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Fires are the main cause of prolonged heat stress in degraded tropical forests. Photo: Bruno Kelly/Amazônia Real/11/08/2020 Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 DeedBruno Kelly/Amazônia Real/11/08/2020 Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 Deed

In the Amazon region post-fire stress can last in forests for decades

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NASA research shows that forests in the region affected by fires remain warmer than normal for at least 30 years. This has obvious consequences for their carbon storage and climate mitigation capacity
Forest integrity is increasingly threatened by natural events exacerbated by climate change in addition to anthropogenic pressures. Photo: Bobulix Flickr Attribution - Noncommercial - No Derivative Works 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DeedPhoto: Bobulix Flickr Attribution - Noncommercial - No Derivative Works 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Deed

Crisis of forests may double climate mitigation costs

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This is the hypothesis of researchers at the Potsdam Institute. Current models overestimate the mitigation potential of forests. In this scenario, a delay in response could make the climate goals unattainable
In the past five years, the Brazilian Amazon has experienced about 1 million fires. Photo: Ibama from Brasil Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 DeedIbama from Brasil Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 Deed

Fires in Brazilian Amazon set a bleak record increasing 42% in one year

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This was claimed by the National Institute for Space Research. The Brazilian Amazon has experienced about 1 million fires in the past five years. Worst drought in 74 years played a crucial role
According to a study by the Universities of Bonn and Minas Gerais, forest destruction in the Amazon region is also harmful to human health. Photo: NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 DeedPhoto: NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 Deed

Protecting reduces respiratory diseases, a study has found

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The study: cracking down on “slash and burn” techniques in forests decreases the concentration of particulate matter in the air and the number of hospitalizations and deaths
Worldwide, the natural regrowth of forests can affect a total area of about 215 million hectares in humid tropical regions. Photo: George Shepherd Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DeedGeorge Shepherd Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Deed

Forests restored by nature can sequester 23 billion tonnes of CO2

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The estimate, on a 30-year basis, is contained in a study involving American and Australian scientists: worldwide, spontaneous forest regeneration potentially affects more than 200 million hectares of land
Amazonian floodplains contribute up to 29% of global wetland methane emissions. Photo: Marcelo Castro Attribution 3.0 Unported CC BY 3.0 DeedMarcelo Castro Attribution 3.0 Unported CC BY 3.0 Deed

Climate change may decrease methane sequestration in the Amazon by 70%

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A study reveals how methane uptake by forest soil in the Amazon decreases sharply under hot and dry conditions. While production of the same gas increases following heavy rains
In Brazil, 54% of native villages in the Amazon basin are subject to isolation during severe droughts. Photo: James Martins Attribution 3.0 Unported CC BY 3.0 DeedPhoto: James Martins Attribution 3.0 Unported CC BY 3.0 Deed

Indigenous communities in the forest pay the price of drought

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Drought leads to a prolonged lowering of river levels in the Amazon causing local communities to become isolated, a study by the Autonomous University of Barcelona has found. This problem affects more than 50% of indigenous villages
Lo studio ha confrontato i risultati ambientali e socioeconomici raggiunti nelle aree protette dell'Amazzonia brasiliana. Foto: Marek Krzystkiewicz ATTRIBUTION 2.0 GENERIC CC BY 2.0 Deed

Amazon, land protection initiatives have reduced deforestation by 83%

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In the first decade of the century, the Amazon experienced a sharp decline in deforestation, explains an international study. But the economic benefits for the indigenous people have been limited. This is why new initiatives are needed
La foresta amazzonica conserva circa il 30% del mercurio sequestrato nel suolo a livello globale. Foto: Neil Palmer/CIAT CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

Deforestation fosters mercury emissions into the atmosphere

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Forests perform an essential ecosystem service by storing mercury and preventing its spread into waterways. That's why deforestation poses a threat in terms of pollution, a MIT study finds
Forest fragmentation is the process of dividing forested areas into smaller parts by cutting down trees Photo: Riccardo Pravettoni CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DEED Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 GenericRiccardo Pravettoni CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DEED Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

In the Amazon, forest fragmentation changes the shape of trees

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A study from the University of Helsinki highlights how trees in forests change their appearance to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Results are relevant on a global scale