Articles tagged with Tropical Forests
A University of Arizona-led team used air-based maps of plant chemistry to better understand tropical forest responses to climate change. By combining traditional on-the-ground measurements with aerial data, researchers improved carbon cycling models and gained insights into the role of forests in the global carbon cycle.
Researchers developed a method to monitor tropical forest carbon emissions at unprecedented detail using satellite imagery and machine learning algorithms. The approach quantified the economic cost of deforestation in Peru, revealing areas with significant net losses of forest carbon due to logging and land conversion.
Scientists at Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ developed an approach using recent satellite data to estimate Amazon forest biomass with greater precision. This enables more accurate assessments of the consequences of droughts and forest fires on the Amazon.
Research shows that losing intact tropical forests results in a 626% increase in climate impact, equivalent to two years of global land-use change emissions. The study highlights the devastating effects of deforestation on the climate and emphasizes the need for better funding and conservation efforts.
A new study reveals that intact tropical forests have a significantly higher carbon impact than previously thought, with losses between 2000 and 2013 resulting in a 626% increase. This translates to two years' worth of global land-use change emissions and underscores the urgent need for conservation.
A recent study reveals that half of the Earth's land surface remains relatively wild, but fragmented into small pieces, posing a threat to their future. The report identifies high-priority areas for protection, including remote boreal forests and tropical rainforests.
The new website provides a resource for understanding why, where, and how tropical reforestation is occurring. It highlights eight key messages on livelihoods, local decision-making, planting trees, natural regeneration, and climate change, among others.
The study found that elephants change the structure of African tropical forests, increasing aboveground biomass by 26 to 60 tons per hectare. This process contributes to a corresponding increase in carbon storage, making the forests more resilient to climate change.
A University of Oklahoma-led study has generated improved annual maps of tropical forest cover in the Brazilian Amazon from 2000-2017, revealing ~15% higher estimates than existing datasets. The study also shows a renewed increase in forest area loss after 2013, driven by land use change and strong El Nino.
The study found that Darien has the highest carbon stocks among nine mature forest sites across the Neotropics and second-highest tree species richness in the region. Disturbed forests maintained a high capacity to sequester carbon, challenging REDD+ exclusion policies.
Scientists at the University of Sheffield discovered how climate change and deforestation interact to disconnection natural habitats, leaving wildlife with limited escape routes from rising temperatures. The study highlights the urgent need to fund reforestation efforts and stop tropical forest loss.
Researchers have pinpointed restoration hotspots in 15 countries across four continents, offering the biggest carbon, water, and wildlife benefits. The study identifies over 100 million hectares of lost lowland tropical rain forests that can be restored to overcome rising global temperatures.
Research reveals tree species with durable wood persist longer, but slow growth comes at the expense of reduced resources; Early stages dominate 'fast' pioneer species with soft wood.
Scientists have mapped the expected decline for each mammal species across all tropical forests due to hunting. The study found that more than half of tropical forests are under hunting pressure, with hotspots in Western and Central Africa and South-East Asia.
A new study suggests that the Cerrado biome in Brazil connected the Andean and Atlantic tropical forests, which are now over 1,000 km apart. The research used genomic and biogeographical data to support this hypothesis.
Research shows forests in temperate, boreal, and tropical regions lower air temperatures by an average of 4°C compared to surrounding areas. The study suggests that management strategies can improve forest microclimates and mitigate the effects of global warming on biodiversity.
Two new studies reveal that a sixth of EU citizens' typical diet-related emissions can be directly linked to tropical forest deforestation. The research highlights the need for stricter regulations on food imports and alternative production methods.
A new model predicts that Brazilian deforestation could lead to a 1.45°C increase in local surface temperature by 2050, with tropical regions experiencing the greatest warming effects. Forestation has the potential to reverse these impacts, especially in tropical and temperate regions.
In tropical rainforests, plants produce unique defense chemicals to evade insect-eating predators, promoting biodiversity. A study found that nine Inga tree species developed distinct defense strategies, leading to a diverse forest ecosystem.
A global wildlife map identifies areas where threatened species can find refuge, but also highlights shrinking refuges and high levels of species richness threatened by human activities. The study provides a roadmap for conservation investment and mitigation strategies to save endangered species.
