New publication

Tropical rainforests recover faster than expected

Tropical rainforests show a remarkable ability to recover once agricultural use ceases, with biodiversity rebounding to over 90% of its original level within 30 years, according to a new study published in Nature. The research, conducted by the DFG-funded Reassembly group across 62 sites in Ecuador, tracked more than 8,500 species and found that animals such as bats, birds, and monkeys play a key role in regeneration by dispersing seeds and enabling pollination. However, the scientists warn that natural recovery depends on intact forests nearby acting as seed sources, and that urgent action is still needed to halt deforestation, which currently destroys 4–6 million hectares worldwide every year.