Functional recovery of tropical forests: The role of restoration methods and environmental conditions

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Brouwer, Rens ; Pena-Claros, Marielos ; Bongers, Frans ; Poorter, Lourens ; Guillemot, Joannes ; Almeida, Danilo R. A. ; de Almeida, Catherine Torres ; Resende, Angelica F. ; Simoes, Laura H. P. ; Ivanauskas, Natalia M. ; de Lima, Renato A. Ferreira ; Souza, Vinicius Castro ; Toledo, Cassio A. P. ; Cooper, Miguel ; Neto, Jose Guedes Fernandes ; Decuyper, Mathieu ; Molin, Paulo G. ; Rodrigues, Ricardo R. ; Brancalion, Pedro H. S.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Biological Conservation; v. 309, p. 10-pg., 2025-09-01.

Abstract

Forest and landscape restoration strategies influence the recovery of plant functional traits, which in turn shape ecosystem processes. To understand how traits respond to restoration and environmental conditions, we assessed the functional recovery of three forest restoration types in Brazil's Atlantic Forest: natural regeneration, highdiversity restoration plantations (20-60 species), and unmanaged tree monocultures. Across 285 plots aged 1-76 years, we quantified seven leaf and stem traits for over 500 species. For each plot, we calculated community mean trait values and three functional diversity indices. The three restoration types showed contrasting successional patterns. Natural regeneration and restoration plantations shifted from acquisitive to conservative resource-use strategies with site age, while monocultures moved in the opposite direction. Restoration plantations exhibited the highest functional richness. Soil conditions (sand content and sum of bases) influenced trait composition and diversity, whereas climate and landscape context had smaller effects. In 20-year old sites, most traits in natural regeneration and restoration plantations approached 90 % of forest remnants values. In contrast, unmanaged monocultures recovered slowly, with only half of the traits reaching this threshold in 40-year old sites. Our findings show that restoration methods and site conditions jointly shape functional recovery. Natural regeneration tends to align with forest remnant traits, restoration plantations speed up early recovery but may diverge over time, and monocultures require active interventions to enhance outcomes. Recognizing these functional trajectories is key to improving biodiversity conservation and ecosystem resilience in tropical forest restoration. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 22/14605-0 - Monitoring São Paulo State restoration forests: application of remote sensing and deep learning to classify successional stages and subsidize public policies
• Grantee: Angelica Faria de Resende
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• FAPESP's process: 18/21338-3 - Monitoring forest landscape restoration from unmanned aerial vehicles using Lidar and hyperspectral remote sensing
• Grantee: Danilo Roberti Alves de Almeida
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 21/10573-4 - Center for Carbon Research in Tropical Agriculture (CCARBON)
• Grantee: Carlos Eduardo Pellegrino Cerri
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 18/18416-2 - Understanding restored forests for benefiting people and nature - NewFor
• Grantee: Pedro Henrique Santin Brancalion
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 19/24049-5 - Monitoring São Paulo State restoration forests: application of new remote sensing tools and subsidies for public policies
• Grantee: Angelica Faria de Resende
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 14/50279-4 - Brasil Research Centre for Gas Innovation
• Grantee: Julio Romano Meneghini
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research Centers in Engineering Program
• FAPESP's process: 20/15230-5 - Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Innovation - RCG2I
• Grantee: Julio Romano Meneghini
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research Centers in Engineering Program