New data reveals critical areas of Amazon rainforest remain unprotected
Scientists and conservationists have long stressed the importance of preserving the Amazon rainforest to combat global warming. However, recent data reveal that a significant portion of the rainforest most crucial for climate stability remains inadequately protected.
According to a new analysis by Amazon Conservation, nearly 40% of the Amazon’s most carbon-dense regions are not under formal protection. These key areas are located in the far southwest of Peru and the far northeast of Brazil, French Guiana, and Suriname. The report, based on satellite imaging and machine-learning models, highlights that these regions contain the largest trees and the most continuous canopy cover, which are essential for storing carbon and mitigating climate change.
Matt Finer, lead of the Monitoring of the Andean Amazon Project (MAAP) at Amazon Conservation, emphasized the importance of these findings. “This data provides a roadmap to protect some of the highest carbon areas in the Amazon. They represent some of the most pristine parts of the rainforest that still exist,” Finer said.
The analysis, shared exclusively with Reuters, indicates that while 61% of these peak carbon areas are protected, the remaining 39% lack official conservation status. Protection levels vary by region, with Brazil, Suriname, and French Guiana showing only 51% coverage of these critical areas, whereas Peru has a higher proportion of protected regions. However, some unprotected areas in Peru are currently designated for logging.
A previous MAAP report estimated the Amazon holds approximately 71.5 billion tonnes of carbon, a figure roughly double the global carbon dioxide emissions for 2022. This report suggested the Amazon has absorbed more carbon than it has released in the decade leading up to 2022, though other studies debate whether the forest may now be a net source of emissions.
The new data underscores the urgency of enhancing protection measures for the Amazon to safeguard its role in regulating global climate and preserving biodiversity.
