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Deforestation harms climate less than other types of Amazon degradation, study finds

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By illuminem briefings

· 2 min read


illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Reuters or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: A new study reveals that deforestation contributes less to climate damage in the Amazon compared to other forms of degradation like logging, burning, and natural disturbances
These factors account for 83% of carbon emissions from the Amazon, with deforestation contributing only 17%

🔭 The context: Brazil's President Lula da Silva has reduced deforestation rates significantly since taking office in 2023
The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, uses advanced airborne laser scanning for more precise data than satellite imagery

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The Amazon's role as a carbon sink is critical in mitigating climate change
This study indicates that focusing solely on deforestation overlooks other significant sources of carbon emissions, stressing the need for broader environmental protection measures

⏭️ What's next: The Brazilian government is enhancing efforts to combat degradation and fires, including deploying federal firefighters and allocating funds for state-level firefighting
The complexity of monitoring diverse degradation causes poses a significant challenge

💬 One quote: "The government thinks if we reduce deforestation, we also reduce degradation. That's scientifically incorrect, and that's what this paper is also showing." — Erika Berenguer, tropical ecologist at University of Oxford and Lancaster University

📈 One stat: Human-caused degradation and natural disturbances in the Amazon account for 83% of carbon emissions, with only 17% from deforestation

Click for more news covering the latest on biodiversity

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