Why do tree plantations usually support less biodiversity than natural forests?

Tree plantations often support significantly less biodiversity than natural forests because they are typically designed for commercial purposes rather than ecological complexity.1

While natural forests are characterized by diverse life histories, complex canopy gaps, and a wide range of plant species that have evolved to occupy specific niches, plantations are often monocultures. These plantations lack the structural diversity and varied resources—such as food sources, nesting sites, and microhabitats—required to sustain native plant and animal populations.21

Furthermore, because plantations are managed for specific, commercially important trees, they do not function as effective habitats for the many species that rely on the intricate, multi-layered ecosystems found in natural forests. Consequently, when native forests are replaced by such plantations, the resulting loss of habitat can lead to the extinction of endangered species that cannot survive in these simplified environments.1