The Science Panel for the Amazon prepares to launch its first report, the most comprehensive document on the rain forest so far.
rain forests
Forest Recovery in the Amazon Is a Slow Process
For the first time, a study analyzes Amazon forest loss and recovery at national and subnational levels. One finding shows that new plantings offset less than 10% of emissions associated with deforestation.
The Rain Forest Can Recover After Fire, but It’s Not the Same
New research finds that temperatures rise in the Amazon rain forest after a fire, even in areas that are not converted to agricultural land or pastures.
Finding Prehistoric Rain Forests by Studying Modern Mammals
Mammal teeth store a record of the plants they ate, providing clues about the ecosystems in which they lived.
Congo Rain Forest Endures a Longer Dry Season
The forest’s dry season has been starting earlier and ending later for decades, making parts of it vulnerable to incursions by drought-resistant ecosystems.
Elephants Boost Carbon Storage in Rain Forests
Forest elephants are the “gardeners of the Congo.” How might their dwindling population affect carbon storage in the world’s second-largest tropical forest?
Quantifying Coastal Rain Forest Carbon Transport
Aquatic Carbon Biogeochemistry of the Pacific Coastal Temperate Rainforest Region Workshop; Seattle, Washington, 7–10 February 2017
Smoke Signals in the Amazon
Forest fires can occur naturally, but in the world's largest rain forest, fire can signal large-scale deforestation.
Amazon Rain Forest Nourished by African Dust
New satellite data highlight the important role African dust plays in maintaining the rain forest's long-term health.
Could Amazonian Deforestation Increase Cloudiness and Rain?
In trading trees for pastures, patchwork differences in vegetation heights increase cloudiness in downwind regions.