Large-scale impoverishment of Amazonian forests by logging and fire

摘要: Amazonian deforestation rates are used to determine human effects on the global carbon cycle1,2,3 and measure Brazil's progress in curbing forest impoverishment1,4,5. But this widely of tropical land use tells only part story. Here we present field surveys wood mills burning across Brazilian Amazonia which show that logging crews severely damage 10,000 15,000 km2 yr−1 not included mapping programmes. Moreover, find surface fires burn additional large areas standing forest, destruction is normally documented. Forest impoverishment due such may increase dramatically when severe droughts provoke leaf-shedding greater flammability; our regional water-balance model indicates an estimated 270,000 km2 became vulnerable fire 1998 dry season. Overall, estimates annual for capture less than half area impoverished each year, even during years drought. Both vulnerability future burning6,7 release stocks atmosphere, potentially doubling net emissions from land-use El Nino episodes. If be controlled, then activities need restricted or replaced with low-impact timber harvest techniques, more effective strategies prevent accidental implemented.