María Uriarte Trevor F. Keenan Thomas W. Crowther Ralph O. Dubayah Myroslava Lesiv Shunlin Liang Dongdong Wang The importance of distinguishing between natural and managed tree cover gains in the moist tropics Nature Communications |
| title | The importance of distinguishing between natural and managed tree cover gains in the moist tropics |
| title_full | The importance of distinguishing between natural and managed tree cover gains in the moist tropics |
| title_fullStr | The importance of distinguishing between natural and managed tree cover gains in the moist tropics |
| title_full_unstemmed | The importance of distinguishing between natural and managed tree cover gains in the moist tropics |
| title_short | The importance of distinguishing between natural and managed tree cover gains in the moist tropics |
| title_sort | importance of distinguishing between natural and managed tree cover gains in the moist tropics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59196-1 |
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