Plantations Do Not Necessarily Lack Resilience

Climate change has intensified the frequency and severity of droughts, posing significant challenges to both natural and planted forests. Ma et al. (2025) explored the drought risk of planted vs. natural forests in China. They reported lower resistance and resilience in planted forests compared to natural forests. However, assessing drought risk in plantations is complex and requires consideration of various key factors, including tree species, stand age, management, resilience, and, importantly, evaluation methods. Only by taking these factors into account can the drought risk of planted forests be accurately assessed so as to develop effective management strategies to ensure their long-term sustainability (comment to Ma et al., Global Change Biology, 31, e70055, 2025). The photograph shows our views on the different drought responses of planted and natural forests in northern China.