Articles tagged with Deforestation
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A University of Stirling-led study finds that deforestation, farming, and urbanization can heighten the risk of zoonotic diseases like Covid-19 and malaria. The research highlights the need for careful land-use planning to protect both human health and nature.
A new study reveals the devastating impacts of flue-cured Virginia tobacco production on the environment and farmers' lives in Zimbabwe. The research highlights the destruction of 60,000 hectares of Miombo woodland each year and an economic context that prevents farmers from diversifying into less damaging crops.
The SWIFTT project presents a hybrid seminar to showcase its platform that helps foresters detect and prevent insect outbreaks, analyse windthrow and fire damage. The event features live demos and presentations from the project team, highlighting the platform's benefits for sustainable forest management.
A new study by the University of Leicester reveals that Africa's forests have switched from absorbing to emitting carbon, with approximately 106 billion kilograms lost per year between 2010 and 2017. This alarming shift underscores the urgent need for stronger global action to protect forests.
A new study reveals that the Amazon rainforest still bears deep ecological imprints from both pre-Columbian Indigenous communities and European colonists, which have shaped tree species distribution and biodiversity. The research highlights the importance of recognizing these legacies to improve conservation and climate models.
Researchers found that rats contributed significantly to Rapa Nui's deforestation by consuming palm nuts, preventing trees from regrowing. The islanders cleared land for agriculture and used slash-and-burn practices, but the slow-growing palm trees made them vulnerable to rat predation.
A new study found that insectivorous birds in the Eastern Himalayas are declining in survival rates and body mass due to changes in forest microclimates after selective logging. The team suggests conserving primary forests and creating shade covers or supplementing water sources to support vulnerable species.
A new study analyzes 52 REDD+ initiatives certified under Verra's Verified Carbon Standard, finding widespread over-crediting of projects and only a minority meeting their reported emissions targets. However, the research suggests that even underperforming projects can deliver partial climate gains when implemented carefully.
The Amazon rainforest experienced its most devastating forest fire season in over two decades, releasing 791 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The study highlights the growing ecological fragility of the region, driven by climate change, deforestation, and land-use mismanagement.
Researchers found that species diversity is highest in landscapes with 60% unmanaged forests and 40% intensively managed forests. Extensively managed forests contribute little to support species richness, but improving their ecological performance can help maintain forest biodiversity.
Forestry professionals express concerns about AI's impact on land-management decisions and policy, citing 'black box' problems and data quality issues. However, they see potential for AI to support tasks like data analysis and task automation.
Researchers found that deforestation is responsible for a significant reduction in rainfall and increase in temperature in the Amazon during the dry season. The study quantifies the impact of forest loss and global climate change on the biome, highlighting the importance of preserving standing forests to maintain climate resilience.
A new study reveals that human influence has reduced global natural land carbon stocks by 24%, equivalent to 344 billion metric tons of carbon, mainly due to expanded pasture and croplands, as well as forest management.
New research highlights four components where nature-based climate actions have fallen short, including inadequate accounting for albedo and carbon leakage. The study proposes reforms to improve the performance and scalability of these strategies.
A new study by researchers from IIASA found that Brazil's mining industry does not deliver sustained economic benefits and instead contributes to deforestation, particularly in the Amazon. Informal mining is a major driver of forest loss, while industrial mining has no strong connection to forest damage.
Afro-descendant peoples in four Amazon countries show remarkable achievements in environmental stewardship, according to new research. Their lands significantly exceeded the norm for conservation value, with 56% being top 5% globally for biodiversity.
Researchers conducted the world's biggest bird survey in Colombia, recording 971 species and finding that clearing rainforest for cattle pasture causes a 60% greater biodiversity loss than previously thought. The study highlights the need for policymakers to consider the larger-scale impact of deforestation on biodiversity.
Researchers estimate that lightning kills around 320 million trees each year, resulting in significant biomass loss. This equates to an annual emission of 0.77-1.09 billion tons of CO₂, comparable to the emissions from wildfires.
A new approach suggests using quasi-experimental methods to estimate project impacts, reducing overestimated emissions reductions and increasing the effectiveness of carbon offsets. This could involve mechanisms like risk sharing along the value chain to overcome implementation hurdles.
The SWIFTT project will explore practical and technical challenges of using AI and satellite data to monitor bark beetle outbreaks. Forest professionals, researchers, and remote sensing experts will discuss the interplay between remote sensing, machine learning, and traditional forestry knowledge.
