New measurements show widespread forest loss has reversed the role of tropics as a carbon sink
September 28, 2017
A new, cutting-edge approach to measuring changes in aboveground forest carbon density has helped scientists determine that widespread deforestation, degradation and disturbance has caused tropical forests to now emit more carbon than they capture, countering their role as a net carbon "sink."
Previous measurements of forest carbon loss focused largely on areas subject to complete forest removal (deforestation). This is the first time, however, that scientists have been able to account for changes from subtle natural and human-caused losses (degradation and disturbance) such as small-scale tree removal and mortality while also measuring gains from forest growth.
Read more at:
https://phys.org/news/2017-09-widespread-forest-loss-reversed-role.html#jCp
