Articles | Volume 22, issue 19
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-5247-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-5247-2025
BG Letters
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08 Oct 2025
BG Letters | Highlight paper |  | 08 Oct 2025

Extensive fire-driven degradation in 2024 marks worst Amazon forest disturbance in over 2 decades

Clément Bourgoin, René Beuchle, Alfredo Branco, João Carreiras, Guido Ceccherini, Duarte Oom, Jesus San-Miguel-Ayanz, and Fernando Sedano

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Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1823', Anonymous Referee #1, 05 Jun 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Clement Bourgoin, 07 Jul 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1823', Anonymous Referee #2, 05 Jun 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Clement Bourgoin, 07 Jul 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (08 Jul 2025) by Sara Vicca
ED: Publish as is (09 Jul 2025) by Anja Rammig (Co-editor-in-chief)
AR by Clement Bourgoin on behalf of the Authors (18 Jul 2025)  Manuscript 
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Co-editor-in-chief
This paper reports the alarming increase in wildfires in the Amazon rainforest during the severe 2023/2024 drought leading to an increase in large-scale forest degradation. It is highly relevant as the fire-driven forest degradation impacted also intact forests and released large amounts of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere pushing the Amazon rainforest closer to a potential tipping point.
Short summary
The Amazon forest faces increasing wildfires due to extreme drought and human activity. In 2024, disturbances surged by 152 %, hitting a 20-year high. Forest degradation from fires grew by over 400 %, exceeding that from deforestation. Brazil and Bolivia were hit hardest. These fires released huge amounts of CO2, 7 times more than in recent years, pushing the Amazon towards a dangerous tipping point. Urgent action is needed to prevent irreversible harm.
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