Indigenous forests are better for ecosystems than tree plantations

2022/03/17 Etxebeste Aduriz, Egoitz - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ekologia
• Ingurumena

Autochthonous forests are clearly better for ecosystems and biodiversity than tree plantations, according to an extensive study that has analyzed different forms of reforestation. The results have been published in the journal Science.

Forest resettlements are considered important in addressing the climate emergency and its consequences, especially in degraded and deforested areas, and there are many projects in the world. But this work has looked at how reforestation is done, the effectiveness could be different. For this purpose, we compared 264 forest studies conducted by 53 countries, considered the world's main forest biomes. They conclude that indigenous forests are more effective than simple tree plantations in storage, water supply and, in particular, in preventing soil erosion and maintaining biodiversity. Tree plantations are better for wood production.