Deforestation has turned Africa's forests from carbon sinks to carbon sources, new study finds
phys.org
New research warns that Africa's forests, once vital allies in the fight against climate change, have turned from a carbon sink into a carbon source.
  • Horse {they/them}@lemmygrad.mlEnglish
    20·
    6 days ago

    Using advanced satellite data and machine learning, the researchers tracked more than a decade of changes in aboveground forest biomass, the amount of carbon stored in trees and woody vegetation. They found that while Africa gained carbon between 2007 and 2010, widespread forest loss in tropical rainforests has since tipped the balance.

    Between 2010 and 2017, the continent lost approximately 106 billion kilograms of forest biomass per year. That is equivalent to the weight of about 106 million cars. The losses are concentrated in tropical moist broadleaf forests in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and parts of West Africa, driven by deforestation and forest degradation. Gains in savanna regions due to shrub growth have not been enough to offset the losses.

    headline is weird, implies the trees have turned evil swapped to “breathing out” co2 instead of the reality which is they’re being cut down/burned

    • Darkcommie@lemmygrad.ml
      9·
      5 days ago

      Thats intentional they know people don’t read articles so they’re trying to encourage more logging

    • GreatSquare@lemmygrad.ml
      5·
      6 days ago

      What’s the cause of the forest degradation they mentioned though?

      I assume it’s human intervention of some kind but it’s not clearly stated.