Initial performance and reforestation potential of 24 tropical tree species planted across a precipitation gradient in the Republic of Panama

Decades of deforestation and unsustainable land use have created large expanses of degraded lands across Central America. Reforestation may offer one means of mitigating these processes of degradation while sustaining resident human communities. However, a lack of information regarding tree species performance has been identified as an important limitation on the success and adoption of diversified reforestation strategies. We analyzed the initial growth of 22 native and 2 exotic tree species planted at three sites across a precipitation gradient in the Republic of Panama (1100–2200 mm year⁻¹), and identify promising species for use in forest restoration, timber production and on-farm systems.