Amazon Deforestation Drives Significant Climate Change, Study Reveals

SAO PAULO, Brazil — A groundbreaking study recently published in Nature Communications reveals that deforestation in the Amazon rainforest has a profound impact on climate, accounting for about 74.5% of the reduction in rainfall and 16.5% of the increase in temperatures during the dry season.

Researchers from the University of São Paulo, led by Marco Franco and Luiz Augusto Toledo Machado, analyzed 35 years of atmospheric data and land use changes in the Brazilian Legal Amazon, an area covering approximately 5 million square kilometers. Their detailed analysis indicates that local deforestation significantly contributes to regional climate changes.

The findings presented stark statistics: between 1985 and 2020, dry-season rainfall dropped by nearly 21 millimeters annually, with 15.8 millimeters, or 74.5%, attributed to deforestation. During the same period, maximum daily temperatures rose by around 2°C, with 0.39°C, or 16.5%, linked to forest loss. The researchers emphasized that while global climate change plays a role, deforestation has an immediate and severe impact on local weather patterns.

“We’ve known that rainfall has decreased and temperatures have risen, but this study allows us to separate the effects of global climate change from local deforestation,” said Professor Machado. “We need to preserve our forests to maintain climate stability.”

The Amazon rainforest, home to countless tree species, plays a crucial role in generating humidity through a process called transpiration. This process not only supplies over 40% of the region’s rainfall but also creates low-pressure systems that draw in moisture from surrounding areas.

According to the study, the Brazilian Amazon has lost about 14% of its native vegetation since 1985 due to deforestation, which has led to severe effects on the climate. As the study showed, even a small loss of forest cover can lead to a significant loss in rainfall and rise in temperature.

The research also suggests that ongoing deforestation could lead to a further decrease in rainfall and an increase in temperature. If current deforestation trends continue, the authors predict that by 2035, the region could experience a further drop in dry-season rainfall by 7 millimeters and a temperature rise of 0.6°C.

Meanwhile, in 2023 and 2024, the Amazon faced unprecedented dry spells, which disrupted local ecosystems and increased the risk of drought in areas as far as central Brazil and the Andes Mountains. These changes pose a risk to biodiversity and food production across South America.

As the consequences of deforestation become more apparent, the urgency for effective policies and strategies to protect the Amazon becomes critical. The region’s fate and its role in regulating the global climate are at stake.