Introduction
The Brazilian Amazon faced one of the worst fire seasons in its history in 2024, with 15.6 million hectares affected by the flames, an area larger than the state of Ceará. Of these, 43% were forest vegetation. According to data from MapBiomas, the area destroyed by the flames was 117% larger than the historical average.
Recently, a group of researchers revealed a study that brings a message of optimism to science amidst these numbers: although biodiversity loss persists, the Amazon has shown a surprising ability to regenerate after fires. The results were presented in a study conducted in the southeast of the Amazon over two decades.
The Study
The work sought to predict the risks faced by the tropical forest as deforestation, decreased precipitation levels, and prolonged droughts become more frequent. “Our study brings a message of hope. It demonstrates that a highly degraded forest can recover even after many disturbances,” said the lead author of the article, Leandro Maracahipes, researcher at the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (Ipam) and Yale University, in the United States.
However, Maracahipes explains that this regeneration gives rise to a new type of forest. “It's a new ecosystem. Although it can recover, this forest is much ‘poorer’, with a greater number of generalist species, much more vulnerable to new disturbances,” he told Mongabay.
Impact on the Edges of the Forest
The experiment began in an area of Amazonian forest and sought to understand how forest regeneration occurs after fires. The results show that the edges of the forest are the most affected by fires, due to their greater exposure to the flames.
Conclusion
The study brings a message of hope for the conservation of the Amazon, showing that the forest can recover after fires. However, it is important to note that forest regeneration occurs with less diversity, making it more vulnerable to new disturbances.
Source / Reference: Mongabay