2023-11-25 05:00:04
Forests represent a crucial buffer against climate change, acting as important carbon sinks. However, not all forests are equal in this struggle. Renowned researchers from the University of Oxford recently published a study revealing a valuable secret to increasing the carbon storage capacity of forests: species diversification.
Image d’illustration Pixabay
The study, published in Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, claims that mixed forests are true champions in carbon storage. Lead researcher Emily Warner points out that diverse forests store up to 70% more carbon than monocultures. These conclusions arise from a meta-analysis covering more than 11,000 publications and including previously unpublished data from a network (A computer network is a set of equipment linked together to exchange…) world of experiences on the diversity of trees.
What makes these mixed forests so effective is the diversity of species. Mixtures of four species stand out as the most efficient in terms of carbon storage. Warner points out that two-species forests can increase carbon storage by up to 35% compared to monocultures, while six-species forests, strangely enough, have no clear advantages over these last.
These findings raise crucial questions for reforestation initiatives. Indeed, despite recognition of the benefits of diverse forests, many forest restoration projects still rely on monocultures. This approach could compromise the carbon storage capacity and resilience of ecosystems in the face of climate challenges.
Researchers are calling for a paradigm shift in how we approach reforestation. They believe that species diversification should be at the heart of forest restoration projects. They say this would not only increase carbon storage but also strengthen resistance to diseases, pests and climate change. However, they highlight the need to collect more long-term data to better understand how forest diversification affects carbon storage in different regions and at different tree growth stages.
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