Articles tagged with Tropical Forests
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Historical rates and patterns of tropical deforestation around the globe were used to estimate carbon emissions and species losses over time. Current emissions and extinctions are mostly tied to past actions.
Researchers found that the Amazon rainforest experiences higher photosynthesis rates during the dry season due to changes in leaf quality and not quantity. This discovery can help scientists assess the forest's health and potential impact on climate change.
Lianas are preventing tropical forest recovery due to rapid spread following tree-felling, according to a new study. The researchers advocate for temporary removal of lianas in selected areas to aid growth and reduce carbon impact.
A new study identifies nearly 1.37 billion hectares of land globally suitable for oil palm cultivation, while avoiding protected forests and high-biodiversity areas. The resulting map includes 19.3 million hectares of land that could be available for future production, slightly more than the current extent of palm oil production.
A study by the University of East Anglia found that tropical hardwoods do not grow back to commercial levels after selective logging, posing a risk to their survival. The research highlights the need for sustainable forestry practices to manage yields and maintain forest biodiversity.
Scientists have discovered a new species of spider in central Spain, specifically in Holm oak trees at the borders of cereal fields. The newly found species has a unique preference for these trees and highlights the need to preserve isolated trees in agricultural landscapes to conserve novel species.
A UK school named a new tree species from Tanzania as part of a fundraising campaign for tropical forest conservation. The college raised over £4000 through various events and activities.
Tropical forests store vast amounts of carbon through photosynthesis, but the impact of large animals on seed dispersal affects this process. A study found that tree species dependent on large animals for seed dispersal have higher carbon storage potential than those with smaller seeds.
A University of Queensland-led study assesses the amount of carbon stored in tropical forests recovering after land-clearing practices in the Philippines. Regenerating secondary forests are substantial carbon sinks, increasing their capacity to store carbon with abandonment age.
Researchers are collecting measurements of plant mass, tree distribution and diversity of species from Gabon's rainforest, wetlands and savanna. The data will help prepare for upcoming spaceborne missions to better gauge the role of forests in Earth's carbon cycle.
Researchers found that young leaves grow at the same time as older ones perish, causing a shift in tree canopy towards younger leaves with higher photosynthetic capacity. This internal dynamics of the rainforest drives seasonal changes in photosynthesis, which was not previously accounted for in climate models.
A new study reveals that certain fungi associated with tree roots can alter the fate of tropical forests, boosting plant diversity or giving one tree species a distinct advantage. The research found that these fungi, particularly ectomycorrhizas, make nitrogen unavailable to competing species, allowing dominant trees to thrive.
Researchers studied tree responses to temperature and dry-season stress in Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica. The study found significant changes in second-growth tropical forests due to multi-year droughts.
A study published in Nature reveals that secondary tropical forests in Latin America are highly resilient and can recover up to 122 tons of biomass per hectare after 20 years. The research, led by Yale-NUS College Assistant Professor Michiel van Breugel, found carbon uptake rates 11 times higher than old-growth forests.
Researchers found that tropical secondary forests exhibit a high level of resilience and can sequester large amounts of carbon. These new-growth forests have accumulated enough biomass to uptake 3.05 tons of carbon per hectare per year, 11 times the rate of old-growth forests.
A collaborative study published in Nature finds that secondary tropical forests, especially those in wetter areas, can regain almost all their biomass within 70 years. This information provides significant insights into the resilience of these ecosystems and will help policymakers prioritize forests for conservation.
A study of secondary tropical forests reveals that they can recover biomass levels comparable to old-growth forests in as little as 66 years. The research highlights the potential of regenerating these forests to play a critical role in climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration.
A study reveals chimpanzees struggle to find ripe fruit, the most energy-rich food source, in tropical rain forests. They must use cognitive strategies to outcompete other animals and optimize their search for high-energy foods.
A new study found that over-hunting large mammals in Amazonian forests could lead to significant loss of above-ground carbon stock, potentially disrupting seed dispersal and long-term forest dynamics. The research suggests that protecting large vertebrate populations is crucial for maintaining ecosystem services.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that 17% of monitored species populations increased, while 22% remained constant and 22% decreased in tropical forest protected areas. The results suggest that these areas can effectively maintain biodiversity, contrary to previous reports of declining species numbers.
