Deforestation could account for over a third of heat deaths in areas of tropical forest loss

Deforestation in tropical countries could contribute to an increase in deaths by exposure to heat in neighboring populations, new research has shown.

Published in the journal Climate change of natureResearch was carried out by Dr. Carly Reddington and Professor Dominick Spracklen, from the School of Earth and Environment from the University of Leeds.

The study, which analyzed areas through Central and South America, Africa and Southeast Asia, revealed that local climate heating caused by tropical deforestation has exposed more than 300 million people to an increase in temperatures and is associated with 28,000 heat-related deaths each year.

Tropical deforestation contributes to the increase in temperatures by eliminating the trees which naturally regulate the climate by the shadow, the release of humidity via evapotranspiration and the absorption of carbon dioxide. Without these cooling mechanisms, heat accumulates more quickly on the surface, the drop in atmospheric humidity and the greenhouse gas concentrations increase – by amplifying local and flashing warming.

Dr. Reddington said: “Our work highlights tropical deforestation not only as an environmental problem, but also as a major public health problem. Vulnerable populations – with limited access to health care, cooling of infrastructure or adaptive capacities, live in deferral regions, and could be disproportionate.

Vulnerable populations

In recent decades, tropical forests have been strongly affected by deforestation and degradation, mainly due to agriculture and logging.

This loss of tree cover has serious consequences; Threaten biodiversity, disrupt the climate and modification of water cycles.

Deforestation is associated with a range of problems harmful to human health. Fire smoke pollution in deforested areas degrades regional air quality. It was also linked to an increased risk of malaria. This study demonstrates a risk of deforestation for additional health through increased exposure to heat and heat -related mortality.

Risks to human health are still exacerbated by social and economic factors. People living in rural areas of the tropics often have limited access to health care, making them more vulnerable to extreme heat.

Access to modern technologies that help people to face heat – such as air conditioning or cooling systems – is more limited in many tropical countries, and many people work outside during the day, increasing their exposure to heat.

Research revealed that people living through the tropics have been affected, with more than 48 million people in Indonesia, 42 million people in the Democratic Republic of Congo and 21 million people in Brazil exposed to heat from tropical deforestation. The biggest impacts have been found where many people live near areas where forests have been released.

Using satellite data from 2001 to 2020, the researchers have mapped the areas of change of tree cover to identify forest loss through the tropics and the subsequent change in land temperature in these areas.

They then compared the distribution data of the human population to map the exposure of populations to local warming from deforestation, before comparing themselves to the data on non -accidental mortalities (death which was not caused by accidents, suicides or homicides) to estimate excessive heat mortality with heat associated with this warming.

In the areas of the loss of tropical forest, more than a third of all heat -related deaths have been associated with deforestation.

Research highlights the importance of preserving tropical forests for the benefit of local communities. The conservation of these forests could alleviate the effects on the health of the increase in temperatures on local populations, strengthening their ability to adapt to extreme weather conditions.

Professor Spracklen said: “Our results highlight the urgent need to reduce tropical deforestation. Increased recognition of tropical forests for neighboring communities will help stronger support for the protection of tropical forests.”