Extended Data Figure 4: Relationship between forest biomass and stand age using chronosequence studies in Neotropical secondary forest sites.

a, AGB (N = 44); b, AGB recovery (N = 28). The same as Fig. 1 but with plots and regression lines coloured by forest type: green, dry forest (<1,500 mm rainfall per year); light blue, moist forest (1,500–2,499 mm yr⁻¹); dark blue, wet forest (≥2,500 mm yr⁻¹). Each line represents a different chronosequence. The original plots on which the regression lines are based are shown (N = 1,364 for AGB, N = 995 for AGB recovery). AGB recovery is defined as the AGB of the secondary forest plot compared with the median AGB of old-growth forest plots in the area, multiplied by 100. Significant relations (two-sided P ≤ 0.05) are indicated by continuous lines, non-significant relationships (two-sided P > 0.05) are indicated by broken lines. Plots of 100 years old are also second-growth.