Quilombolas, descendants of enslaved Africans, have deep ties to their ancestral territories but face a broken process for securing formal land rights. The lack of research on quilombolas and Brazil's convoluted land tenure process contributes to systemic issues.
Gold mining in the Amazon depletes land of its water, creating harsh conditions where replanted seedlings can't survive. Researchers suggest flattening sand piles and filling in ponds could improve moisture retention and boost regrowth.
Researchers found that Brazil's beef production, if left unchecked, would exceed the country's limit for meeting its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target by up to 63GtCO2e by 2030. The study suggests that adopting emission reduction practices could prevent losses of up to $42.6 billion and ensure greater competitiveness.
Biomass is crucial for Europe's ability to reach its climate targets, providing both energy and negative emissions. Excluding biomass from the European energy system would increase costs by 169 billion Euros per year.
The World Cocoa Foundation and Alliance of Bioversity International assessed the accuracy of key maps for deforestation, tree planting, and greenhouse gas emissions monitoring. The study found that open access global maps are not accurate enough for cocoa analyses in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire.
A new study from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research finds that failing to account for declining forest carbon storage capacity could make reaching Paris agreement targets impossible and costly. Immediate action is recommended to safeguard carbon stocks, prevent escalating costs, and promote sustainable land use practices.
A team of researchers from the University of Kansas has confirmed that the Leyte Chorus Frog is a hybrid of two species with overlapping ranges whose intermingling was driven by deforestation. The discovery sheds new light on the impact of human activities on the environment and highlights the importance of conservation efforts.
Researchers found that emotional social media posts increase short-term willingness to pay for sustainable chocolate, but this effect diminishes within two weeks. The study suggests that emotional content can be an effective way to promote sustainable consumption in the short term.
Research found that 14% of Ecuadorian Amazon tree species are critically endangered, while 47% are endangered, primarily due to declines in animal species that disperse their fruits. The study highlights the importance of incorporating ecological traits into extinction risk estimates.
Fast-growing tree species are dominating Brazilian forests in regions with high levels of deforestation, threatening ecosystem services and biodiversity. The study highlights the urgent need to conserve and restore tropical forests to preserve these vital ecosystems.
A study by the University of Bonn and Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais shows that forest protection measures significantly reduce particulate matter in the air, leading to a decrease in hospital stays and deaths due to respiratory diseases. Protective measures are estimated to save around 680 human lives per year.
The 2024 Global Carbon Budget projects fossil CO2 emissions of 37.4 billion tonnes, up 0.8% from 2023, despite urgent calls to cut emissions to slow climate change. The report finds that overall emissions are roughly level over the last decade, but both fossil and land-use change CO2 emissions are set to rise in 2024.
A new study by the University of Otago found that New Zealand's native stoneflies have evolved to change color in response to deforestation, a clear example of animal evolution caused by human actions. This adaptation allows the species to overcome the loss of its original warning colors, which were lost due to forest removal.
A new study reveals that the southern boreal forests' ability to recover from climate shocks has significantly decreased over time, threatening Arctic carbon storage. The resilience of many plant communities in these regions is thought to have increased in most of the Arctic tundra, but this may not be sustainable in the long term.
A new study reveals that bais, vast treeless clearings in the Congo Basin, are home to numerous endangered species, including Western lowland gorillas and African forest elephants. The researchers found over 2,000 distinct bais, covering less than 0.2% of the national park's landscape.
New research on genetically modified crops reveals potential environmental impacts, including increased pesticide use, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emissions. The study highlights the need for further research to support sustainable agriculture practices.
A study by University of São Paulo shows that expansion of cattle ranching to meet growing domestic demand has contributed more than any other driver to Amazon's original vegetation degradation. Domestic markets exert far greater pressure on deforestation, according to the study.
Research reveals that deforestation in Africa's montane forests has induced a higher warming and cloud level rise than climate change alone, leading to decreased water supply. The study found that air temperature increased by 1.4°C and cloud levels rose by 230 meters over the last 20 years.
Researchers found 16 native species of mammals using timber plantations as corridors and refuges in Central Panama. However, teak monocultures showed the lowest records of species, highlighting the importance of restoring natural habitats for comprehensive wildlife conservation.
