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Cleared tropical forests can regain ground surprisingly fast

Abandoned agricultural lands can recover by nearly 80 percent on average in just 20 years

a young tropical forest growing on abandoned pastureland, with the sun rising or setting in the background

A young tropical forest regrows on abandoned pasture in Brazil. Such forests can recover surprisingly fast, new research suggests.

Rens Brouwer

By Jonathan Lambert

Tropical forests are disappearing at an alarming clip across the globe. As lush land is cleared for agriculture, climate-warming carbon gets released and biodiversity declines. But when farmland is left alone, nature can make a surprisingly quick comeback.

After just 20 years, forests can recover by nearly 80 percent in certain key areas, including biodiversity and soil health, researchers report in the Dec.