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Amazonian tree species threatened by deforestation and climate change

Author

Listed:
  • Vitor H. F. Gomes

    (Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Ambientais, Universidade Federal do Pará
    Coordenação de Botânica, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi)

  • Ima C. G. Vieira

    (Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Ambientais, Universidade Federal do Pará
    Coordenação de Botânica, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi)

  • Rafael P. Salomão

    (Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia)

  • Hans ter Steege

    (Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia
    Naturalis Biodiversity Center
    Systems Ecology, Free University)

Abstract

Deforestation is currently the major threat to Amazonian tree species but climate change may surpass it in just a few decades. Here, we show that climate and deforestation combined could cause a decline of up to 58% in Amazon tree species richness, whilst deforestation alone may cause 19–36% and climate change 31–37% by 2050. Quantification is achieved by overlaying species distribution models for current and future climate change scenarios with historical and projected deforestation. Species may lose an average of 65% of their original environmentally suitable area, and a total of 53% may be threatened according to IUCN Red List criteria; however, Amazonian protected area networks reduce these impacts. The worst-case combined scenario—assuming no substantial climate or deforestation policy progress—suggests that by 2050 the Amazonian lowland rainforest may be cut into two blocks: one continuous block with 53% of the original area and another severely fragmented block. This outlook urges rapid progress to zero deforestation, which would help to mitigate climate change and foster biodiversity conservation.

Suggested Citation

  • Vitor H. F. Gomes & Ima C. G. Vieira & Rafael P. Salomão & Hans ter Steege, 2019. "Amazonian tree species threatened by deforestation and climate change," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 9(7), pages 547-553, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:9:y:2019:i:7:d:10.1038_s41558-019-0500-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-019-0500-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Disha Sachan & Pankaj Kumar & Md. Saquib Saharwardi, 2022. "Contemporary climate change velocity for near-surface temperatures over India," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 173(3), pages 1-19, August.
    2. Joana Castro Pereira & João Terrenas, 2022. "Towards a transformative governance of the Amazon," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 13(S3), pages 60-75, December.
    3. Latifah M. Alsarhan & Alhanouf S. Alayyar & Naif B. Alqahtani & Nezar H. Khdary, 2021. "Circular Carbon Economy (CCE): A Way to Invest CO 2 and Protect the Environment, a Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-25, October.

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