Amazon Rainforest: From Carbon Sink to Carbon Source?

The Amazon rainforest, traditionally a carbon sink storing vast quantities of carbon, is at risk of becoming a carbon source due to deforestation. Satellite data analyzed by Amazon Conservation reveals the critical state of carbon absorption. Experts warn of the broader impacts of climate change and ongoing forest degradation.

The Amazon rainforest, once a bastion of carbon storage, is at risk of flipping from a carbon sink to a carbon source, a recent study suggests.

Nonprofit organization Amazon Conservation, using satellite data from Planet, found that deforestation threatens the Amazon's ability to absorb carbon dioxide. In 2022, Amazon trees held 56.8 billion metric tonnes of carbon, slightly up from 2013.

Still, experts warn that continued deforestation and the impact of climate change, marked by severe droughts, could erode this balance. Addressing these challenges requires global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect what remains of the intact rainforest.

(With inputs from agencies.)