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Deep in the lush heart of Costa Rica, researchers are tackling a major question: how can we restore biodiversity and measure whether our efforts are actually working? This ambitious project is a collaboration between scientists, students, local residents and the two foundations Adopt Rainforest and Work with Nature. “This is more than just a scientific study,” says project leader Edwin Pos. “This is a team effort where everyone contributes to a better understanding of the rainforest, as well as protecting and rebuilding it.”

The team is studying how former pastures and plantations can transform back into thriving forests. The history of the land likely plays a big role in how biodiversity returns.

The central question is how and why the land’s past use continues to matter. Does it affect how fast the forest comes back or what species return? And can we develop new methods to better quantify what the dynamics are of the rainforest ecosystem?

Not just a forest

“You might think tropical forests are quite alike, but it’s not that simple,” says Pos. A secondary forest, one that regrows after farming or logging, is not the same as a primary forest, which has never been disturbed.

The team wants to understand how quickly and to what extent these forests recover. How many species return? What kinds of species are they? Are they similar to what you’d find in an untouched forest? What about carbon storage in the form of biomass?

Our team wants to understand how quickly and to what extent these forests recover

The team wants to understand how quickly and to what extent these forests recover, says Pos. How many species return? What kinds of species are they? Are they similar to what you’d find in an untouched forest? What about carbon storage in the form of biomass?

These kinds of insights help assess whether restoration efforts are truly effective. They also show whether the forests are returning to a state we would expect, based on, for example, nearby primary rainforest.

Measuring nature’s comeback

It is no small task to keep track of which trees are growing in such a massive forest. So where do you even begin? The researchers use a smart system by dividing the forest into imaginary one-hectare sections, spread over the entire area. In some of these, they create smaller study plots of a quarter hectare. Within each plot, they measure exactly which trees are growing and how thick their trunks are.

Researchers choose plot locations based on local conditions. They use methods to extrapolate the patterns they observe, avoiding the need to survey the entire forest.

By repeating these measurements every year, they create a timeline that shows how the trees grow and how the forest is changing over time.

This method allows them to see patterns. Are new species appearing? Do trees grow faster in certain areas? How long does it take before a cleared forest starts to resemble a natural rainforest again? “These questions are important to understand how passive nature restoration operates,” says Pos.

Learning and working together

What makes this project truly special is the close collaboration with the local foundation, institutions like the and an affiliated herbarium, the , and especially the people who live nearby.

The local community plays a vital role. Thanks to them, we can collect information year-round

The collaboration is a two-way exchange, says Pos. “We don’t just show up, collect our data, leave and publish the results. The local community plays a vital role. They help set up and maintain the plots, carry out the inventories throughout the year, supervise our students, and assist with processing the data. Thanks to them, we can collect information year-round.”

The partnership goes beyond research. The local foundation also organizes events for schoolchildren, such as forest days where kids learn about the rainforest and the species that live there.

Forest days help local children connect with the nature around them and see how valuable it is

“Many of these children live near the forest, but don’t spend much time in it,” says Pos. “These forest days help them connect with the nature around them and see how valuable it is.” The foundation also creates jobs for the community. Because of this work, locals now earn an income as forest rangers, cooks or security staff.

A launchpad for students

The project is also an exciting opportunity for students. It is not just university students who do fieldwork here. Thanks to the foundation, vocational and applied sciences students also take part, as well as volunteers. It gives them hands-on experience and a chance to work as a team. Each student brings their own knowledge, background and enthusiasm, and everyone learns from one another, says Pos.

Soil research

This year, for the first time, the team will also start analysing the soil. They want to understand not only what happens above ground, but also what is going on below the surface. These first tests will show how many nutrients are in the soil. Eventually, they hope to study the life within the soil as well.

All this data will be analysed to uncover the processes driving the forest ecosystem and the influence of past land use.

Our measurements will help us offer clear advice on forest restoration and check if we are on the right track

“Our measurements will help us offer clear advice on forest restoration and check if we are on the right track,” says Pos. “And we can apply what we learn here in other tropical regions too.”