Amazon rainforest Archives - State of the Planet

What Tropical Trees Can Teach Us About the Environment

PhD student Rose Oelkers discusses her work in the Amazon and what we can learn from the trees if we listen closely.

by |October 25, 2022

How Close Are We to Climate Tipping Points?

Will overshooting 1.5°C of warming push us over climate tipping points, triggering irreversible and abrupt changes?

by |November 11, 2021

Some Amazon Regions May Resist Climate-Driven Drying Better Than Thought

New research suggests that trees may handle predicted drier conditions better than current models suggest.

by |November 20, 2020

Methods Used to Reconstruct Ancient Rain Forests May Need Revision, Says Study

One way in which scientists use carbon isotopes found in fossils to identify the sites of ancient rain forests may not work as expected.

by |October 5, 2020
An orangutan swings in a tree in a rainforest on Borneo

Coronavirus and Wildfires Combine to Pose Potential Threat to Indigenous Lives and Lands

But experts say it’s not too late to reduce the most serious effects of these compound issues.

by |June 22, 2020
burned trees in forest

The Amazon Continues to Burn

The environmental tragedy does not stop even in the face of the pandemic. From January to April, over 1200 square kilometers of forest were wiped out.

by Marco Tedesco |June 19, 2020
smoke over brazil

Earth Institute Experts Discuss Fires in the Amazon Rainforest

As leaders in research on ecology, wildfires, and climate change, experts at the Earth Institute are leading the conversation over this environmental catastrophe.

by |August 28, 2019
smoke from amazon rainforest firest

Protecting the Amazon Requires Changing Policy and Eating Less Beef

Global demand for beef is fueling the Amazon rainforest fires, and it will take a global solution to fix it.

by |August 27, 2019
Aerial photo of forest destruction from illegal gold mining

Rainforest-Friendly Livelihoods Can Be More Lucrative Than Gold Mining

In the Peruvian Amazon, more sustainable occupations like fish farming and Brazil nut harvesting can pay off in more ways than one, according to a new study.

by |October 3, 2018
clearcut rainforest in Colombia

Colombian Youth Sue for Recognition of the Rights of Future Generations

A group of 25 children and young adults are suing the Colombian government, demanding the protection of their constitutional rights to health, food, water, and a healthy environment.