Tropical forests have played a key role in fighting climate change for decades. They absorb vast quantities of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, which is crucial for the preservation of the environment. Unfortunately, new research, published in “Nature,” shows that intact tropical forests no longer absorb as much carbon dioxide as they used to. It is estimated that in the 1990s tropical forests removed little over 45 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, a number which almost halved in the 2010s. The scientists who discovered this spent years tracking the development of trees in rainforests. Their research involved identifying tree species and taking measures of their diameters.
Then, after a few years, the same scientists returned to the same spots in the rainforests and collected data again. The researchers used these measurements to calculate the amount of carbon dioxide they were able to absorb. The results were devastating. In fact, it is estimated that in the following decade, African forests’ capacity to absorb carbon dioxide will decrease by almost 15%. This means that people should explore different options for saving the planet during this crisis.
