Estimating the spatial amplification of damage caused by degradation in the Amazon

What is it about?

Each tree in the Amazon rainforests works as a water pump, absorbing water from the soil and transpiring what was once rainfall back into the atmosphere. This water is then transported downwind, generating rainfall elsewhere. This research measures how local deforestation and other disturbances in the Amazon can have a larger impact across the region by reducing atmospheric moisture and thus rainfall levels in areas downwind of the local degraded spots. On average, these cascading effects double the impact of the initial damage. We estimate how disturbances echo through this rich network connecting trees, which is essential for keeping the Amazonian forests healthy and safeguarded.

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Why is it important?

The Amazon rainforests are crucial for maintaining global climate stability, safeguarding biodiversity, supporting essential water resources for food and energy production, and being home to more than 30 million people. Our research underscores the importance of viewing forest disturbances not as isolated events. This perspective reinforces the value of protecting the forests, as cascading effects remotely amplify the impact of forest degradation. In the case of the Amazonia, there are large network effects of the environmental damage. Our results can help policymakers map priority areas for conservation and restoration.