Articles tagged with Deforestation
A new study from Indiana University and Brazil's Oswaldo Cruz Foundation found that indigenous hunting with fire maintains ecological integrity and sustains vegetation recovery in areas previously deforested by agribusiness. This practice effectively manages carbon emissions over the long term.
VTT has developed a new method to accurately assess tropical forest cover using numerical satellite images. This method enables forest mapping with high accuracy and is being used in the EU's ReCover project in several tropical regions.
Researchers argue that separate targets for gross deforestation and reforestation would increase progress toward forest conservation and climate change goals. Monitoring changes in forest cover using satellite data is now technically feasible, but resource allocation remains a challenge.
A University of Maryland-led team created the first high-resolution global map of forest extent, loss, and gain. The study documents a global loss of 2.3 million square kilometers and a gain of 800,000 square kilometers between 2000 and 2012.
Researchers find Amazon deforestation could reduce rain and snowfall in the western US, resulting in water and food shortages. A study suggests a 50% reduction in Sierra Nevada snowpack could occur if the Amazon is stripped bare.
A new study reveals that nearly 17,000 kilometres of road were built in the Brazilian Amazon every year between 2004 and 2007. This expansion had a significant ecological impact, with indirect effects including changes in air and soil temperature, moisture, and animal movement restrictions.
Historic global trends predict that global forest cover will decline by 10% over the next century unless new technologies boost yields or strategies to decrease food consumption are introduced. Reforestation may increase global forest cover to 35% within 70 years if food production and consumption stabilize.
Researchers found that the Amazon rainforest's stability and resilience to widespread deforestation may be lower than previously thought. Deforestation-induced precipitation changes can trigger a forest-to-grassland shift in different zones of the Amazon, with some areas experiencing sharp declines in rainfall. Meanwhile, scientists al...
Research shows that conserving rainforests in the Amazon River Basin can increase electricity production from hydropower projects by up to 30%. The study highlights the critical role of rainforests in generating rainfall and river flow, which ultimately power production.
A new study predicts that large-scale Amazon deforestation will reduce the region's natural carbon sink and inflict climate feedbacks, decreasing pasture and soybean productivity. By 2050, biomass on the ground could decline by up to 65% due to forest removal and resulting climate change.
A new study finds that agricultural expansion in the Amazon will reduce the region's natural carbon sink and inflict climate feedbacks, leading to decreased productivity of pasture and soybeans. By 2050, precipitation decrease caused by deforestation could reduce pasture productivity by up to 30% and soybean yield by up to 28%.
Researchers found that current costs of forest conservation are low, but future agricultural yields could increase dramatically, rendering financial incentives ineffective. This threatens the long-term viability of conservation programs in tropical developing countries.
The study highlights the importance of sustainable land management in reducing deforestation and preserving ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, combined with policies and incentives, can minimize environmental degradation and secure the health of forests and streams in the Amazon and other tropical regions.
A study by UCSB anthropologist Jeffrey Hoelle explores the complex relationship between cattle ranchers and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. Ranchers, who are often seen as villains of Amazonia, actually have a nuanced perspective on their industry's impact.
New genetic analysis reveals that many Amazon tree species are likely to survive man-made climate warming in the coming century. The study finds that these trees have previously survived warmer climates and are expected to endure higher temperatures. However, droughts and forest fires remain major threats to the Amazon's future.
A new study finds that deforestation in snowy regions consistently causes more floods, both big and small. In mountainous areas, trees help control snowmelt, but without them, water flows faster, leading to a significant increase in flood frequency.
A study by the University of Leeds finds that tropical forests produce significantly more rain than vegetation, with the Amazon and Congo forests maintaining rainfall over surrounding areas. This could have catastrophic consequences for people living thousands of kilometres away if these forests are destroyed.
A recent study suggests that the ancient Maya's extensive forest clearance may have exacerbated droughts in their empire, potentially hastening their decline. The research, published in Geophysical Research Letters, utilized computer simulations to model the impact of deforestation on climate patterns.
A recent study by an international research group challenges the conventional wisdom that deforestation is solely caused by human activity. The research suggests that pre-human climatic changes may have led to the current open habitats of Daraina region in northern Madagascar, affecting the population of golden-crowned sifaka.
Researchers at Winrock International developed a more accurate estimate of gross carbon emissions from tropical deforestation for the early 2000s. The study found that global emissions from deforestation were approximately one-third lower than previously published estimates, with Brazil and Indonesia accounting for 55% of total emissions.
