If we lose The Amazon

Sunday October 20, 2019  |  nature
We've lost 17% of the Amazon rainforest so far, and higher percentages of forests in Southeast Asia and Africa. The systems are complex and there are many variables. But scientists estimate there are so-called "tipping points" that exist if deforestation passes critical thresholds. In the Amazon this figure could be as low as 30% — anything past that is projected to potentially lead to a chain reaction that converts the rest of the rainforest into a savannah. The complete loss of this ecosystem is also thought to have direct impacts on the Brazilian economy, including significantly lower soy yields and diminished pasture productivity.