Integrating belowground recovery into tropical forest restoration design and monitoring

Abstract

There is growing recognition that tropical forest restoration is key for sequestering carbon and enhancing ecosystem resilience. Soils, roots, and soil biota are central to ecosystem function and services, but belowground recovery is largely overlooked in restoration monitoring frameworks. Here, we outline current understanding of the links between above- and belowground recovery in tropical forests by examining how belowground properties before and after intervention influence recovery; by evaluating whether aboveground recovery can serve as a proxy for belowground dynamics; and by proposing a blueprint for monitoring dynamic soil physical (bulk density, aggregate stability), chemical (organic matter or carbon, pH), and biological properties (decomposition rate, macrofauna abundance) in resource-constrained projects. Although we highlight some aboveground proxies for assessing belowground recovery, a better understanding of relationships between above- and belowground indicators across diverse restoration interventions remains essential. Overall, we provide an actionable path toward integrating belowground recovery into restoration design and assessment.