The ecologist Daisy Dent is mapping the invisible networks of life that revive rainforests, revealing a more natural and effective way to combat climate change than vast monocrop plantations.

Tropical forests, our planet’s largest carbon sinks, are underpinned by a complex web of interactions between plants and animals, from seed-dispersing monkeys to nutrient-sharing fungi. This ecosystem is crucial for carbon storage and the sustainability of local communities and wildlife.

Dent’s research, conducted in Panama’s Barro Colorado Nature Monument, shows that animal populations, particularly fruit-eating ones, play a vital role in planting and maintaining diverse forests. By studying the aftermath of deforestation, she has demonstrated that secondary forests can naturally regrow, creating ecosystems that are not only more resilient but also more efficient at sequestering carbon.

Her findings challenge the conventional approach of large-scale tree-planting projects, which often result in monoculture forests. Instead, Dent advocates for a more natural and cost-effective method that supports the intricate relationships within the forest, highlighting the potential for natural regeneration to play a significant role in global carbon capture.