Researchers used data from the Smithsonian's ForestGEO network to develop biologically sound explanations behind mathematical rules of thumb for estimating tree density and size. This enables more accurate calculations of a tropical forest's ability to store carbon.
A new study reveals that tropical rainforests' predictable structure is driven by competition for sunlight, which fuels the growth of small trees in sunlit patches. This finding can improve climate simulations and estimate carbon storage in tropical forests.
A new study by researchers at NIMBioS reveals that consistent size structures exist across tropical rainforests, driven by competition among trees for light following a gap disturbance. The findings have significant implications for modeling tropical forests' sustainability and carbon sequestration.
Researchers find that extinction of fruit-eating animals like primates and tapirs disrupts seed dispersal, leading to a decline in heavy-wooded trees and reduced carbon storage. This loss affects the ecosystem's ability to counter climate change.
New research reveals that sustainable forestry policies in the Congo Basin may inadvertently cause increased deforestation and timber production. The studies found that selective logging, often done under compliant policies, leads to indirect deforestation by spreading activities over larger areas. Human settlements also grow near lega...
A recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that climbing vines are significantly reducing carbon storage in tropical forests by crowding out and killing trees. The researchers discovered that woody climbing plants, or lianas, substantially reduce forest-level carbon uptake and storage.
A recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that woody vines, known as lianas, dramatically reduce tropical forests' ability to store carbon. By crowding out trees and killing them, lianas lead to reduced tree growth and increased tree death, resulting in a 76% decrease in above-ground biomass.
Lianas slow tree growth and reduce aboveground carbon uptake by over three-quarters, threatening carbon storage capacity. This reduction can lead to a positive feedback loop, accelerating climate change.
Researchers have developed an automated drone-based approach to monitor forest regeneration, reducing costs and labor intensity. The method uses low-cost drones equipped with cameras to create 3D images of vegetation, providing accurate results comparable to human monitoring.
Researchers found that sustainably logged tropical Amazonian forests can recover their carbon stocks within a cutting cycle of 20 to 30 years. The study suggests that the time to recover initial carbon stocks depends almost exclusively on logging intensity, providing useful insights for forest managers and policy makers.
The world has lost 129 million hectares of forest area since 1990, with tropical forests taking the hardest hit. However, there have been positive signs, including a halving of net forest loss from 7.3 to 3.3 million hectares between 2010 and 2015.
Ghana's Upper Guinea rain forests have seen a decline of over 50% in understory bird species due to increased illegal logging, which has more than doubled between 1995 and 2010
A global analysis raises the minimum number of tropical tree species to 40,000 to 53,000 globally. The study's findings emphasize the importance of comprehensive conservation efforts due to the high extinction risk faced by rare and localized species.
A multi-institutional effort led by Berkeley Lab will develop a new ecosystem model to explore how tropical forests respond to climate change. The project, NGEE-Tropics, will carry out experiments in tropical forests around the globe to reduce uncertainty and improve future climate projections.
Researchers have gained a better understanding of how tropical forests respond to seasonal climate variations. The new information helps predict future climate change impacts on the global tropics and informs global climate models.
Researchers found that young tropical forests experienced significant declines in manakin survival during dry weather associated with El Niño events. In contrast, mature forests showed stable survival rates regardless of climatic shifts, suggesting a constant abundance of fruit resources.
Researchers found that Reduced-Impact Logging (RIL) has little effect on bird, bat, and large mammal populations in Central Guyanese rainforests. RIL is a cost-effective option for timber companies to ensure long-term sustainability of biodiversity-rich tropical forests.
A new satellite-based study found that tropical forests lost 4 million hectares annually from 1990-2000 and 6.5 million hectares from 2000-2010, with a 62% increase in deforestation rate.
A recent study found that gold mining has led to significant deforestation in tropical forests of South America, resulting in the loss of around 1680 km2 of forest between 2001 and 2013. The research highlights the growing environmental impact of gold mining in biologically diverse regions.