A new study reveals that secondary forests adjacent to extensive primary forests can host diverse bird communities and boost populations of forest specialist birds. The research, published in Biotropica, challenges previous assertions about the conservation potential of young secondary forests.
Research at the University of Birmingham reveals that young forests are a substantial contributor to the world's carbon sink, accounting for around 25% of total carbon dioxide absorption. These forests, typically in temperate zones, have been re-growing on land with previously experienced human activities.
A new study by Graziano Ceddia reveals that greater inequality increases deforestation in Latin America, while less inequality better protects forests. Increasing agricultural productivity can help reduce pressure on remaining forests, but it also incentivizes the conversion of more forests to cropland.
A team of Nottingham scientists is using drones to survey woody climbing plants and better understand how they may affect the carbon balance of tropical rainforests. The findings have been published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, highlighting the potential problems caused by lianas and their impact on global warming.
Natural enemies near individual trees restrict tree recruitment, favoring rare species over common ones. Tropical forest diversity is maintained by the 'seed shadow' around adult trees, allowing rare species to thrive.
Between 2000 and 2014, Brazil's cropland area nearly doubled from 26 Mha to 46.1 Mha. Most of this growth (80%) came from converting pastureland, while 20% was due to natural vegetation conversion.
A study led by University of Miami biologists found that tropical trees in the Andes are migrating to higher, cooler elevations to escape warming temperatures. However, this migration is not happening quickly enough to avoid biodiversity loss, functional collapse, or extinction.
A recent survey by ZSL's SPOTT found that only 49 of the world's top palm oil producers and traders have committed to zero-deforestation pledges, but many lack effectiveness in addressing deforestation. Companies must provide detailed information on monitored areas and methods used to track forest cover.
A 10-year remote sensing analysis reveals that rare canopy trees are more likely to increase in population size than common ones, supporting the Janzen-Connell hypothesis. However, constraints on population growth do not stabilize the tree population, leading to increased size over time.
Researchers found that tropical tree populations increase mainly in locations where the tree is rare, suggesting a 'negative feedback' mechanism that regulates population growth. This phenomenon could explain the high ecological diversity of tropical forests, with more species living in a smaller area than in North America combined.
A new study found that primary tropical forests contain more biodiversity and carbon than even mature regenerating forests. Secondary forests, on the other hand, can still play a vital role in biodiversity conservation and carbon storage, with some areas recovering to over 80% of levels found in undisturbed primary forests.
A recent study found that secondary forests in southern Costa Rica last an average of 20 years before being converted to another land use, preventing them from providing habitat for many forest species and absorbing large amounts of carbon.
A new Yale study examines the role of 'natural enemies' in promoting tropical species diversity. However, findings suggest that disparities in enemy susceptibility can make communities less stable. The research contradicts a long-held hypothesis, highlighting the need for alternative explanations.
Researchers found tropical forests' gross primary productivity increases with warming temperatures but slows down at optimal range of 28-29 degrees Celsius, before declining at high temperatures.
Current tropical forests' capacity to absorb carbon dioxide is being compromised by deforestation and climate change, threatening global temperature rise goals. Researchers estimate that forests are currently absorbing as much CO2 as they generate through deforestation and degradation.
A study found that protecting tropical forest carbon stocks is ineffective for biodiversity in ecologically valuable forests. In fact, up to 77% of species protected through carbon conservation were not saved in these areas. The researchers suggest focusing on both carbon and biodiversity conservation efforts to safeguard unique wildlife.
Scientists discovered four ancient frog fossils in Myanmar amber, dating back to the Cretaceous period, providing direct evidence of frogs living in wet, tropical forests. The fossils include a well-preserved juvenile frog species named Electrorana limoae, which challenges current understanding of frog evolution and diversification.
A global study found that Leguminosae trees are twice as common in dry compared with wet secondary forests during the first three decades of natural forest regeneration. These trees have high drought tolerance and can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, making them essential for tropical forest regrowth in dry regions.
Recent studies on tropical forest restoration have been found to be biased, with natural regeneration being compared to active tree planting in different site conditions. This finding could change the approach to restoration, suggesting that both methods can be complementary and suitable for specific sites.
Researchers used stable carbon and oxygen isotope analysis to show that some individuals subsisted primarily on forest resources, while others relied on agriculture through trade. The study's findings are significant for the Wanniyalaeto people's battles to remain on their traditional hunting grounds.
