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Carbon loss from forest degradation exceeds that from deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon

Author

Listed:
  • Yuanwei Qin

    (University of Oklahoma)

  • Xiangming Xiao

    (University of Oklahoma)

  • Jean-Pierre Wigneron

    (ISPA, UMR 1391, INRA Nouvelle-Aquitaine)

  • Philippe Ciais

    (Université Paris-Saclay)

  • Martin Brandt

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Lei Fan

    (Southwest University)

  • Xiaojun Li

    (ISPA, UMR 1391, INRA Nouvelle-Aquitaine)

  • Sean Crowell

    (University of Oklahoma)

  • Xiaocui Wu

    (University of Oklahoma)

  • Russell Doughty

    (University of Oklahoma
    California Institute of Technology)

  • Yao Zhang

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Fang Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Stephen Sitch

    (University of Exeter)

  • Berrien Moore

    (University of Oklahoma)

Abstract

Spatial–temporal dynamics of aboveground biomass (AGB) and forest area affect the carbon cycle, climate and biodiversity in the Brazilian Amazon. Here we investigate interannual changes in AGB and forest area by analysing satellite-based annual AGB and forest area datasets. We found that the gross forest area loss was larger in 2019 than in 2015, possibly due to recent loosening of forest protection policies. However, the net AGB loss was three times smaller in 2019 than in 2015. During 2010–2019, the Brazilian Amazon had a cumulative gross loss of 4.45 Pg C against a gross gain of 3.78 Pg C, resulting in a net AGB loss of 0.67 Pg C. Forest degradation (73%) contributed three times more to the gross AGB loss than deforestation (27%), given that the areal extent of degradation exceeds that of deforestation. This indicates that forest degradation has become the largest process driving carbon loss and should become a higher policy priority.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuanwei Qin & Xiangming Xiao & Jean-Pierre Wigneron & Philippe Ciais & Martin Brandt & Lei Fan & Xiaojun Li & Sean Crowell & Xiaocui Wu & Russell Doughty & Yao Zhang & Fang Liu & Stephen Sitch & Berri, 2021. "Carbon loss from forest degradation exceeds that from deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 11(5), pages 442-448, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:11:y:2021:i:5:d:10.1038_s41558-021-01026-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-021-01026-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yi Y. Liu & Albert I. J. M. van Dijk & Richard A. M. de Jeu & Josep G. Canadell & Matthew F. McCabe & Jason P. Evans & Guojie Wang, 2015. "Recent reversal in loss of global terrestrial biomass," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 5(5), pages 470-474, May.
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    2. Jessica Stubenrauch & Beatrice Garske & Felix Ekardt & Katharina Hagemann, 2022. "European Forest Governance: Status Quo and Optimising Options with Regard to the Paris Climate Target," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-35, April.
    3. Selma Bultan & Julia E. M. S. Nabel & Kerstin Hartung & Raphael Ganzenmüller & Liang Xu & Sassan Saatchi & Julia Pongratz, 2022. "Tracking 21st century anthropogenic and natural carbon fluxes through model-data integration," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Yue Li & Paulo M. Brando & Douglas C. Morton & David M. Lawrence & Hui Yang & James T. Randerson, 2022. "Deforestation-induced climate change reduces carbon storage in remaining tropical forests," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    5. Bragança, Arthur & Dahis, Ricardo, 2022. "Cutting special interests by the roots: Evidence from the Brazilian Amazon," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    6. Yuanwei Qin & Xiangming Xiao & Fang Liu & Fabio Sa e Silva & Yosio Shimabukuro & Egidio Arai & Philip Martin Fearnside, 2023. "Forest conservation in Indigenous territories and protected areas in the Brazilian Amazon," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(3), pages 295-305, March.
    7. Caroline S. S. Franca & U. Martin Persson & Tomás Carvalho & Marco Lentini, 2023. "Quantifying timber illegality risk in the Brazilian forest frontier," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(11), pages 1485-1495, November.
    8. Seyed Hossein Razavi Hajiagha & Hannan Amoozad Mahdiraji & Maryam Behnam & Boshra Nekoughadirli & Rohit Joshi, 2022. "A scenario-based robust time–cost tradeoff model to handle the effect of COVID-19 on supply chains project management," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 357-377, June.
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    10. Jun Ma & Jiawei Li & Wanben Wu & Jiajia Liu, 2023. "Global forest fragmentation change from 2000 to 2020," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    11. Matheus Henrique Nunes & Marcel Caritá Vaz & José Luís Campana Camargo & William F. Laurance & Ana Andrade & Alberto Vicentini & Susan Laurance & Pasi Raumonen & Toby Jackson & Gabriela Zuquim & Jin W, 2023. "Edge effects on tree architecture exacerbate biomass loss of fragmented Amazonian forests," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    12. Xi Li & Yao Chen & Shixiong Jiang & Chongqing Wang & Sunxian Weng & Dengyong Rao, 2022. "The Importance of Adding Short-Wave Infrared Bands for Forest Disturbance Monitoring in the Subtropical Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-9, August.
    13. Wenmin Zhang & Guy Schurgers & Josep Peñuelas & Rasmus Fensholt & Hui Yang & Jing Tang & Xiaowei Tong & Philippe Ciais & Martin Brandt, 2023. "Recent decrease of the impact of tropical temperature on the carbon cycle linked to increased precipitation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.

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