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Tropical forests and the changing earth system.

Simon L Lewis1

  • 1School of Geography, Earth & Biosphere Institute, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. slewis@pobox.com

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
|March 24, 2006
PubMed
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Author Correction: The enduring world forest carbon sink.

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Tropical forests are vital for biodiversity and climate regulation. Deforestation releases carbon and causes species loss, while intact forests currently absorb carbon but face future risks of becoming carbon sources.

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Climate Science
  • Conservation Biology

Background:

  • Tropical forests are critical biodiversity hotspots and key regulators of global climate change.
  • Deforestation and changes within intact forests are subjects of ongoing research and debate.
  • Understanding these dynamics is crucial for predicting biodiversity loss and climate impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent research on deforestation and ecological changes in tropical forests.
  • To assess the implications of these changes for biodiversity and the global carbon cycle.
  • To project future scenarios for tropical forests as carbon sources or sinks.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on tropical forest dynamics.
  • Analysis of impacts on species loss and the global carbon cycle.

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  • Projection of future climate feedbacks and ecological consequences.

    • Main Results:

    • Deforestation has been a significant source of atmospheric carbon and has led to major species loss.
    • Intact tropical forests currently act as substantial carbon sinks, but exhibit accelerating dynamism and biodiversity changes.
    • Future scenarios suggest intact forests may become net carbon sources due to altered photosynthesis/respiration, biodiversity shifts, drought, or fire.

    Conclusions:

    • The current carbon sink function of intact tropical forests is unlikely to persist.
    • Four plausible routes exist for tropical forests to become net carbon sources, potentially triggering dangerous climate feedbacks.
    • These feedbacks, combined with land-use change, could exacerbate the sixth mass extinction event and lead to severe biodiversity and societal consequences.