Young Tropical Forests: The Fast Recovery Story

Young tropical secondary forests, while they may not look impressive, are crucial for capturing carbon quickly. Scientists studied 36 of these forests in Ghana, ranging from 2. 3 to 3. 6 years old, from both dry and wet regions. They found that these forests were storing about 115 tons of biomass per hectare in wet areas and 99 tons in dry areas. This might not sound like much, but it's about 31% and 39% of what old-growth forests in the same areas have. The majority of this biomass is found in the soil and the living plants above ground. The climate and soil nutrients, especially phosphorus, really do impact how much biomass is stored. For example, more phosphorus means more litter and soil organic matter. Interestingly, having more trees and diverse species also helps to increase the amount of biomass. This suggests that trees and species work together to use resources more efficiently. But, a more conservative trait composition, like high wood density, means more biomass but less productivity. So, it's not just about how many species you have, but also what kind.