Recovery of secondary forest following selective timber harvest in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Tropical secondary forests hold substantial potential for supplying timber, yet the impacts of selective logging on their dynamics remain insufficiently understood. We evaluated the effects of selective logging on species richness, composition, forest structure, and growth rates in a mid-successional secondary forest in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Fifteen permanent plots of 40 × 40 m were measured in this study. Measurements were conducted during the pre-harvest period (2009–2014, 5 y, 12 plots) and post-harvest (2014–2021, 7 y, 15 plots). Of these, 12 plots were harvested (11.5 ± 3.2 m² ha⁻¹, 83.9 m³ ha⁻¹) and three remained unharvested. Species richness increased from 168 to 193 species within 0.24 ha, while the forest remained dominated by a core group of 16 species, many of them commercially valuable. Recruitment and mortality rates increased; however, recruitment exceeded mortality, resulting in higher stem density and the establishment of young individuals, mainly fast-growing pioneer and early secondary timber species. These demographic shifts enabled a rapid and resilient response, allowing the forest to nearly recover its pre-harvest basal area and stem volume within seven years. Relative diameter growth rates also increased during the post-harvest period. Residual basal area had positive effect of post-harvest changes in species richness, forest density, and demographic rates, whereas basal area and stem volume growth increased with harvesting intensity. These patterns indicate that medium levels of disturbance can maintain high forest biodiversity while promoting productive recovery, supporting the suitability of secondary forests for management based on natural regeneration. Our findings highlight that low- to medium-intensity selective harvesting, defined by residual basal area thresholds and followed by post-harvest, can balance timber production with biodiversity conservation in secondary forests. Future research should extend monitoring across longer time frames, broader environmental gradients, and variable initial species composition to refine harvest limits and evaluate long-term sustainability under different management regimes. • Forest diversity and structure dynamics increased after selective harvesting. • Recruitment exceeded mortality, increasing tree density and young commercial trees. • DBH growth rates accelerated, promoting gains in basal area and stem volume. • Residual basal area drove most post-harvest changes. • Harvesting intensity defined basal area growth and boosted stem volume recovery.