Data from the so-called Neotropics in Central and South America has mapped out the details of the estimated amount of carbon these areas can absorb. Findings show that new-growth rain forests absorb as much carbon as old rain forests can.

The researchers discovered that at its finest, newly grown rain forests can absorb up to 11 times as much carbon as the mature rain forests. Then again, these mature rain forests are the biggest hoarders of carbon on Earth that deforestation is considered as a major factor in the level of carbon emissions, accounting approximately 20 percent.

The rain forests and forest' capacity to absorb carbon from the atmosphere and lock it away is crucial in lessening the impacts of human activity-driven climate change effects.

Wageningen University's and study co-author Lourens Poorter said during the Nature podcast that curbing deforestation is important, but it is also vital to see the role of secondary forests in the fight against climate change.

"There is a potential for forests to regrow. You can either do that actively by planting, but it can also be done passively (via natural regrowth)," said Poorter.

The massive clearing of mature vegetation leads to the regrowth of rain forests. The clearing could be due to natural causes, man-made activities such as wildfires and farming, or both. New trees grow faster so they can increase their access to water, sunlight and other nutrients which means the plant and trees absorb much more carbon, which is crucial in their photosynthesis.

The team measured the recovery rate of abandoned areas, which were previously utilized for agricultural processes, in term of its biomass. This is the total mass of organisms found in an area.

They came up with a recovery map that includes 1,500 plots in 45 regions across Latin America.

The map shows the climactic and geographical disparity of carbon absorption that can be made when forests begin to regrow. The map aims to support the guidelines on minimizing deforestation in regions where the biomass resilience is low. This will help promote the regrowth of forests in humid lowlands where the biomass resilience is high.

Co-author Professor Susan Letcher from Purchase College State University in the U.S. wrote that in areas where degradation is low, protecting the young forests and letting them develop could be the best approach.

The findings were published in the journal Nature on Wednesday.

Photo: Scott Darbey | Flickr