Tropical moist forests have lost 17% of their cover since 1990
In short: Researchers monitoring tropical moist forests over three decades found that 17% of this vital ecosystem has disappeared since 1990. By analyzing pantropical forest cover changes from 1990 to 2019, the study documented significant patterns of deforestation, degradation, and recovery across the humid tropics.
The study highlights that forest degradation often acts as a precursor to total deforestation, contributing to a recent rise in both natural and human-driven disturbances. While the researchers tracked large-scale changes, the findings suggest that without reducing current disturbance rates, large tropical regions could lose their undisturbed forests entirely by 2050.
Why it matters: Degradation is a critical precursor to deforestation that threatens the survival of undisturbed tropical forests.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Source: Research: Vancutsem et al. (2021). Long-term (1990–2019) monitoring of forest cover changes in the humid tropics. Science Advances. · cc-by
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/nature-research-tropical-moist-forests-have-lost-17-of-their-cover-since-199.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Ecology · More in Nature · Latest · A–Z · All topics
