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Tropical forests account for more than 50 per cent of the earth's global carbon sink but are threatened by climate change. Photo: Peter Prokosch Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Deed

Heat and drought drive carbon loss in tropical forests

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A warmer and drier climate will impact the carbon balance of forests in the future, says a US study. The phenomenon will accelerate the loss of the oldest element and reduce the supply of the new one
Absorption of microplastics can reduce the efficiency of photosynthesis in wild service trees by almost a third. Photo: Andrew Dunn Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 DeedPhoto: Andrew Dunn Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed

Nanoplastics reduce photosynthesis capacity in trees

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A Swiss study clarifies the dynamics of nanoplastic uptake in trees. While quantifying the impact of the phenomenon on the effectiveness of photosynthesis
By applying the most suitable forest restoration system in each location, 31.4 billion tonnes of CO2 could be sequestered globally. Photo: Neb Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 DeedPhoto: Neb Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed

Mixed forest regeneration optimises carbon sequestration

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An American study quantifies the efficiency of different forest regeneration methods. By applying the most cost-effective system for each location, around 10 billion tonnes more CO2 can be sequestered at the same cost
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
Carbon sequestered from miombo forests in Mozambique could exceed estimates by 2.2 times. Photo: Lichinga ATTRIBUTION-SHAREALIKE 4.0 INTERNATIONAL CC BY-SA 4.0 DeedLichinga ATTRIBUTION-SHAREALIKE 4.0 INTERNATIONAL CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed

Mozambique’s forests store more carbon than expected

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A new study revises estimates for miombo forests upwards. Carbon from these ecosystems in Mozambique could be 2.2 times higher than previously assumed
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
Due to their carbon sequestration potential, forests are an essential resource in climate change mitigation. Photo: USDA Nicholas A Toneli Creative Commons; Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)USDA Nicholas A Toneli Creative Commons; Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Forests still offset half of global fossil emissions

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The world's forests, an American study notes, absorb between 3.5 and 4 billion tonnes of carbon each year. Equivalent to "nearly half of the carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels between 1990 and 2019."
The soil organic carbon survey was conducted in the forests of the Wanglang Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province, southeast of the Tibetan Plateau. Photo: Philippe Semanaz ATTRIBUTION-SHAREALIKE 2.0 GENERIC CC BY-SA 2.0 DeedPhilippe Semanaz ATTRIBUTION-SHAREALIKE 2.0 GENERIC CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed

Mixed forests are more prone to carbon sequestration

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A Chinese study found that mixed forests are able to store a higher amount of carbon due to the greater accumulation of wood debris
Soil respiration, both autotrophic and heterotrophic, is a crucial component of the carbon cycle. Photo: Konstantinos Kourtidis Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)Konstantinos Kourtidis Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)

How global warming affects soil respiration

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A Chinese study makes a new contribution to the issue of soil respiration in the climate change context. Emissions are higher in deciduous forests where the heterotrophic respiration is less prevalent
In larch and broad-leaf forests, nitrogen deposition has no significant impact on soil chemistry. Photo: olive jion ATTRIBUTION-SHAREALIKE 3.0 UNPORTED CC BY-SA 3.0 Deedolive jion ATTRIBUTION-SHAREALIKE 3.0 UNPORTED CC BY-SA 3.0 Deed

Mixed forests are less vulnerable to soil acidification

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The Chinese study: in larch and broad-leaf forests, nitrogen deposition has no significant impact on soil chemistry. Therefore, in the fight against acidification, the creation of mixed forests could be effective