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Effects of restoration practices on biodiversity in temperate and boreal forests.

PubMed · 2026-05-14

A large review of 93 forest studies found that restoration practices like controlled burning, thinning, and adding dead wood generally boost biodiversity, but no single method helps all wildlife equally — and the long-term effects beyond 10 years remain largely unknown.

1

Across 93 studies, restoration practices had an overall positive effect on species richness and abundance, with the strongest benefits seen for plants and flying invertebrates.

2

Thinning and understory removal negatively affected birds, while prescribed burning had negative effects on bryophytes (mosses) and lichens.

3

83% of data points came from within 10 years of restoration start, leaving long-term (decade+) outcomes largely unstudied.

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