A recent study finds that tropical forests mend themselves, according to the National Monitor. Researchers from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama discovered that tree secured nitrogen from the air nine times faster than than usual during the beginning stages of forest restoration.

Entitled "The Agua Salud Project," the study involved conducting an experiment across the Panama Canal watershed, where researchers covered over a square mile in their comparison of land-use options, and in their determination of carbon storage levels, runoff and biodiversity to determine and compare mature tropical forests, native trees in forest restoration plots and abandoned pastureland.

According to the National Monitor, the method used in the project included comparing tree development rates and nitrogen levels on trees situated in pastureland that have been abandoned for quite some time, ranging from a period of as little as two years and as long as 80 years ago, as opposed to trees situated in seasoned forests. The result is that "tree species that secured nitrogen from the atmosphere added carbon weight as much as nine times faster than their non-securing neighbors during the initial phases of forest restoration."

Project researcher Sarah Batterman explains that, "Diversity really matters; Each tree species fixes nitrogen and carbon differently so species important at 12 years drop out or become less common at 30 years. You can really see how different players contribute to the development of a mature tropical forest and the ecosystem services it provides," as reported by the National Monitor.

The study has quite a significant impact, as the findings will greatly help in the forest restoration efforts in alleviating global warming.

According to Live Science, global warming causes unnatural increase in average temperatures in countries across the world, severe and intense weather events, extreme climate change because of shifting climate patterns and the significant rising of sea levels.