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59% of global deforestation is caused by meat production and 33% by soy production, both occuring in the Amazon. Photo: Ben Lamb Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DeedBen Lamb Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Deed

Meat and soybean (plus coffee) are driving deforestation in the Amazon

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The latest WWF report identifies the main factors behind the ongoing phenomenon in the Amazon. Meat and soy top the list in terms of impact, ahead of cocoa, palm oil, and coffee
Agricultural areas in 155 countries depend on forests in other countries for up to 40% of their annual rainfall. Photo: Peter Prokosch Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DeedPeter Prokosch Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Deed

“Forests and agriculture are not in competition,” FAO says amid COP30

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At the Climate Conference, FAO promotes integration between sectors: “Food security depends on forests; conservation and restoration are crucial actions for increasing productivity.”
A wooded area in Koli National Park in the Finnish region of North Karelia. Here, as in many other regions of Europe, nature-based solutions reduce the risk of fires and make forests more resilient. Photo: Pentti Rautio Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 DeedPentti Rautio Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 Deed

Nature-based solutions are the key to preventing wildfires in Europe

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“Nature-based solutions reduce the growing risk of wildfires and make forests more resilient to climate change,” says European Environment Agency. Agroforestry, land moisture restoration and soil regeneration are the three recommended strategies
The shrub woolly willow is a species that is becoming increasingly common in the barren mountains of Sweden within the Arctic tundra. Photo: Anne Bjorkman, University of Gothenburg press releaseAnne Bjorkman, University of Gothenburg press release

In the Arctic tundra, boreal plants are becoming increasingly widespread due to climate change

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A Swedish study shows the dynamics of this phenomenon. The process doesn't necessarily happen where warming is greatest but, instead, where conditions are favorable for plant growth
Favored by climate change, phenomena such as heat waves, droughts, fires, storms, and the spread of plant diseases are increasing tree mortality globally. Photo: PickPik Royalty-Free photo

Global tree mortality is getting higher. But we don’t know by how much

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Climate change increases tree mortality rates, but figures are incomplete and a global estimate is hard to make. A group of researchers explains how to harmonize data
Between 2010 and 2020, carbon losses in the Amazon increased due to deforestation and other underestimated phenomena such as fires and fragmentation. Photo: Neil Palmer/CIAT Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DeedNeil Palmer/CIAT Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Deed

Carbon balance in Amazon rainforest shows 370 million tons deficit in a decade

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Between 2010 and 2020, carbon losses increased due to deforestation and other underestimated phenomena such as fires and fragmentation, according to new study. Emission intensity is higher in protected areas
Over four decades, the planet's soil has become greener overall. But it has also become drier. Photo: Jialiang Gao Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 DeedJialiang Gao Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 Deed

Greener but less wet: a Chinese study reveals the global soil paradox

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Research: in forty years, two-thirds of vegetated areas have become greener, but half of those also experienced considerable soil drying. Crucial factor: increased evapotranspiration
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
Nearly 30 billion tons of carbon have been stored for millennia in the Congo peatlands. Photo: Ricky Martin/CIFOR Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DeedPhoto: Ricky Martin/CIFOR Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Deed

Congo peatlands are over 40,000 years old, researchers find

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An international study reveals Congo peatlands are much older than expected. The discover provide new insights to the studies on the global carbon cycle
In the tropics, previously ignored trees result in an additional cover of nearly 400 million hectares, or 17% of the total Photo: Karina Carvalho CC0 1.0 Universal CC0 1.0 Deed Karina Carvalho CC0 1.0 Universal CC0 1.0 Deed

The trees that weren’t there: a new map reveals previously unseen plants in the tropics

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New research reconsiders the presence of trees in tropical regions. Until now models excluded one in six plants. Thus ignoring the related ecological benefits