Natural forest regeneration offers cheaper climate solution

A global study published in the journal Nature suggests that natural forest regeneration could be up to 96 per cent cheaper than traditional active tree-planting programs. Research conducted by the University of Newcastle and the University of Queensland indicates that this method provides substantial benefits for both carbon sequestration and biodiversity.

Unlike active restoration, which requires purchasing seedlings and incurring high costs for labor, fencing, and maintenance, natural regeneration leverages the ability of birds, bats, and other animals to disperse seeds. Experts note that as long as threats to forests are removed, nature can restore itself.

The study identified several holistic hotspots where natural regeneration offers high benefits at low costs, including Indonesia, Madagascar, the Philippines, Mexico, and Malaysia. Carbon benefits are most significant in Neotropical areas like the Amazon basin and Indomalayan tropics such as Borneo, Sumatra, and Papua New Guinea, while biodiversity benefits are more pronounced in the Afrotropics, including Madagascar.