Degraded tropical forests need human help to recover, study finds.
Tropical forests recover at different speeds depending on the type of disturbance they face. Hurricanes lead to quicker recovery, while bulldozing and severe fires slow it down. The landscape around the forest also affects how quickly it bounces back. Areas near existing forests recover faster due to seed dispersal. Soil quality is crucial for biomass recovery, with poor soil fertility hindering growth. Restoring soil fertility is essential for degraded areas to recover fully. Despite some forests regrowing quickly after deforestation, many still need human help to return to their original state.