A new study has found that the rate of carbon loss from tropical forests has doubled over the past two decades. The study, which was published in the journal Nature, used high-resolution satellite data to track changes in forest cover and biomass in the tropics between 2003 and 2020.
The results showed that the tropics lost an average of 1.1 billion tons of carbon per year between 2003 and 2012, and 2.3 billion tons of carbon per year between 2013 and 2020. This increase in carbon loss was driven by a combination of factors, including deforestation, forest degradation, and climate change.
Deforestation was the largest driver of carbon loss, accounting for 60% of the total loss. Forest degradation, which is the gradual decline in the health of forests, accounted for 30% of the total loss. Climate change, which is causing forests to become drier and more susceptible to fire, accounted for 10% of the total loss.
The study found that the rate of carbon loss was highest in the Brazilian Amazon, which lost 1.5 billion tons of carbon per year between 2013 and 2020. Other regions with high rates of carbon loss included the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
The study's findings are a major concern, as tropical forests are a vital carbon sink. They absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their biomass, helping to regulate the Earth's climate. The loss of tropical forests is therefore contributing to climate change, which is having a devastating impact on the planet.
The study's authors say that urgent action is needed to stop the loss of tropical forests. They recommend that governments implement policies to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, and that they provide financial support for sustainable forest management practices.
The findings of this study highlight the urgent need to address the drivers of tropical deforestation and forest degradation. By taking action to protect these vital ecosystems, we can help to mitigate climate change and secure a sustainable future for our planet.
