The drivers and impacts of Amazon forest degradation

Approximately 2.5 × 10 6 square kilometers of the Amazon forest are currently degraded by fire, edge effects, timber extraction, and/or extreme drought, representing 38% of all remaining forests in the region. Carbon emissions from this degradation total up to 0.2 petagrams of carbon per year (Pg C year −1 ), which is equivalent to, if not greater than, the emissions from Amazon deforestation (0.06 to 0.21 Pg C year −1 ). Amazon forest degradation can reduce dry-season evapotranspiration by up to 34% and cause as much biodiversity loss as deforestation in human-modified landscapes, generating uneven socioeconomic burdens, mainly to forest dwellers. Projections indicate that degradation will remain a dominant…

• NA
  National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Award: 80NSSC18K0339
• SR
  Sight Research UK

  Award: NE/S01084X/1
• FD
  Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

  Awards: 2016/02018-2, 2020/16457-3, 2020/08916-8, 2015/02537-7, 2015/, 2020/08916, 2020/15230-5
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  Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

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  Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

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  Nuclear Safety and Security Commission
• FD
  Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas
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  Agência Espacial Brasileira

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  Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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  Natural Environment Research Council

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