Tropical forests post-logging are a persistent net carbon source to the atmosphere

Output - Publications

Publications LCNR associated Ecology
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PNAS (2022)

Carbon sources and sinks in recovering logged forests

Are recovering logged forests a carbon sink due to increased tree growth rates or a carbon source due to carbon losses from soil organic matter and deadwood? Our research shows that sources outweigh sinks for at least the first decade after logging.

Related Research Themes

Ecology

Testing the effectiveness of different ecological approaches for nature recovery to support biodiversity and the delivery of ecosystem services such as climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Related Projects

Tropical forest research

The rainforests of Southeast Asia are rapidly disappearing. And with the trees goes the service they provide. A forest is a water reservoir, it acts against drought and it is a source and a sink for carbon. That's why ecologists came onto the scene.

Related Landscapes

Photo by Tia on Unsplash

Borneo

The island of Borneo supports high levels of biodiversity including in its unique tropical forests. However, decades of selective logging have altered these ecosystems changing their structure and functioning. The remaining forest has also become reduced in extent, fragmented and isolated as large areas of selectively logged forest are converted to agriculture - mainly plantations of palm oil.