Articles | Volume 22, issue 19
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-5247-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-5247-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
BG Letters
| Highlight paper
| 
08 Oct 2025
BG Letters | Highlight paper |
| 08 Oct 2025
| 08 Oct 2025
Extensive fire-driven degradation in 2024 marks worst Amazon forest disturbance in over 2 decades
Clément Bourgoin
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, 21027, Italy
René Beuchle
European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, 21027, Italy
Alfredo Branco
European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, 21027, Italy
João Carreiras
VASS Italy, Torino, 10100, Italy
Guido Ceccherini
Engineering Ingegneria Informatica S.p.A., Roma, 00144, Italy
Duarte Oom
European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, 21027, Italy
Jesus San-Miguel-Ayanz
European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, 21027, Italy
Fernando Sedano
European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, 21027, Italy
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Total article views: 8,859 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
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Total article views: 14,341 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
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Cited
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- A ‘super’ El Niño could transform the Amazon. Is the world’s biggest rainforest doomed? Q. Septer https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-02449-w
- Deforestation-focused policies do not reduce degradation in the Brazilian Amazon F. Cammelli et al. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2507793123
- A Comprehensive Survey of Satellite-Based Wildfire Indicators and Spatiotemporal Modeling Approaches: Past, Present, and Future S. Nurdiati et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/earth7040121
- Global green betrayal: excuses are plenty, forests empty, and truth overlooked A. Mohiuddin https://doi.org/10.15406/bij.2025.08.00219
- Potential geographic distribution of Handroanthus serratifolius in tropical America D. Elera-Gonzales et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.flora.2026.152926
- Wildfire-Altered Soil Water-Extractable Organic Matter Drives Divergent Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Anaerobic Subsurface Soils L. Ran et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6c04642
- Extreme Droughts Push Heterotrophic Functions Above Baseline Levels in a Neotropical Ecosystem T. Rota et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.70777
- From atmospheric loading to passive smoking: Black Carbon exposure as a health risk indicator in Medellín, Colombia D. Grajales-González et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-026-02116-z
- Neotropical plant species produce charcoal particles distinguishable by morphometrics and morphotypes D. Kroehling et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eve.2026.100130
- Understanding forest carbon sink efficiency for climate mitigation: spatiotemporal dynamics and spatial spillover effects in China H. Huang et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-026-02002-8
- Drought, heatwave, and fires: The impact on air quality during São Paulo's record-breaking fire season in 2024 P. Silva et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2026.103045
- Global Carbon Budget 2025 P. Friedlingstein et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-3211-2026
- Marine ecosystems in peril: Time to prepare for super El Niño J. Bruno et al. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2623156123
- Fire-derived ozone intensifies carbon loss in Amazon forests under extreme droughts F. Brown et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-026-04047-0
- Global Shifts in Fire Regimes Under Climate Change: Patterns, Drivers, and Ecological Implications Across Biomes A. Oliveira & P. Gil Martins https://doi.org/10.3390/f17010104
- COP30: climate action in an era of global uncertainty P. Arora https://doi.org/10.1007/s42398-026-00476-x
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- A ‘super’ El Niño could transform the Amazon. Is the world’s biggest rainforest doomed? Q. Septer https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-02449-w
- Deforestation-focused policies do not reduce degradation in the Brazilian Amazon F. Cammelli et al. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2507793123
- A Comprehensive Survey of Satellite-Based Wildfire Indicators and Spatiotemporal Modeling Approaches: Past, Present, and Future S. Nurdiati et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/earth7040121
- Global green betrayal: excuses are plenty, forests empty, and truth overlooked A. Mohiuddin https://doi.org/10.15406/bij.2025.08.00219
- Potential geographic distribution of Handroanthus serratifolius in tropical America D. Elera-Gonzales et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.flora.2026.152926
- Wildfire-Altered Soil Water-Extractable Organic Matter Drives Divergent Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Anaerobic Subsurface Soils L. Ran et al. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6c04642
- Extreme Droughts Push Heterotrophic Functions Above Baseline Levels in a Neotropical Ecosystem T. Rota et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.70777
- From atmospheric loading to passive smoking: Black Carbon exposure as a health risk indicator in Medellín, Colombia D. Grajales-González et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-026-02116-z
- Neotropical plant species produce charcoal particles distinguishable by morphometrics and morphotypes D. Kroehling et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eve.2026.100130
- Understanding forest carbon sink efficiency for climate mitigation: spatiotemporal dynamics and spatial spillover effects in China H. Huang et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-026-02002-8
- Drought, heatwave, and fires: The impact on air quality during São Paulo's record-breaking fire season in 2024 P. Silva et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2026.103045
- Global Carbon Budget 2025 P. Friedlingstein et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-3211-2026
- Marine ecosystems in peril: Time to prepare for super El Niño J. Bruno et al. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2623156123
- Fire-derived ozone intensifies carbon loss in Amazon forests under extreme droughts F. Brown et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-026-04047-0
- Global Shifts in Fire Regimes Under Climate Change: Patterns, Drivers, and Ecological Implications Across Biomes A. Oliveira & P. Gil Martins https://doi.org/10.3390/f17010104
- COP30: climate action in an era of global uncertainty P. Arora https://doi.org/10.1007/s42398-026-00476-x
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 03 Nov 2026
Editorial statement
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.
This paper reports the alarming increase in wildfires in the Amazon rainforest during the severe...
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.
The Amazon forest faces increasing wildfires due to extreme drought and human activity. In 2024,...
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