Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 22, 2026

Measuring and Mapping Patterns of Soil Erosion and Deposition Related to Soil Carbonate Concentrations Under Agricultural Management
Published on: September 12, 2017
Long-term carbon loss in fragmented Neotropical forests
Sandro Pütz1, Jürgen Groeneveld2, Klaus Henle3
11] Department of Ecological Modelling, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany [2] Department of Bioenergy, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany [3] Department of Conservation Biology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
Tropical forest fragmentation significantly increases carbon loss, contributing substantially to global carbon emissions. This overlooked factor, alongside deforestation, impacts the global carbon cycle and climate change mitigation efforts.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Climate Science
Background:
- Tropical forests are critical carbon sinks, storing vast amounts of carbon.
- Deforestation is a known major source of CO2 emissions.
- Biomass loss from forest fragmentation has been an underappreciated source of CO2.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify long-term carbon loss due to tropical forest fragmentation.
- To assess the contribution of fragmentation to global carbon emissions.
Main Methods:
- Integration of remote sensing data with ecological process knowledge.
- Estimation of carbon loss in Neotropical forests over a 10-year period.
Main Results:
- The Brazilian Atlantic Forest lost 69 (±14) Tg C due to fragmentation.
- The Amazon rainforest lost 599 (±120) Tg C due to fragmentation alone.
- Tropical forest fragmentation contributes an estimated 0.2 Pg C/year, representing 9-24% of annual global carbon loss from deforestation.
Conclusions:
- Tropical forest fragmentation is a significant, overlooked source of carbon emissions.
- Accounting for fragmentation is crucial for accurate global carbon balance assessments.
- Mitigation strategies must consider the impact of forest fragmentation on carbon loss.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Habitat Fragmentation
The Carbon Cycle
Conservation of Declining Populations
Threats to Biodiversity
Ecological Disturbance
Trophic Efficiency

