Diverse tropical forests sequester more carbon than monocultures

New research has found that diverse tropical planted forests store 57% more carbon than monoculture forests.     March 21, 2025

New research has found that diverse tropical planted forests store 57% more carbon than monoculture forests.  These findings come from the oldest tropical tree diversity experiment, in Sardinilla, Panama.

The new paper, co-authored by NbSI’s Audrey Wagner, reinforces the importance of prioritising tree diversity in tropical forest restoration initiatives.

The potential of forest restoration to store carbon and help mitigate climate change has brought international commitments on reforestation. Global leaders have committed to halting and reversing deforestation by 2030, and many countries’ climate strategies include forest restoration.

Restoring forests can be a valuable nature-based solution, delivering wider benefits for people and biodiversity as well as carbon sequestration. However, reforestation schemes risk harming people and biodiversity if they focus on planting single-species, non-native trees and do not respect Indigenous and local people’s rights.

Tree diversity increases climate mitigation potential

Mounting evidence shows that species-diverse forests have greater benefits for climate mitigation. A meta-analysis led by Dr Emily Warner found that diverse planted forests can store over 70% more carbon than monoculture forests.

These new findings expand the evidence base for the tropical forest context

“This study adds to the growing body of evidence showing that higher diversity results in greater carbon gains, while elucidating the effects of diversity of carbon stock and flux relationships.” Audrey Wagner, co-author

Conducted over 16 years at the Sardinilla site in Panama, the study found a clear relationship between tree diversity and above ground carbon storage

“We show that tree diversity significantly increased aboveground carbon stocks and fluxes, with a 57% higher gain in aboveground tree carbon in five-species mixtures compared to monocultures 16 years after planting.”

Tree diversity supports resilience in the face of climate extreme

The paper also illustrates how tree diversity can increase stability and resilience in the face of climate-driven forest disturbances, and as a result increases the permanence of the carbon storage. Despite repeated climate extremes, the positive effect of tree diversity on above-ground carbon storage strengthened over time.

Read the paper now. ‘Tree Diversity Increases Carbon Stocks and Fluxes Above—But Not Belowground in a Tropical Forest Experiment’