A new study finds that maintaining a forest's natural shape is crucial in preventing its collapse. The research uses high-resolution satellite data to show that the shape of forests follows a predictable mathematical relationship between perimeter and area, which can help predict stability.
A recent study published in Nature Communications suggests that deforestation could lead to a significant rise in global temperatures if not addressed. The research, led by Paulo Artaxo, used computer modeling and found that the loss of tropical forests would intensify global warming by 0.8°C on average.
A University of East Anglia study finds that current payment schemes for forest carbon credits are insufficient to compete with the financial benefits of logging and converting forests to rubber plantations. To effectively protect tropical forests, payment amounts must be significantly increased.
Researchers combined fieldwork and computational models with satellite images to shed light on seasonal patterns in the Amazon. They found that biological processes, such as leaf growth and shedding, are more complex than previously thought, influencing canopy greenness.
A new study found that declines in specific Amazonian tree communities are linked to the loss of large vertebrate populations. The research, published in the Journal of Ecology, suggests that defaunation may not lead to massive biomass losses, but further on-the-ground research is needed to understand its long-term impact.
A recent study by Oregon State University researchers found that old-growth forests in Costa Rica's Coto Brus region have a greater variety of bird species compared to second-growth forests. This suggests that maintaining large areas of primary forest is crucial for conservation efforts.
A study using physics principles explains global patterns of tropical forest fragmentation, revealing critical points beyond which fragment numbers increase dramatically. The research found similar size distributions on all three continents, suggesting a universal pattern.
Researchers classify world's tropical forests by evolutionary history, uncovering five major regions and finding surprising similarities between African and South American forests. The study aims to inform conservation efforts by predicting region-specific vulnerability to global environmental changes.
Researchers used phylogenetic analysis to classify tropical forests into two major regions: an American-African combined region and an Indo-Pacific region. The study also identified a dry region encompassing areas in America, Africa, India, and Madagascar, as well as a subtropical region with parts of America and Asia.
A recent study by FSU researchers found that high carbon dioxide levels stimulate flower production in tropical forests. The findings suggest that these forests may be more sensitive to climate change than expected.
Current regional nitrogen deposition in the Congo Basin significantly exceeds previously simulated low deposition rates. Annual savannah biomass burning is likely responsible for elevated deposition rates, according to a recent study.
A study by Nanyang Technological University found that oil palm production in Malaysia leads to a surge in wild boar population, damaging forest trees and preventing regeneration. The researchers suggest larger buffer areas around forest reserves to limit wildlife access to oil palm fruits.
A new study using remote sensing and satellite mapping has identified 40% of northern Malaysian Borneo's carbon stocks in unprotected forests. The Carnegie Airborne Observatory mapped carbon stocks, guiding conservation efforts and suggesting that doubling carbon stocks could be achieved by allowing previously logged forests to regener...
A meta-analysis of 133 studies found that natural regeneration is more effective in restoring biodiversity and forest structure compared to active restoration. Natural regeneration also proves to be a lower-cost approach, contrary to previous findings.
Natural regeneration outperforms active restoration methods for biodiversity and vegetation structure recovery by 34-56% in tropical forests. The study controlled for key factors like forest amount, precipitation, and past disturbance to ensure accurate results.
A new study reveals that protected areas of tropical forest are reducing carbon emissions by a third, and slowing the rate of global warming. The research found that these protected areas prevent the release of three times as much carbon into the atmosphere as the UK emits each year.
A new University of Stirling study suggests that the environmental impact of Amazonian hydropower generation may be greater than predicted. Forest fragmentation and liana growth can lead to biodiversity and carbon losses associated with tropical hydropower, highlighting the need for more accurate assessments in dam decision-making.
An international team developed a statistical approach to examine forest populations and predict biodiversity, highlighting the importance of rare species in maintaining ecosystem health. The new method provides accurate estimates of species numbers and abundances, enabling conservation efforts to focus on vulnerable species.
A team of scientists discovered that tropical fungi form species-specific associations with seeds, influencing survival and germination rates. The study found that different fungi can aid or hinder seed development, depending on the seed species, providing new insights into the persistence of tropical forest diversity.
A new study reveals that tropical forests are now a net source of carbon to the atmosphere, emitting nearly 425 teragrams annually. Despite gains from forest growth, losses due to degradation and disturbance account for most emissions, with Latin America bearing the brunt of loss.