Biodiversity boosts forest growth; loss could cut gains 17% by 2050

Forests with more tree species appear to be improving faster over time, according to a new global study published in Nature Climate Change. doi.org/10.1038/s41558-026-02698-7By tracking forest photosynthesis across two decades, researchers found that biodiversity does more than support healthy ecosystems in the present: it also helps forests strengthen their ability to absorb carbon as the years go by.That matters because photosynthesis is the process that powers forest growth and carbon uptake. When forests photosynthesize more efficiently, they can pull more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, making them an important natural buffer against climate change.What the study foundThe researchers combined a high-resolution map of tree species richness with satellite-based photosynthesis data from 2001 to 2020. Their analysis showed a clear pattern: forests with higher species richness had higher levels of photosynthesis, and they also experienced stronger increases in photosynthesis over time.In simple terms, diverse forests were not just more productive at one moment in time. They were also improving faster, which suggests biodiversity may help forests adapt better to changing environ...