International forest revival methods will improve

Significance Soil health can rebound to 90% of its original values in less than a decade, while plant functioning (assessed by wood density, leaf area and percentage of nitrogen-fixing trees) takes up to 25 years and recovery of species diversity requires 25-60. Biomass and species composition recover slowest, taking over 120 years to reach 90% of their original values. Impacts The swift recovery of plant functioning suggests that ecosystem functions, such as productivity, could recover at a similar pace. The use of diverse seeds in tropical forest restoration could improve resilience and sustainability in the face of climate change. Restoration offers potential for poverty reduction if implemented to encourage activities such as small-scale agroforestry.