Costa Rica Maps Nearly 500 Tree Species to Safeguard Forest Biodiversity

Costa Rica maps nearly 500 dominant tree species to protect forest biodiversity

Researchers mapped Costa Rica's diverse forest ecosystems by analyzing tree species composition. Satellite observations and environmental data helped create a national forest map. This map distinguishes forest types, including secondary forests, across varied landscapes. The findings highlight the importance of dominant tree species for understanding forest function. Better field inventories are still needed to improve future forest mapping efforts.

By TOI Science Desk