A new study found that tree bark surfaces absorb methane gas from the atmosphere, making trees 10% more beneficial for climate than previously thought. This discovery adds a new layer of importance to tree planting and reducing deforestation as part of efforts to cut methane emissions.
A study proposes changes to simplify licensing for landowners in the Atlantic Rainforest biome, making conservation policy more effective. The current legislation allows for the destruction of valuable forests due to its subjective and imprecise criteria.
A new study reveals that global forests have consistently absorbed carbon dioxide for the past three decades, with tropical forests experiencing a decline in their ability to absorb carbon due to deforestation. However, temperate forests have shown an increase in their carbon sink capacity, largely due to extensive reforestation efforts.
A recent study reveals that Australia's forests have declined significantly over the past 30 years, contributing to a troubling trend of deforestation and forest degradation. The country's extensive deforestation for agriculture has been a major driver of carbon emissions.
The world's forests continue to absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide, with an average of 3.5 billion metric tons per year, nearly half of global fossil fuel emissions between 1990 and 2019. Despite disruptions, certain land management practices can help preserve this critical carbon sink.
Researchers found that foreign direct investments and urbanization drove tree cover loss ahead of GDP growth in 40 countries. The study suggests addressing the full extent of FDI's link to deforestation by improving the entire food system.
The study reveals regional differences in Amazon drought response due to local environments and tree properties. The southern Amazon, with shallow water tables, is more vulnerable to drought, while the northern region, with deeper roots and less fertile soil, is more resilient.
Research finds that women in southern Colombia are more likely to adopt silvopastoral systems, which integrate nature into livestock farming, and are motivated by environmental reasons and a desire for future generations. These systems offer numerous benefits, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased farm income.
A worldwide analysis of voluntary carbon offset programs identified trends in renewable energy, forestry, and other technologies. Forestry and land management projects initially increased due to REDD+ programs, but shifted towards nature-positive solutions after 2016.
The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, found that active fires in west and central Africa's wet, tropical forests increased by up to 400% over 18 years, primarily caused by hot and dry conditions and human impact on forests.
Researchers emphasize that field stations studying primates contribute to biodiversity conservation by deterring poaching, deforestation, and natural resource extraction. The authors call for increased funding and support for red colobus conservation efforts.
A new study found that deforestation combined with climate change could negatively impact 84% of North America's lizards by the end of the century. This would lead to a 34% decrease in lizard activity time, making them more vulnerable to overheating.
A recent study published in Nature identifies potential thresholds for stressors that could cause the Amazon forest to collapse. The research highlights the importance of understanding the most significant factors affecting the rainforest environment to develop strategies for keeping it resilient.
A new study reveals that the Amazon rainforest is at risk of a large-scale collapse if climatic and land-use thresholds are breached. The Southeastern Amazon has already shifted from a carbon sink to a source, while droughts, deforestation, and fires weaken its resilience mechanisms.
Researchers urge shift towards more sustainable forestry practices and policy to manage global growing flood risk. A probabilistic approach can better understand the effects of deforestation on floods, considering multiple factors like climate change, land use, and logging.
Scientists have discovered a new species of coffee snake endemic to northwestern Ecuador's cloud forests. The species is threatened by deforestation and habitat destruction, prompting calls for conservation efforts. Its discovery highlights the need to protect the cloud forest ecosystem and its surrounding human-modified habitats.
A study published in Science reveals that 82% of endemic species and 65% of all tree species in the Atlantic Rainforest are threatened with extinction. The researchers used a novel conservation assessment methodology to estimate the degree of threat, which significantly increased the number of threatened species.
Researchers have discovered nine new carnivorous land snail species in Papua New Guinea, a region with high biodiversity and threatened by deforestation. The newly named species possess unique characteristics, such as tightly coiled shells and dagger-shaped teeth, and are likely predators.
Research reveals that regional bird communities are more tolerant of deforestation in areas with variable natural environments and longer agricultural histories. The study found that species' tolerance is linked to functional traits such as body size, habitat preference, and diet.
University of Bonn researchers analyzed satellite data to find that national policies have a significant impact on forest coverage. Strict policies and their effective implementation are critical to achieving positive changes in tree populations along country borders.
A new study reveals that humans have driven the extinction of 1,430 bird species, with many becoming extinct before written records. The research suggests that major human-driven extinctions occurred in the 14th century and ninth century BC, with ongoing threats including climate change and invasive species.