New UMBC research suggests global reforestation efforts need to take the long view

(University of Maryland Baltimore County) Based on data from Costa Rica spanning 1947 -- 2014, the authors of a new study found 50 percent of secondary forest patches were re-cleared within 20 years, and 85 percent were re-cleared within 54 years. This suggests that committing to reforesting lands for the long term, even if smaller in total area, may provide greater benefits (habitat, carbon storage, etc.) than quickly reforesting large areas (as many nations have promised under the Bonn Challenge).
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - Category: Biology Source Type: news