Liana removal to restore tropical forests
The African Journal of Ecology recently published a study by the FoRCE experiment’s Dr Andrew Marshall advocating the temporary removal of lianas in selected areas to help tropical forests to grow back.
Woody climbing vines (known as “lianas”) are preventing tropical forests from recovering and are hampering the forest’s ability to store carbon, scientists are warning.
Instead of taking decades to recover, tropical forests are at risk of taking hundreds of years to re-grow because of lianas, which spread rapidly following extensive tree-felling.
Dr Marshall’s team, from the University of York and Flamingo Land zoo, reveal for the first time outside of commercial forestry or plantation studies how lianas are preventing the growth of trees in an African forest.
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