Carbon loss and removal due to forest disturbance and regeneration in the Amazon

Background:

Deforestation and forest degradation urges scientists to understand the dynamics of carbon loss and removal in the Amazon, particularly due to significant role of the Amazon rainforest in the global carbon cycle and the potential implications for climate change. By addressing this topic, the study aims to enhance our understanding of the Amazon's role in the global carbon cycle, provide insights into the spatial and temporal patterns of carbon loss and removal, and contribute valuable information for informing climate change mitigation strategies and tropical forest conservation efforts.

Goals and methods:

The main research objective of this paper is to provide comprehensive estimates of carbon loss and removal in the Amazon Ecoregion, specifically focusing on the impacts of forest disturbance and regeneration on the terrestrial carbon cycle. This involves quantifying the carbon emissions resulting from deforestation, forest degradation, and natural disturbances, while also assessing the removal of atmospheric CO2 through the process of forest regeneration.

conclusions and Takeaways:

The study estimates that the total net carbon loss resulting from forest disturbance in the Amazon from 1996 to 2017 was between 4.86 to 5.32 Pg C, with emissions due to degradation being highest in periods of drought. The rate of carbon loss is occurring much more rapidly than removal, consequently the study emphasizes the need for improved estimates of carbon flux parameters and enhanced knowledge about the drivers of carbon emissions from land use change to inform climate change mitigation strategies and tropical forest conservation efforts.