Amazon forests: Biodiversity can help mitigate climate risks
A forest with greater diversity of plants can better adjust to climatic stress. Now for the first time, a team of scientists can show this in computer simulations of the Amazon region by accounting for its amazing diversity of trees. Biodiversity can hence be an effective means to mitigate climate risks and should not only be seen in the context of nature conservation. Ref. Source 1n.
Ancient peoples shaped the Amazon rainforest
We often think of the Amazon rainforest as a vast expanse of nature untouched by humans. But a new study suggests that's not true -- in fact, today's rainforest is shaped by trees that were cultivated by indigenous peoples thousands of years ago. Ref. Source 1z.
Amazon forest regrowth much slower than previously thought. The regrowth of Amazonian forests following deforestation can happen much slower than previously thought, a new study shows. The findings could have significant impacts for climate change predictions as the ability of secondary forests to soak up carbon from the atmosphere may have been over-estimated. The study, which monitored forest regrowth over two decades, shows that climate change, and the wider loss of forests, could be hampering regrowth in the Amazon. Source 5z.