The large-scale expansion of agriculture in the Amazon through deforestation will be a no-win scenario, according to a new study.
Published today, 10 May, in IOP Publishing’s journal Environmental Research Letters, it shows that deforestation will not only reduce the capacity of the Amazon’s natural carbon sink, but will also inflict climate feedbacks that will decrease the productivity of pasture and soybeans.
The researchers used model simulations to assess how the agricultural yield of the Amazon would be affected under two different land-use scenarios: a business-as-usual scenario where recent deforestation trends continue and new protected areas are not created; and a governance scenario which assumes Brazilian environmental legislation is implemented.
They predict that by 2050, a decrease in precipitation caused by deforestation in the Amazon will reduce pasture productivity by 30 per cent in the governance scenario and by 34 per cent in the business-as-usual scenario.
Furthermore, increasing temperatures could cause a reduction in soybean yield by 24 per cent in a governance scenario and by 28 per cent under a business-as-usual scenario.
Through a combination of the forest biomass removal itself, and the resulting climate change, which feeds back on the ecosystem productivity, the researchers calculate that biomass on the ground could decline by up to 65 per cent for the period 2041-2060
Brazil faces a huge challenge as pressure mounts to convert forestlands to croplands and cattle pasturelands in the Amazon. A fine balance must be struck, however, as the natural ecosystems sustain food production, maintain water and forest resources, regulate climate and air quality, and ameliorate infectious diseases.
Lead author of the study, Dr Leydimere Oliveira, said: “We were initially interested in quantifying the environmental services provided by the Amazon and their replacement by agricultural output.
“We expected to see some kind of compensation or off put, but it was a surprise to us that high levels of deforestation could be a no-win scenario – the loss of environmental services provided by the deforestation may not be offset by an increase in agriculture production.”
The Latest Bing News on:
Agricultural expansion in the Amazon
- In Brazil, 76% of deforestation in three Amazonian states occurred in a planned agricultural development zoneon May 7, 2024 at 8:04 am
The Brazilian government is discussing the creation of an "agricultural development zone" at the confluence of three states in the Amazon region—Amazonas, Acre, and Rondônia (hence the proposed ...
- Stolen Amazon: The Roots of Environmental Crime in Boliviaon May 1, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Fueling this destruction are out-of-control forest fires, the expansion of the agricultural frontier ... Bolivia’s 60 million hectares of Amazon– which spans part of the departments of Pando, Beni, ...
- Agricultural produce seeks to conquer e-commerce marketon April 24, 2024 at 8:14 pm
E-commerce platforms are not only potential consumption channels but also create opportunities for fair competition for agricultural businesses to achieve higher export goals.
- Epidemic fears as 80% of Indigenous Amazon tribe fall illon April 8, 2024 at 11:03 pm
Even with the pressures of agricultural expansion and urbanisation, Indigenous lands persist as green islands in the Amazon, with less than 3% of the biome’s deforestation occurring within these ...
- Global rainforest loss continues at rate of 10 football pitches a minuteon April 4, 2024 at 6:31 pm
“Steep declines in the Brazilian Amazon and Colombia show that progress ... where Chinese demand has fuelled agricultural expansion. Photograph: Reuters Experts have warned that continuing ...
- Giant new snake species found in Amazon rumored to be world's largest, scientist sayson February 24, 2024 at 11:21 am
"Deforestation of the Amazon basin from agricultural expansion has resulted in an estimated 20-31 percent habitat loss, which may impact up to 40 percent of its forests by 2050," Fry said.
- Gigantic new snake species discovered in Amazon rainforeston February 23, 2024 at 5:45 am
“Deforestation of the Amazon basin from agricultural expansion has resulted in an estimated 20-31 per cent habitat loss, which may impact up to 40 per cent of its forests by 2050,” Fry sai ...
- Industrial Agriculture and Ape Conservationon February 8, 2024 at 11:43 am
In assessing the drivers behind agricultural expansion and land investments ... your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name ...
- Atlantic Forests, South Americaon July 22, 2018 at 8:14 am
Stretching along South America's east coast and extending inland towards the Amazon, the Atlantic Forest is one of ... The forests continue to be vulnerable to logging and agricultural expansion, ...
- Agricultural expansion main factor of Brazil's deforestation and it's expandingon October 4, 2015 at 4:59 pm
Agricultural expansion is the chief contributing factor ... says the destruction of Amazon jungles and the savannahs of central Brazil went faster between 2010 and 2012 that in the previous ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Agricultural expansion in the Amazon
[google_news title=”” keyword=”agricultural expansion in the Amazon” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Deforestation
- Australia ask EU to delay compliance on deforestation lawon May 8, 2024 at 8:20 pm
The Australian government has asked the EU to delay regulation that would prevent commodities linked to deforestation from being imported into the bloc.
- ‘Orangutan diplomacy’: Malaysia plans to gift great apes to ease palm oil deforestation concernson May 8, 2024 at 4:01 am
The idea, floated by Commodities Minister Johari Abdul Ghani, would be a play on China's panda diplomacy A new EU regulation requires palm oil suppliers to prove their products are not contributing to ...
- Indonesian palm oil, Brazilian beef top contributors to U.S. deforestation exposureon May 7, 2024 at 11:23 am
If you’re in the United States, your meal might come with a side of deforestation. The US imported palm oil, cattle products, soybeans, cocoa, rubber, coffee and corn linked to an estimated 122,800 ...
- Demand for steak fuelling deforestation and extinction in NSWon May 7, 2024 at 10:30 am
The NSW biodiversity outlook suggests the state is set lose nearly a quarter of all known plant and animal species in the next 100 years, and habitat loss from land clearing especially in the ...
- In Brazil, 76% of deforestation in three Amazonian states occurred in a planned agricultural development zoneon May 7, 2024 at 8:04 am
The Brazilian government is discussing the creation of an "agricultural development zone" at the confluence of three states in the Amazon region—Amazonas, Acre, and Rondônia (hence the proposed ...
- Market-based Schemes Not Reducing Deforestation, Poverty: Reporton May 5, 2024 at 8:01 pm
Market-based approaches to forest conservation like carbon offsets and deforestation-free certification schemes have largely failed to protect trees or alleviate poverty, according to a major ...
- Despite Global Commitments, Deforestation Is Surging: 5 Ways Companies Can Right the Shipon May 3, 2024 at 2:49 pm
October’s commitment by the countries home to our major rainforests — as well as prior agreements from COP, the US and the EU — show serious intent.
- Deforestation in Indonesia spiked last year, but resources analyst sees better overall trendon April 28, 2024 at 7:22 pm
During Indonesia's last El Nino in 2015-2016, fires intentionally started to clear land for agriculture rapidly spread, sending haze across Southeast Asia. Several Indonesian provinces declared states ...
- Deforestation in Indonesia spiked last year, but resources analyst sees better overall trendon April 28, 2024 at 7:20 pm
But the loss is still seen as historically low compared to the 2010s, it said. “Deforestation has been declining from six or so years ago, when there were peak rates,” said Rod Taylor ...
- EU law to reduce deforestation is on a knife’s edge, will leaders act? (commentary)on April 25, 2024 at 7:41 am
We are now in a make-or break-moment for the landmark law to halt imported global deforestation into the European Union. Global forest defenders watch with bated breath as in the next few days, the ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Deforestation
[google_news title=”” keyword=”deforestation” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]