Landsat satellites offer high-resolution data for tracking forest change and storing carbon, supporting REDD+ efforts. The program's long-term continuity and free access to data have contributed to a decrease in deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.
A new study suggests that large areas of western Amazonia were sparsely inhabited before European arrival, contradicting the idea that most of Amazonia was heavily occupied. The research found few signs of charcoal from fires, indicating low-intensity human impacts on forests.
A new study reveals that the amount of greenhouse gas released when a forest is cleared depends on how the trees are used and where they're grown. Carbon stored in temperate forests is more likely to remain intact, while tropical forests have nearly all their carbon released into the atmosphere.
A group of environmental scientists suggest applying insurance policies and premiums to strengthen the REDD scheme, addressing leakage, permanence, and additionality issues. This new scheme, iREDD, aims to protect forests and promote biodiversity by ensuring both buyers and sellers are protected.
Scientists have measured the carbon content of Sri Lanka's natural forests, finding that nearly half of greenhouse gas emissions originate from deforestation. The study suggests alternative ecosystems can bind carbon while providing food and protection for local populations.
A team of researchers from Carnegie Institution, GoodPlanet Foundation, and World Wide Fund (WWF) has produced the first large-scale, high-resolution estimates of carbon stocks in remote and fragile Madagascar. The study found that humid mountain forests had the highest carbon densities, while deforestation reduced standing carbon stocks.
A recent study by University of Innsbruck climate researchers found that land-cover changes have a limited effect on glacier loss in the Kilimanjaro area. The team's novel methodology showed that LCC mainly alter precipitation over glaciers, resulting in local increases or decreases in glacier mass.
A new study published in Nature Climate Change provides a high-resolution map of aboveground biomass density for the world's tropical forests, leading to better tracking of changes in biomass density and improved estimates of carbon emissions. With this map, countries can accurately report their greenhouse gas emissions under the UNFCCC.
A new study reveals human land use activity is altering the Amazon basin's regional water and energy cycles. The research found signs of transition to a disturbance-dominated regime in the southern and eastern portions of the basin, linked to high-frequency wildfires and climate change.
New research suggests ancient Meso-American civilizations amplified droughts by clearing rainforests, leading to significant precipitation decline. Ancient dry spells also occurred in the Northeast, with major droughts lasting up to 500 years, hinting at a potential future of severe water shortages.
A Yale-led team found that deforestation in northern latitudes has a net cooling effect due to increased albedo from snow cover and reduced absorption of solar radiation. Temperatures decrease by an average of 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit north of Minnesota.
Researchers discovered a surprising link between deforestation and temperature changes, finding that areas north of 45 degrees latitude experience cooling effects due to increased albedo. However, this effect is not observed at lower latitudes, where deforestation may actually contribute to warming.
A new report by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute identifies gaps in Panama's forest monitoring, making it difficult to track emission reductions from REDD+ activities. The study emphasizes the need for low-cost, verifiable forest monitoring techniques to verify the effectiveness of conservation strategies.
New research reveals that established forests remove 2.4 billion tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere annually, equivalent to one third of current annual fossil fuel emissions. This is a significant breakthrough demonstrating how forests impact atmospheric CO2 levels through tree growth and expansion.
A study by Kansas State University researchers linked increased soybean and biofuel crop production in Brazil to significant deforestation in the Amazon. Reducing soybean production by 10% could decrease deforestation by nearly 40%.
A new analysis finds that most countries participating in REDD+ cite agriculture as the main cause of deforestation, but few provide details on how to address this issue. Countries pursuing food and biofuel production policies are intensifying agriculture-related pressures on forest lands.
Research suggests that urban woodlands with moderate clearance (less than 50% of understory removal) support high bird diversity while still allowing for rambling opportunities. The findings have implications for forest management to balance ecological and social values.
A recent study by Duke University reveals a six-fold increase in Amazon deforestation in Peru, largely driven by artisanal gold mining fueled by record gold prices. The mining activities have led to widespread mercury pollution, contaminating water and soil, and posing risks to human health and the environment.
Researchers at IITA and CIFOR found that widespread deforestation in West Africa's tropical forest region is driven by low-input farming practices. Increasing fertilizer use could have spared 2 million hectares of forest from being cleared, instead promoting sustainable agriculture and higher yields.
Cocaine production in Colombia accelerates rainforest destruction, threatening biodiversity hotspots. Designated protected areas can help preserve ecosystems.
