Amazon rainforest trees are getting bigger due to climate crisis, study finds
Amazon rainforest trees growing larger as CO2 levels rise
- A major new study has found that trees across the Amazon rainforest are growing larger due to rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
- The research, published in Nature Plants, indicates that the average size of trees in the Amazon has increased by 3.2 percent every decade for at least the past 30 years.
- Scientists attribute this trend to the fertilizing effect of higher CO2 concentrations, which can stimulate plant growth.
- The findings, from the RAINFOR network, highlight the crucial role of tropical rainforests in absorbing CO2 and mitigating man-made climate change.
- Researchers warn that while CO2 may boost tree growth, these benefits should not obscure the devastating impact of deforestation, as large, old trees are irreplaceable.