The loss of forest habitat is a leading cause of species extinction, and reforestation is one of two established interventions for reversing this loss. However, the role of reforestation for biodiversity conservation remains debated, and lacking is an assessment of the potential contribution that reforestation could make to biodiversity conservation globally. Here, we conduct a spatial analysis of overlap between 1,550 forest-obligate threatened species' ranges and land that could be reforested. We find that reforestation on at least 43% of the reforestable area could potentially benefit threatened vertebrate biodiversity. This corresponds to ∼ 369 Mha, or approximately 15% of the total area where threatened vertebrates occur. The greatest opportunities for conserving threatened vertebrate species are found in the tropics, particularly Brazil and Indonesia. While reforestation is not a substitute for forest conservation, and most of the area containing threatened vertebrates remains forested, our results highlight the need for global conservation strategies to recognize the potentially significant contribution that reforestation could make to biodiversity conservation. If implemented, reforestation in the amount of ∼ 369 Mha would also contribute substantially to climate mitigation, offering a way of achieving multiple sustainability commitments at once. Countries must now work to overcome key barriers to investment in reforestation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

中文翻译：

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全球重新造林和生物多样性保护

森林栖息地的丧失是物种灭绝的主要原因，而重新造林是扭转这种丧失的两种既定干预措施之一。然而，重新造林对生物多样性保护的作用仍然存在争议，缺乏对重新造林对全球生物多样性保护的潜在贡献的评估。在这里，我们对 1,550 种受森林胁迫的受威胁物种的范围与可以重新造林的土地之间的重叠进行了空间分析。我们发现，在至少 43% 的可重新造林区域重新造林可能有利于受威胁的脊椎动物生物多样性。这相当于约 369 Mha，或大约 15% 的受威胁脊椎动物出现的总面积。在热带地区发现了保护受威胁脊椎动物物种的最大机会，尤其是巴西和印度尼西亚。虽然重新造林不能替代森林保护，而且大部分包含受威胁脊椎动物的地区仍然被森林覆盖，但我们的研究结果强调了全球保护战略的必要性，以认识到重新造林可能对生物多样性保护做出的潜在重大贡献。如果实施，大约 369 Mha 的重新造林也将大大有助于减缓气候变化，提供一种同时实现多项可持续性承诺的方法。各国现在必须努力克服重新造林投资的主要障碍。本文受版权保护。版权所有。我们的结果强调了全球保护战略的必要性，以认识到重新造林可能对生物多样性保护做出的潜在重大贡献。如果实施，大约 369 Mha 的重新造林也将大大有助于减缓气候变化，提供一种同时实现多项可持续性承诺的方法。各国现在必须努力克服重新造林投资的主要障碍。本文受版权保护。版权所有。我们的结果强调了全球保护战略的必要性，以认识到重新造林可能对生物多样性保护做出的潜在重大贡献。如果实施，大约 369 Mha 的重新造林也将大大有助于减缓气候变化，提供一种同时实现多项可持续性承诺的方法。各国现在必须努力克服重新造林投资的主要障碍。本文受版权保护。版权所有。各国现在必须努力克服重新造林投资的主要障碍。本文受版权保护。版权所有。各国现在必须努力克服重新造林投资的主要障碍。本文受版权保护。版权所有。