IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v15y2024i1d10.1038_s41467-024-51324-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Deforestation amplifies climate change effects on warming and cloud level rise in African montane forests

Author

Listed:
  • Temesgen Alemayehu Abera

    (Philipps-Universität Marburg
    University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68)

  • Janne Heiskanen

    (University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68
    P.O. Box 503)

  • Eduardo Eiji Maeda

    (University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68
    P.O. Box 503)

  • Mohammed Ahmed Muhammed

    (Philipps-Universität Marburg
    Addis Ababa University)

  • Netra Bhandari

    (Philipps-Universität Marburg)

  • Ville Vakkari

    (P.O. Box 503
    North-West University)

  • Binyam Tesfaw Hailu

    (University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68
    Addis Ababa University)

  • Petri K. E. Pellikka

    (University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68
    Wuhan University)

  • Andreas Hemp

    (University of Bayreuth)

  • Pieter G. Zyl

    (North-West University)

  • Dirk Zeuss

    (Philipps-Universität Marburg)

Abstract

Tropical montane forest ecosystems are pivotal for sustaining biodiversity and essential terrestrial ecosystem services, including the provision of high-quality fresh water. Nonetheless, the impact of montane deforestation and climate change on the capacity of forests to deliver ecosystem services is yet to be fully understood. In this study, we offer observational evidence demonstrating the response of air temperature and cloud base height to deforestation in African montane forests over the last two decades. Our findings reveal that approximately 18% (7.4 ± 0.5 million hectares) of Africa’s montane forests were lost between 2003 and 2022. This deforestation has led to a notable increase in maximum air temperature (1.37 ± 0.58 °C) and cloud base height (236 ± 87 metres), surpassing shifts attributed solely to climate change. Our results call for urgent attention to montane deforestation, as it poses serious threats to biodiversity, water supply, and ecosystem services in the tropics.

