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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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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