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Notes: The study shows that integrating soil DNA metabarcoding with vegetation plot data provides a more complete picture of forest restoration outcomes. Naturally regenerating mānuka forests had richer native understories and more saplings of old‑growth‑associated species, while planted forests accumulated more biomass and supported higher soil bacterial and protist richness along with greater pathogen loads. By combining these complementary data sources, the authors demonstrate that planted forests may grow faster, but naturally regenerating forests could be healthier and more likely to transition toward old‑growth conditions, highlighting the value of soil biodiversity data for understanding ecosystem trajectories.

Dopheide A, Grelet G-A, McCarthy JK, Bellingham PJ, Burns B, Davis C, Fergus AJ, Park D, Schwendenmann L, Simcock R, Padamsee M 2026. Plant and soil biodiversity reveals past and potential future states of naturally regenerating and planted native forests. Restoration Ecology: e70356.

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