Study shows: Amazon rain forest as a green lungs increasingly threatened

Study shows: Amazon rain forest as a green lungs increasingly threatened

The role of the southern Amazon rainforest in the global climate balance is currently on the brink. A comprehensive study, which was led by Ovidiu Csillik and his team at the California Institute of Technology, shows that the forest is now releasing significantly more carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere than it can absorb. These findings are based on the analysis of aerial photographs between 2016 and 2018 and include the Brazilian states of Rondônia, Mato Grosso and Pará.

The consequences of human interventions

The Amazon rainforest is considered one of the most important ecosystems on earth because it houses over ten percent of all terrestrial species and plays a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. Unfortunately, human activities such as deforestation, slash and the conversion of forest areas into agricultural areas are always the main causes of damage to this important region. The alarming data from the study underline the urgency of protective measures and the need to understand the ecological consequences of human action.

modern technologies for data collection

One of the most innovative methods used in the study is the lidar technology, which enables the exact height of tree tops and the extent of forest damage precisely record. At high altitudes of 600 meters, the researchers flew through the areas concerned and took up detailed measurements. This technique offers a much more precise analysis than conventional satellite -based processes that often fail because of its rough resolution.

wind breaks and their effects

A surprising knowledge of the study is the high proportion of wind break, which is responsible for 2.7 percent of the damaged areas. This form of damage is often overlooked, but is an important factor for the steady decrease in the trees. In addition, signs of forest growth were found on 16.3 percent of the area examined, which, however, is not sufficient to compensate for the high CO2 emissions.

harmful balance sheet for CO2 emissions

Overall, carbon emissions added up to 134.6 million tons during the study period, while forest growth was only able to absorb 44.1 million tons of CO2. This leads to net emissions of 90.5 million tons of carbon annually between 2016 and 2018. These figures illustrate the dramatic situation in the Amazon rainforest and the challenge of preserving it as a "green lung" of the earth.

protective measures and political responsibility

The Brazilian government has taken measures in recent years that reduced the deforestation, but the planned economic development could threaten this progress. It is crucial that both local and international communities work together with the governments on strategies to ensure the protection of the Amazon. This is the only way to secure the stability of the global climate in the long term.