Suggested Citation

  • Temesgen Alemayehu Abera & Janne Heiskanen & Eduardo Eiji Maeda & Mohammed Ahmed Muhammed & Netra Bhandari & Ville Vakkari & Binyam Tesfaw Hailu & Petri K. E. Pellikka & Andreas Hemp & Pieter G. Zyl &, 2024. "Deforestation amplifies climate change effects on warming and cloud level rise in African montane forests," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-51324-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51324-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-51324-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-024-51324-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xuhui Lee & Michael L. Goulden & David Y. Hollinger & Alan Barr & T. Andrew Black & Gil Bohrer & Rosvel Bracho & Bert Drake & Allen Goldstein & Lianhong Gu & Gabriel Katul & Thomas Kolb & Beverly E. L, 2011. "Observed increase in local cooling effect of deforestation at higher latitudes," Nature, Nature, vol. 479(7373), pages 384-387, November.
    2. C. Smith & J. C. A. Baker & D. V. Spracklen, 2023. "Tropical deforestation causes large reductions in observed precipitation," Nature, Nature, vol. 615(7951), pages 270-275, March.
    3. Michael G. Windisch & Edouard L. Davin & Sonia I. Seneviratne, 2021. "Prioritizing forestation based on biogeochemical and local biogeophysical impacts," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 11(10), pages 867-871, October.
    4. Marcell K. Peters & Andreas Hemp & Tim Appelhans & Joscha N. Becker & Christina Behler & Alice Classen & Florian Detsch & Andreas Ensslin & Stefan W. Ferger & Sara B. Frederiksen & Friederike Gebert &, 2019. "Climate–land-use interactions shape tropical mountain biodiversity and ecosystem functions," Nature, Nature, vol. 568(7750), pages 88-92, April.
    5. Paul R. Elsen & Morgan W. Tingley, 2015. "Global mountain topography and the fate of montane species under climate change," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 5(8), pages 772-776, August.
    6. Manuel J. Steinbauer & John-Arvid Grytnes & Gerald Jurasinski & Aino Kulonen & Jonathan Lenoir & Harald Pauli & Christian Rixen & Manuela Winkler & Manfred Bardy-Durchhalter & Elena Barni & Anne D. Bj, 2018. "Accelerated increase in plant species richness on mountain summits is linked to warming," Nature, Nature, vol. 556(7700), pages 231-234, April.
    7. Justin D. Gay & Bryce Currey & E. N. J. Brookshire, 2022. "Global distribution and climate sensitivity of the tropical montane forest nitrogen cycle," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    8. Pierre Ploton & Frédéric Mortier & Maxime Réjou-Méchain & Nicolas Barbier & Nicolas Picard & Vivien Rossi & Carsten Dormann & Guillaume Cornu & Gaëlle Viennois & Nicolas Bayol & Alexei Lyapustin & Syl, 2020. "Spatial validation reveals poor predictive performance of large-scale ecological mapping models," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    9. Joel R. Norris & Robert J. Allen & Amato T. Evan & Mark D. Zelinka & Christopher W. O’Dell & Stephen A. Klein, 2016. "Evidence for climate change in the satellite cloud record," Nature, Nature, vol. 536(7614), pages 72-75, August.
    10. Ryan M. Bright & Edouard Davin & Thomas O’Halloran & Julia Pongratz & Kaiguang Zhao & Alessandro Cescatti, 2017. "Local temperature response to land cover and management change driven by non-radiative processes," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 7(4), pages 296-302, April.
    11. Gregory Duveiller & Josh Hooker & Alessandro Cescatti, 2018. "The mark of vegetation change on Earth’s surface energy balance," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-12, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hao Luo & Johannes Quaas & Yong Han, 2024. "Decreased cloud cover partially offsets the cooling effects of surface albedo change due to deforestation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Yitao Li & Zhao-Liang Li & Hua Wu & Chenghu Zhou & Xiangyang Liu & Pei Leng & Peng Yang & Wenbin Wu & Ronglin Tang & Guo-Fei Shang & Lingling Ma, 2023. "Biophysical impacts of earth greening can substantially mitigate regional land surface temperature warming," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Xu Lian & Sujong Jeong & Chang-Eui Park & Hao Xu & Laurent Z. X. Li & Tao Wang & Pierre Gentine & Josep Peñuelas & Shilong Piao, 2022. "Biophysical impacts of northern vegetation changes on seasonal warming patterns," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Shu Liu & Yong Wang & Guang J. Zhang & Linyi Wei & Bin Wang & Le Yu, 2022. "Contrasting influences of biogeophysical and biogeochemical impacts of historical land use on global economic inequality," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    5. Jun Ge & Qi Liu & Beilei Zan & Zhiqiang Lin & Sha Lu & Bo Qiu & Weidong Guo, 2022. "Deforestation intensifies daily temperature variability in the northern extratropics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.
    6. Natalia Hasler & Christopher A. Williams & Vanessa Carrasco Denney & Peter W. Ellis & Surendra Shrestha & Drew E. Terasaki Hart & Nicholas H. Wolff & Samantha Yeo & Thomas W. Crowther & Leland K. Werd, 2024. "Accounting for albedo change to identify climate-positive tree cover restoration," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    7. Natalya Ivanova & Ekaterina Zolotova, 2023. "Landolt Indicator Values in Modern Research: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-22, June.
    8. Stefano Pinardi & Matteo Salis & Gabriele Sartor & Rosa Meo, 2023. "EU−Africa: Digital and Social Questions in a Multicultural Agroecological Transition for the Cocoa Production in Africa," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-29, July.
    9. Longsheng Huang & Yi Tang & Youtao Song & Jinghui Liu & Hua Shen & Yi Du, 2024. "Identifying and Optimizing the Ecological Security Pattern of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Urban Agglomeration from 2000 to 2030," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-28, July.
    10. Xin Zhao & Bryan K. Mignone & Marshall A. Wise & Haewon C. McJeon, 2024. "Trade-offs in land-based carbon removal measures under 1.5 °C and 2 °C futures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    11. Ali Ismaeel & Amos P. K. Tai & Erone Ghizoni Santos & Heveakore Maraia & Iris Aalto & Jan Altman & Jiří Doležal & Jonas J. Lembrechts & José Luís Camargo & Juha Aalto & Kateřina Sam & Lair Cristina Av, 2024. "Patterns of tropical forest understory temperatures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    12. Jiang, Hou & Lu, Ning & Yao, Ling & Qin, Jun & Liu, Tang, 2023. "Impact of climate changes on the stability of solar energy: Evidence from observations and reanalysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 726-736.
    13. Raphael Portmann & Urs Beyerle & Edouard Davin & Erich M. Fischer & Steven Hertog & Sebastian Schemm, 2022. "Global forestation and deforestation affect remote climate via adjusted atmosphere and ocean circulation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    14. Xiangming Mao & Gula Tang & Jiaqiang Du & Xiaotong Tian, 2023. "Biophysical Effects of Land Cover Changes on Land Surface Temperature on the Sichuan Basin and Surrounding Regions," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-14, October.
    15. Haider, Saira M. & Benscoter, Allison M. & Pearlstine, Leonard & D'Acunto, Laura E. & Romañach, Stephanie S., 2021. "Landscape-scale drivers of endangered Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow (Ammospiza maritima mirabilis) presence using an ensemble modeling approach," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 461(C).
    16. Sandra Garcés-Pastor & Eric Coissac & Sébastien Lavergne & Christoph Schwörer & Jean-Paul Theurillat & Peter D. Heintzman & Owen S. Wangensteen & Willy Tinner & Fabian Rey & Martina Heer & Astrid Rutz, 2022. "High resolution ancient sedimentary DNA shows that alpine plant diversity is associated with human land use and climate change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, December.
    17. Aryal, Kishor & Maraseni, Tek & Apan, Armando, 2023. "Spatial dynamics of biophysical trade-offs and synergies among ecosystem services in the Himalayas," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    18. Marsh, Charles J. & Gavish, Yoni & Kuemmerlen, Mathias & Stoll, Stefan & Haase, Peter & Kunin, William E., 2023. "SDM profiling: A tool for assessing the information-content of sampled and unsampled locations for species distribution models," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 475(C).
    19. Gustavo Larrea‐Gallegos & Ian Vázquez‐Rowe, 2022. "Exploring machine learning techniques to predict deforestation to enhance the decision‐making of road construction projects," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(1), pages 225-239, February.
    20. Adila Akbar & Abudukeyimu Abulizi & Reyilan Erken & Tingting Yu, 2024. "Driving Mechanisms of Spatial Differentiation in Ecosystem Service Value in Opencast Coal Mines in Arid Areas: A Case Study in the Zhundong Economic and Technological Development Zone," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-24, May.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-51324-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.