Research reveals that early settlers rapidly cleared New Zealand forests with fires within 200 years of initial colonization, replacing native forests with grasslands and shrublands. The findings support the idea that human activity was the main cause of these fires, which were not related to unusual climate conditions.
A new study found that reforestation at home often leads to deforestation abroad in developing countries. International trade in forest products increased the demand for imported timber and agricultural products, contributing to net deforestation. Strengthening cooperation and certification systems can help mitigate this issue.
Despite the financial crisis, global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels are expected to rise by over 3% in 2010, reversing previous declines. Meanwhile, deforestation-related emissions have decreased by over 25% since 2000.
A Queensland University of Technology (QUT) statistician has found that villagers who live alongside orangutans are unaware of the laws protecting them, and many admit to killing the primates. The study suggests education campaigns tailored to specific areas and cultural groups can effectively target orangutan hunting.
Researchers created high-resolution maps of carbon storage and emissions in the Peruvian Amazon, revealing patterns that differ among forest types and geology. The study's findings could inform the United Nations' REDD initiative and provide financial incentives to reduce deforestation and degradation.
A new study projects that only 18% to 45% of plants and animals in global tropical forests may remain as we know them today by 2100. Conservation efforts can focus on reducing deforestation pressure to help species adapt to climate change or enhance their ability to move with it.
A recent study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers links deforestation in the Amazon to a significant increase in malaria cases, with a 48% rise reported in areas with a 4% loss of forest cover. The findings suggest that clearing tropical forests creates ideal habitat for mosquitoes that transmit malaria.
A new study reveals that urban growth and agricultural exports are major drivers of tropical deforestation, contrary to previous assumptions. The study found that industrial-scale clearing in countries like Brazil, Indonesia, and Cambodia is driven by demand for products like palm oil, soybeans, and meat.
Space agencies are collaborating to provide long-term global climate observations using Earth observation satellites. These data will support the UNFCCC and the International Panel on Climate Change by quantifying the state of our climate.
A new software package called CLASlite is revolutionizing forest monitoring by automatically identifying deforestation and forest degradation from satellite imagery. The technology has been adopted by 70 organizations in five countries and is being rapidly disseminated to support international policy discussions.
The report concludes that performance-based financial incentives could provide the necessary political will for action in developing countries. It also highlights opportunities for progress in the short-term by addressing broader causes of deforestation, such as agricultural sector pressures.
The Field Museum has received a three-year grant to establish new conservation landscapes in Amazonian Peru. The project aims to secure legal protection for high-priority forests and indigenous territories, while also promoting sustainable management and financing through the REDD voluntary carbon market.
Migratory birds prefer smaller, protected areas over large forest patches for rest stops and food, according to a Purdue University study. Small woodlots can provide essential refuges for birds vulnerable to predators in open habitats.
A recent MSU-led study found that Brazil's protected areas within the Amazon can buffer the forest from climate change even if the remaining area is deforested. The researchers used atmospheric computer modeling to simulate a worst-case scenario and found rainfall levels would not decrease significantly.
Research reveals that clearing the Amazon rainforest brings initial improvements in income and quality of life for Brazilian communities, but these gains are short-lived. The study suggests that levels of development revert back to below national average levels once natural resources are exploited and deforestation expands.
Research by NC State University biologist Dr. Nick Haddad and colleagues found that landscape corridors connecting isolated habitat patches increased plant species beyond the area itself. The study showed that corridors caused a significant spillover effect, especially among bird-dispersed plants, leading to broader conservation benefits.
A new study by Duke University researchers found that rainforest reserves provide an effective buffer against fires in the Brazilian Amazon. Despite the presence of roads and settlements, reserves still experience fewer fires than surrounding areas. The study suggests that even inhabited reserves can be effective tools for reducing fires.
A recent study analyzing satellite data reveals a significant link between drought and deforestation in equatorial Asia, leading to increased global warming. The practice of using fire to clear forests releases substantial amounts of climate-warming carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology has received a $1.6-million grant to improve and expand CLASLite, a user-friendly method for mapping tropical forests from desktops. The technology will help rainforest nations monitor their changing carbon budgets and advance deforestation and degradation mapping in Latin America.
Research shows that recognizing local rights and tenure systems is cost-effective and can secure carbon credits, while indigenous communities prove to be good forest stewards. Poorly designed initiatives could fuel corruption and conflict.