Doubling of annual forest carbon loss over the tropics during the early twenty-first century
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Previous estimates of tropical forest carbon loss in the twenty-first century using satellite data typically focus on its magnitude, whereas regional loss trajectories and associated drivers are rarely reported. Here we used different high-resolution satellite datasets to show a doubling of gross tropical forest carbon loss worldwide from 0.97 +/- 0.16 PgC yr(-1) in 2001-2005 to 1.99 +/- 0.13 PgC yr(-1) in 2015-2019. This increase in carbon loss from forest conversion is higher than in bookkeeping models forced by land-use statistical data, which show no trend or a slight decline in land-use emissions in the early twenty-first century. Most (82%) of the forest carbon loss is at some stages associated with large-scale commodity or small-scale agriculture activities, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia. We find that similar to 70% of former forest lands converted to agriculture in 2001-2019 remained so in 2020, confirming a dominant role of agriculture in long-term pan-tropical carbon reductions on formerly forested landscapes. The acceleration and high rate of forest carbon loss in the twenty-first century suggest that existing strategies to reduce forest loss are not successful; and this failure underscores the importance of monitoring deforestation trends following the new pledges made in Glasgow.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Nature Sustainability |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 2 |
Pages (from-to) | 444–451 |
Number of pages | 10 |
ISSN | 2398-9629 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 28 Feb 2022 |
- LAND-USE, DIOXIDE EMISSIONS, PROTECTED AREAS, DEFORESTATION, MAP, CULTIVATION, EXPANSION, DRIVERS, IMPACT, STOCKS
Research areas
ID: 302073368