Restoring evergreen forests: trait-based evaluation and field monitoring for climate-resilient restoration

The biodiverse northern Western Ghats, historically characterized by tropical evergreen forests, have undergone a pronounced shift toward deciduous vegetation following long-term anthropogenic disturbance, such as logging, plantations, and fire. This vegetation transition has led to declining biodiversity, altered ecosystem processes, and reduced hydrological stability. In the context of rising temperatures, prolonged dry periods, and increasingly variable moisture regimes, climate-smart restoration approaches are urgently needed to reestablish the native evergreen forest structure through strategic, trait-informed species selection.

To inform species choice for restoration programs, we established a replicated juvenile pot experiment comprising 16 species spanning a slow–fast growth spectrum. We measured functional traits associated with drought and heat resilience, including diurnal water-use patterns (stomatal conductance), embolism resistance, dehydration tolerance, and thermal tolerance.

Our preliminary analysis reveals trait covariation describing distinct hydraulic strategies among coexisting species. Clear differences emerge in diurnal water use patterns and dehydration tolerance among the studied species. Such differences in hydraulic strategies might improve ecosystem performance compared to monocultures under climate change. We are further investigating whether species with comparatively higher dehydration tolerance, and putative embolism and heat resistance can better withstand climatic stressors and exhibit improved growth performance, or trade-offs exist. Field monitoring of planted saplings will be essential to validate these preliminary insights and guide climate-resilient restoration in the northern Western Ghats.