“Tropical rainforests are home to almost two-thirds of all vertebrate species and three-quarters of all tree species: they are the most species-rich terrestrial ecosystem on Earth. However, over half of these diverse rainforests have already been cleared, and their area continues to decline drastically, primarily for agricultural purposes. Is there a chance of regeneration, and can not only trees but also the unique diversity of thousands of animal species return to cleared areas?

The answer is surprisingly clear-cut and encouragingly positive: Trees regrow rapidly on agricultural land as soon as land use ceases. A diverse range of animal species also re-establish themselves.

Biodiversity recovered to more than 90% of its original level within 30 years. During this period, as many as three-quarters of the animal and plant species typical of primary forest returned.

The paper is published in the journal Nature. Teams led by Professors Thomas Schmitt and Jörg Müller from the University of Würzburg’s Biocenter contributed to the publication.”

From Phys.org.