Long-term demographic responses to historical logging and ongoing climate change in an upland subtropical rainforest

Historical logging and ongoing climate change continue to significantly impact the recovery of upland subtropical rainforests in southeast Queensland, part of Australia's Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Site. Despite over 50 years since logging cessation, these forests show persistent structural and compositional differences compared to intact plots, with logged areas exhibiting higher recruitment of pioneer species but greater sensitivity to warming temperatures and extreme weather events. The study, utilizing a rare long-term dataset spanning 1962–2015, found that while logged plots demonstrate faster diameter growth initially, this slows as basal area increases. Intact plots, conversely, show growth concentrated in larger, cloud-water-intercepting trees. These findings highlight the enduring legacy of logging and the need for adaptive management strategies to mitigate climate change impacts on these critical biodiversity refugia.

Howell, S. R., Doley, D., McDonald, W. J. F., Radford-Smith, J., & Dwyer, J. M. (2026). Long-term demographic responses to historical logging and ongoing climate change in an upland subtropical rainforest. Forest Ecology and Management, 621, 124248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2026.124248