Tropical forests: multiple benefits and resilience

What is the role of tropical forests in the survival of life on Earth?

Tropical forests occupy a little less than 10% of the Earth’s surface, an area of almost 1.2 billion hectares. And, in this space alone, they concentrate most of the global biodiversity. For example, they have 62% of the vertebrates ever discovered, more than twice as many as any other biome.  Therefore, tropical forests stand out for the great diversity of life, bringing together numerous species of plants and animals.

Among the vegetation, we find from small plants, such as ferns, orchids and vines, to imposing trees, such as ipê, samaúma and rubber trees. This variety also appears in the fauna, which ranges from smaller animals, such as butterflies, frogs and hummingbirds, to large mammals, such as the jaguar, the anteater and the sloth.

But these characteristics differ depending on their location. Tropical forests have this name because they are located in the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, around the equator.  But they are demarcated not only by location, but by weather conditions, such as high temperatures and heavy rain practically all year round.

Tropical forests are divided into:

• Humid tropical forests, with abundant rainfall all year round and a great diversity of trees, which form layers and a well-filled canopy.
• Seasonal tropical forests, with rainfall concentrated in the summer and a drought of 3 to 5 months, with semideciduous vegetation, such as the Brazilian cerrado.
• Tropical dry forests, the season without rain can last up to eight months, giving rise to African savannas and the caatinga, for example.
• High-altitude forests, which arise at altitude (between 1000 and 4000 m) that vary between humid vegetation and forests of lower trees, adapted to the cold.
• Mangroves develop in coastal regions flooded by the tides; Despite their low plant diversity when compared to humid tropical forests, they are vital for animals and function as transitional ecosystems between land and sea.

This difference between tropical forests, and other forests, such as temperate, for example, shows why they are important. The diversity of tropical forests determines their ecosystem services, thus showing their benefits and functions.

Are you curious? Read on to better understand the world of rainforests.

Forest ecosystem services

Tropical forests are known to promote various ecosystem services, but what are these services?

Often, ‘ecosystem services’ is interpreted as what nature has to offer humans, as if it were its only function. It was studied using economic bias, such as supply, demand and financial value. But it’s not just about that.

The relationship between nature and humanity cannot be seen only as a product, it is an interdependence. Ecosystems depend on human activities – or their reduction, to exist. In other words, the human being is not above the ecosystem, but is part of it.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPEBES) defines ecosystem services as “the contribution of nature to people”. Therefore, some benefits provided by forests are:

• Climate regulation: Trees act as carbon sinks, essential for atmospheric balance.
• Biodiversity: They cover 8% of the earth’s surface, but are home to more than half of the species. This biological wealth is vital for the health of ecosystems.
• Water cycle: Rainfall patterns and regional humidity influence. Transpiration from trees contributes to the formation of clouds.
• Soil formation: They protect the soil from erosion and accumulate organic matter. This supports fertility and productivity.
• Natural resources: They provide food, medicine, and materials to communities.

The risks of its degradation

Forest degradation has serious and far-reaching consequences. Deforestation releases large amounts of carbon, accelerating climate change and reducing the ability of forests to absorb CO₂. With fewer trees, there is a loss of thermal and water regulation, which alters the atmospheric balance and intensifies extreme weather events.

“Planted forests today store between 2 and 2.5 billion tons of CO₂ equivalent, practically what the whole of Brazil emits in a year”

Prof. Rodrigo Hakamada
Researcher at CCARBON/USP

In addition, biodiversity collapses with the extinction of species, compromising entire ecological chains. The destruction of tropical ecosystems also threatens food and water security, as it affects the availability of essential resources.

Another relevant impact is the difficulty of natural regeneration in degraded areas, which perpetuates the loss of ecosystem services. In this context, solutions based on planted forests and sustainable management systems play a central role.

Strategies for restoring and maintaining forest areas

Forest restoration is key to reversing the damage caused by degradation. One of the most effective and low-cost strategies is natural regeneration, which must be strengthened through extensive and well-funded restoration programs. Consistent public policies are essential to ensure the recovery of ecosystems and, at the same time, integrate these actions into the productive activities of local communities.

Sustainable tree management and the adoption of agroforestry systems demonstrate that it is possible to unite agricultural production and environmental conservation. These models, combined with research on multifunctional forests, offer not only ecosystem services, but also income opportunities that encourage producers to expand tree planting.

“When we talk about large-scale restoration or reforestation, it is important to understand that this is not an activity that competes with agriculture. On the contrary, the proposal is that these processes create synergies with agricultural production and generate mutual benefits — both productive and environmental.”

Prof. Pedro H. S. Brancalion
Director of Innovation and Researcher at CCARBON/USP

Thus, restoring forests is not only a conservation measure, but an essential climate mitigation strategy.

References

Brandon, K. (2014). Ecosystem services from tropical forests: review of current science. Center for Global Development Working Paper, (380). https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2622749

Chazdon, R. L., Blüthgen, N., Brancalion, P. H., Heinrich, V., & Bongers, F. (2025). Drivers and benefits of natural regeneration in tropical forests. Nature Reviews Biodiversity, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44358-025-00043-y

Gould, W. A., Álvarez-Berríos, N. L., Parrotta, J. A., & McGinley, K. (2024). Climate change and tropical forests. In Future forests (pp. 203-219). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-90430-8.00012-5

Rainforest Concern. (n.d.). About tropical rainforest. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from https://www.rainforestconcern.org/forest-facts/about-tropical-rainforest#:~:text=Tropical%20rainforests%20cover%20around%208,species%20of%20animals%20and%20plants