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A recent study published in *Nature Plants* has revealed an encouraging trend in the Amazon rainforest: large trees are growing bigger, defying expectations amid the challenges posed by climate change and human activities. Researchers from an international team, led by ecologist Adriane Esquivel-Muelbert from the University of Cambridge, analyzed long-term data from 188 permanent forest plots and found that the largest trees are increasing in size by more than three percent per decade.
This growth is significant as it counters the prevailing notion that climate stressors would lead to a decline in tree health. The study indicates that the rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide may be stimulating tree growth, enhancing the Amazon’s ability to sequester carbon. Specifically, the researchers tracked increases in “basal area,” which measures the cross-section of tree trunks at chest height, noting a growth rate of 3.3 percent per decade for these larger trees.
The Amazon rainforest is vital for global carbon storage, absorbing approximately one-quarter of the carbon dioxide captured by terrestrial ecosystems. Despite the troubling loss of about 121 million acres of forest over the past 40 years, the ability of large trees to grow suggests that the forest may still have adaptive mechanisms to cope with environmental stressors.
However, experts caution that increased tree growth does not guarantee the Amazon’s overall health. The study highlights the importance of maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem, as deforestation poses a significant threat to these towering giants. Recent data indicates that 2024 has seen some of the worst losses of tropical rainforests on record, underscoring the urgency of addressing human impacts and extreme weather events.
In parallel, other forest ecosystems, such as boreal forests, may also benefit from climate change, with projections suggesting they could grow 20 percent faster by 2050 due to warmer temperatures and extended growing seasons. Nevertheless, the survival of these ecosystems depends on concerted efforts to protect them from ongoing threats. The findings from this study underscore the potential for forests to play a crucial role in mitigating climate change, provided they are allowed to thrive without the pressures of deforestation and habitat loss.
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