Tree plantations with diverse species grow better than monocultures

By Carissa Wong.

Plantations with at least two different tree species grow better than those with a single species. Increasing species diversity in areas of reforestation can increase the amount of wood produced and carbon stored.

Monoculture plantations have lower planting and management costs. The study helps to identify planting strategies that maximize the benefits of forest plantations.

A total of 243 species of tree were analysed by Wang and his colleagues from previous studies. The team compared tree growth between monoculture and multispecies plantations that were grown in the same regions for the same amount of time and with the same planting density.