WHAT THE EVIDENCE SAYS
Across 36 plots in 32–39-year-old stands, mixed Cunninghamia-broadleaf plantations had the highest mean ecosystem multifunctionality (0.559, against 0.403 secondary and 0.383 pure plantations). They also contained the most strongly imbalanced service pairs; regeneration remained relatively weak and water retention was stronger in secondary forests.
WHY IT MATTERS / OUR READ
An average restoration score is not a balanced ecological service bundle. Track regeneration, hydrology, diversity, soil and carbon separately to judge whether site-specific management goals are actually advancing.
CAVEATS / UNCERTAINTY
Observational, middle-aged-stand comparison; it cannot isolate causal benefits of mixing species or demonstrate long-term resilience.
SOURCE
Frontiers in Plant Science — Wu et al. (2026)
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