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
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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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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.
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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