A study in Nature Climate Change combined satellite observations of tree cover loss with temperature and mortality models to measure the human cost of deforestation from 2001 to 2020. The authors linked local changes in climate directly to health outcomes.
The analysis found that 345 million people were exposed to localized warming tied to deforestation and that the change in local climate likely caused about 28,000 heat-related deaths each year. Exposure was highest in Africa (148 million) and Southeast Asia (122 million), while Latin America had 67 million exposed people.
Latin America lost the largest area of forest and showed the biggest deforestation-induced temperature rise, 0.53°C. The study notes that forest loss explains nearly 70 per cent of observed warming in deforested parts of Latin America, and the greatest warming matches the largest loss areas, such as the Arc of Deforestation and the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan.
Researchers and experts call for faster action: halt deforestation, expand protected forests, support local communities with adaptation measures, and include health impacts in climate and land-use plans. They also point to gaps in monitoring, like maps of reforestation.
Difficult words
- deforestation — The removal of trees from an area.
- temperature — How hot or cold something is.temperatures
- health — Condition of the body and mind.health risks
- community — A group of people living together.communities, indigenous communities
- crisis — A serious and urgent situation.
- agriculture — The practice of farming.
- logging — Cutting down trees for wood.
- impact — To have a strong effect on something.impacted
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What can be done to fight deforestation?
- How does deforestation affect local communities?
- Why is it important to protect indigenous communities?
- What are the global effects of rising temperatures?
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