Summary
This long-term field study quantified the effectiveness of active restoration in accelerating carbon recovery in degraded tropical forests. Active restoration enhanced aboveground carbon density recovery by over 50% compared to natural regeneration alone, with recovery rates increasing from 2.9 to 4.4 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. At carbon prices consistent with Paris Agreement targets (USD $40–80 per tonne CO₂ equivalent), active restoration becomes economically justified as a climate mitigation strategy, though current restoration costs remain a barrier to widespread adoption.
Regional applicability
This research is based on tropical forest restoration and is not directly applicable to United Kingdom conditions, which have temperate woodland rather than tropical forest systems. However, the methodological approach and economic framework for evaluating restoration carbon benefits may inform UK woodland restoration policy and investment decisions.
Key measures
Aboveground carbon density (ACD) recovery rates (megagrams per hectare per year); decadal recovery enhancement (%); economic cost-benefit analysis against carbon prices (USD per tonne CO₂ equivalent)
Outcomes reported
The study compared aboveground carbon density (ACD) recovery rates between naturally regenerating and actively restored logged tropical forests over a long-term period. Active restoration enhanced decadal ACD recovery by more than 50%, from 2.9 to 4.4 megagrams per hectare per year, and was shown to be economically justified under Paris Agreement carbon price targets.
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