While international attention has been focused on massive reforestation programs, a new research proposes a more effective, accessible, and strategic approach: protecting young secondary forests, those that naturally regenerate after fires, deforestation, or agricultural abandonment.
The study, based on over 109,000 monitored forest plots, concludes that these ecosystems reach maximum carbon capture rates between 20 and 40 years, with peaks of up to 4.73 MgC/ha/year. During that period, their performance can multiply by eight that of newly planted forests.
“We are facing a critical window. Many tropical secondary forests are now entering their phase of maximum climatic performance. Losing them would be a missed opportunity,” the researchers point out.
Key results: where, when, and how much carbon can be captured
- 66 environmental variables were analyzed to model carbon removal according to forest type, climate, and age
- Tropical moist forests proved to be the most efficient
- If protected and allowed to regenerate from 2025, up to 20,300 million tons of CO₂ could be captured by 2050
- A delay of only 10 years would halve that capacity
The model used surpasses the precision of the IPCC estimates, which still categorize forests by overly broad age ranges. This new approach allows for adjusting conservation strategies by ecosystem, location, and development stage.
Challenges: early loss and lack of incentives
Despite their high climatic potential, young secondary forests are highly vulnerable:
- In Latin America, more than 50% is lost before reaching eight years, mainly due to production pressure and the absence of active policies
- They are not yet recognized in many carbon markets, which discourages their protection
- Many areas are inhabited or managed by rural communities that require support to transition to sustainable management models
Implications for climate and territorial policies
The study offers a strategic tool to:
- Maximize the climate efficiency of each preserved hectare
- Prioritize actions according to the forest regeneration stage
- Avoid future emissions through active conservation
- Optimize public and private resources in restoration
- Design inclusive and evidence-based policies
Natural regeneration: restoring land with justice and evidence
Investing in secondary forests is not only a climate solution: it is an investment in resilience, territorial equity, and effective restoration.
Including local communities in their management, recognizing their rights and knowledge, will be key to making this strategy a sustainable long-term model.
Cover photo: Marlon del Águila Guerrero/CIFOR.
