Climate extremes and deforestation are causing the Amazon rainforest to lose its resilience
A new scientific report reveals that the Amazon rainforest, known as the "lungs of the earth," is suffering irreversible damage due to increased occurrences of extreme weather and human activities such as overlogging and burning. According to the report published in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change on March 7th, scientists observed and analyzed the health of the Amazon rainforest after 2000 and found that up to 75% of the tropical rainforest has lost its ability to recover from damage caused by droughts and wildfires. Scientists warn that the Amazon rainforest, which plays a crucial role in regulating the climate by absorbing approximately 90 billion tons of carbon dioxide, may reach a critical point and degrade into a tropical savanna. The study also indicates that the Amazon rainforest's ability to self-heal has declined to a warning level, mainly affecting the southeastern part of the forest, including Brazil. The loss of the Amazon rainforest would release vast amounts of carbon, leading to increased greenhouse gases and exacerbating the climate crisis.