Selecting exceptional tropical tree species to increase long-term carbon storage

With rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations, strategies for greater carbon sequestration and long-term storage are urgently needed. Current reforestation schemes typically use fast-growing tree species with low wood density, limiting the amount of carbon stored. In most tropical forests, there are native species with relatively fast growth rates, high wood density, and low mortality rates that also achieve large adult size — ‘exceptional species.’

We present a simulated assessment of the carbon sequestration potential using these exceptional species selected based on a given set of criteria in assisted secondary succession in the Neotropics.

In our example, our selected exceptional species could add up to 16.2 Mg C/ha of sequestered carbon in secondary wet forests at maturity.

Synthesis and applications. By increasing the representation of exceptional species in reforestation efforts, we could potentially boost long-term carbon storage in reforestation projects focused on carbon seq...