Biodiversity matters in every forest, but even more in wetter ones

Researchers used data from 15 tree diversity experimental sites—like this one in Putuo, China—to find that richer diversity promotes more tree growth in wetter climates. Image credit: Liting Zheng

By Matt Davenport | Michigan News |

August 4, 2025

Contact: [email protected]

A new study led by the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) shows biodiversity in wetter forests has a more pronounced impact than in drier ones, providing valuable insights for those working to protect and restore these ecosystems.

Peter Reich, SEAS professor and director of the Institute for Global Change Biology, was senior researcher on the project, which encompassed 15 tree diversity experiments globally. Spanning a range of climates, the analysis involved 100,000 trees belonging to nearly 130 species.

“This provides a more nuanced insight into how biodiversity works in different environments,” said Reich. “If you’re thinking of restoring or regrowing, it makes a lot of sense to plant diverse trees, especially in wetter areas.”

Reich stressed that the "wetter" designation wasn't limited to tropical rainforests, and that Michigan's forests, for example, would also qualify as wet.

The study's lead author was Liting Zheng, who performed the work as a postdoctoral fellow at SEAS and is now a researcher at the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research. SEAS Associate Professor Kai Zhu and SEAS Professor Inés Ibáñez also contributed to the study.