Scientists have identified 30 new spider species in the Xishuangbanna tropical rainforest, a significant find considering the region's rich biodiversity and untouched terrain. This discovery underscores the importance of preserving these ecosystems, which are home to numerous untapped species.
A new study reveals that nearly 20% of tropical forests across Amazonia are at risk from human activities such as logging, mining, and agriculture. Protecting these carbon-rich ecosystems is crucial for global climate stability and the cultural identity of indigenous peoples.
A meta-analysis of studies on reduced-impact logging (RIL) and conventional logging found that RIL causes smaller shifts in species abundance and less harm to birds, arthropods, mammals, and bats. RIL certified timber can support the diverse benefits of tropical forests and promote sustainable forestry practices.
A new study reveals that long-used field inventory plots are not representative of tropical forests, leading to biased results. Advanced three-dimensional forest mapping techniques provide a more accurate understanding of forest structures and systems on large geographic scales.
A new high-resolution mapping strategy has identified opportunities to preserve tropical carbon stocks in the fight against climate change. The approach prioritizes carbon conservation efforts throughout tropical countries and provides detailed information on landscape characteristics.
A new policy paper emphasizes the importance of collaboration between scientists and policymakers for effective biodiversity conservation. The paper highlights the HCV approach's potential in protecting tropical biodiversity through sustainable land management schemes.
A new study reveals that monkey-borne Plasmodium knowlesi is the leading cause of malaria hospitalizations in Malaysia, with 68% of cases attributed to this parasite. Deforestation and increased human interactions with macaques are potential culprits behind this rise in infections.
Researchers found widespread antibiotic production by soil bacteria in tropical forests, with varying abundance and effectiveness across the landscape. This variation could influence plant disease, productivity, and forest composition.
The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research found that forest fragmentation results in up to a fifth more carbon dioxide being emitted by vegetation, with an estimated loss of over 68 million tonnes of carbon in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest in ten years.
A new study finds that tropical countries with rising middle-class incomes are willing to pay more for conservation, but government actions lag behind. Public surveys in Malaysia showed people willing to pay $437 a year per hectare to protect forests from logging and poaching.
Researchers are conducting a groundbreaking experiment in Puerto Rico's El Yunque National Forest to study the impact of global warming on tropical forests. The goal is to determine how sensitive these ecosystems are to temperature changes and what physiological changes they may undergo.
Reducing tropical deforestation significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to one-fifth. Tropical forests absorb almost two billion tonnes of carbon annually, but human activities like logging and biofuel production lead to equivalent losses.
A study reveals how Brazil reduced deforestation while increasing agriculture production, with a combination of public policies and market incentives driving change. The country's success could be replicated globally, but fragile results may be short-lived without positive incentives for farmers.
A $440,000 grant-funded global project aims to protect remaining old-growth forests and promote sustainable reforestation through a multidisciplinary approach. Researchers from 14 countries will work together to understand factors leading to forest regrowth and provide tangible recommendations for policymakers.
Tropical forest carbon accumulation is reduced by nearly 20% due to invasive vines. Lianas block sunlight for tree growth and don't compensate for displaced carbon.
The study creates maps of habitat corridors connecting protected areas in the tropics to conserve biodiversity and mitigate climate change. The corridors provide opportunities for carbon sequestration and avoiding emissions from deforestation.
Research suggests that older trees accelerate growth and take up more carbon, contrary to the assumption that they slow down with age. This finding has implications for forest conservation efforts like REDD+, which aim to reduce global warming by preserving forests.
Research suggests that tropical forests play a crucial role in regulating water flow, with forested land releasing more water than grasslands during the late dry season. The study's findings support the sponge effect phenomenon, which aims to minimize flood damage and maximize water availability in the tropics.
New research suggests that young tropical forests may not be effective in conserving tree species due to low reproductive rates. The study found that even 30-year-old forests have a limited number of reproductive trees essential for long-term species survival.
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.
A new study reveals that carbon storage in re-growing tropical forests recovers faster than plant biodiversity following major disturbances. Despite this, even after 80 years, these forests tend to have less carbon than old-growth forests due to the dominance of small, fast-growing trees.