Ask A Scientist© Environmental Science Archive

Author:     virginia reid
Text:       Will the rain forest ever grow back?

Response #: 1 of 1
Author:     Don Libby
Text:       Yes, the rain forest will grow back if given a chance. It takes a 
plot the size of a football field about 50 years to completely recover to 
"original" condition. Since that is a long time, we have to plan more 
carefully how quickly we cut the forest, to make sure that there is enough 
"seed-stock" left to regenerate. If you do not believe the forest can recover, 
then you should take a look at the pictures of Maya ruins in Mexico and 
Guatemala. There were large cities in the forest, and after being abandoned 
for over 500 years, the forest grew back so thickly that many of the giant 
pyramids are completely covered up.