As forests reclaim the land: Latitudinal variations in carbon-biodiversity trade-offs under natural forest expansion in Italy
Author(s)
Date Issued
April 2026
Type
article
Volume
605
ISSN
0378-1127
Journal
Abstract
Spontaneous forest expansion following land abandonment can play a key role in achieving European targets for
climate-change mitigation and biodiversity conservation. Understanding how biodiversity relates to carbon (C)
stocks across successional stages can inform management strategies that simultaneously promote species di
versity and C sequestration, thereby optimizing land use for ecosystem multifunctionality. We analysed 16
chronosequences spanning five successional stages, from meadows and pastures to mature forests (up to ~75
years since abandonment), organized into four clusters along a latitudinal gradient in Italy, encompassing the
Alpine, Continental, and Mediterranean biogeographical regions. We quantified vegetation, deadwood, and soil
C pools and calculated diversity indices for herbaceous plant species. Linear and generalized linear mixed models
were used to assess successional stage and site effects on C stocks and diversity indices. Total ecosystem C
increased along succession, driven primarily by tree biomass, reaching 195–289 Mg C ha 1 in late-successional
forests. Soil C showed no clear successional trend, with weak or site-specific patterns. Herbaceous species
richness and diversity peaked in managed meadows/pastures and early encroachment stages but declined to
wards closed-canopy forests in three sites. By contrast, a U-shaped pattern emerged in the southernmost site.
Consequently, the C–diversity relationship was predominantly negative, except for the non-linear response
observed in the Mediterranean site. Overall, spontaneous reforestation promotes C storage but often reduce
herbaceous plant diversity, revealing potential trade-offs between climate mitigation and plant diversity.
However, under favourable environmental conditions, partial recovery of plant diversity in late-successional
forests may occur, suggesting for win-win management policies.
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