Deforestation is the large-scale, often permanent removal of forest cover, typically through logging, burning, or land conversion for agriculture, infrastructure, or resource extraction, resulting in the reduction or fragmentation of forest ecosystems. As a research topic, it encompasses quantifying forest loss using remote sensing and geospatial analysis, assessing impacts on carbon stocks, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, hydrological cycles, and soil integrity, and examining social-ecological drivers such as governance, commodity markets, and land-use policies. Deforestation studies also investigate feedbacks to climate systems, resilience thresholds, and the effectiveness of interventions including protected areas, certification schemes, and zero-deforestation supply-chain commitments.
A new study published in Nature Communications has found that 17.31% of tropical tree cover—an area spanning 395.9 million hectares (Mha)—has been consistently overlooked by global forest monitoring systems, exposing significant ...
Earth Sciences
Jul 10, 2025
0
55
The collapse of tropical forests during Earth's most catastrophic extinction event was the primary cause of the prolonged global warming which followed, according to new research.
Earth Sciences
Jul 2, 2025
3
258
A large aerial drone flies over the charred remains of Canadian forests devastated by wildfires, bombarding the ground with seed capsules to accelerate reforestation.
Ecology
Jul 2, 2025
0
49
Trees in tropical forests are dying at an increased rate, with consequences for biodiversity, carbon storage, and the global climate. While deforestation is the primary cause of forest loss, intact forests are also experiencing ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 1, 2025
0
52
The biggest environmental problems for commercial plantation forestry in New Zealand's steep hill country are discharges of slash (woody debris left behind after logging) and sediment from clear-fell harvests.
Environment
Jun 27, 2025
0
47
At ESA's Living Planet Symposium, scientists have unveiled how the combination of different long-term, high-resolution satellite datasets from ESA's Climate Change Initiative is shedding new light on the South American Gran ...
Planetary Sciences
Jun 26, 2025
0
23
Whether your favorite tree is in a private garden, on wasteland, in a school playground or on the street, your emotional response may be admiration, relaxation, rejuvenation or awareness of the seasons passing. But so many ...
Plants & Animals
Jun 23, 2025
0
16
Frequent forest fires and agricultural expansion are degrading soil health in the southern Brazilian Amazon. This results in lasting damage to carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks, as well as to the overall functionality of ...
Ecology
Jun 17, 2025
0
38
Brazil's environmental goals suffered a major setback in May as deforestation in the Amazon surged 92% compared to the same month last year, according to official monitoring data released Friday.
Environment
Jun 6, 2025
0
78
Africa needs its forests for sustainable development, poverty reduction, food security, and to make the continent more resilient to climate change. They take up 23% of the continent. At 674 million hectares in extent, these ...
Environment
Jun 4, 2025
0
26
