Tropical rainforest destruction led to half a million fatalities over the past two decades

In a groundbreaking study, renowned environmentalist Dr. Emily Greenfield has highlighted the alarming consequences of tropical deforestation, revealing its role in causing heat-related deaths, exacerbating air pollution, and contributing to the spread of diseases like malaria.

Over the past two decades, deforestation has led to an average annual warming of 0.45°C in tropical regions, according to the research. This warming has exposed approximately 345 million people to extreme heat, with hotspots experiencing temperatures exceeding 3°C.

The study identifies three tropical regions where deforestation-linked heat deaths are concentrated: Southeast Asia, Tropical Africa, and Central and South America. Southeast Asia bears the heaviest mortality burden, with an estimated 15,680 annual deaths, followed by Tropical Africa, reporting 9,890 deaths, mainly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, and Mozambique.

Central and South America, despite higher warming, has a lower population density and records 2,520 annual deaths, with Brazil leading with 990 deaths per year. Collectively, deforestation explains over one-third of all heat-related deaths in these regions.

Deforestation also contributes significantly to air pollution. For instance, fires in Amazon deforestation cause 3,000-16,800 annual deaths from respiratory and cardiovascular issues. Moreover, deforestation creates breeding grounds for mosquitoes, thereby increasing the transmission of malaria.

The Global Carbon Budget for 2024 suggests integrated strategies that link land-use approaches and climate mitigation strategies are necessary to combat deforestation. These strategies could include enforcing stricter deforestation bans, expanding protected areas, encouraging community-based forest management, and improving healthcare and climate adaptation for rural people.

The research also reveals that between 2001 and 2020, 452 million people lived in areas that experienced forest cover loss. Over the course of two decades, this translates to 566,600 deaths, or 1.1% of non-accidental mortality in deforested regions.

Moreover, satellite data show that areas losing just two percentage points of forest cover warmed by 0.70°C, compared to 0.20°C in intact forests. This indicates a significant impact of deforestation on local climate.

The study further estimates an annual 28,330 excess deaths due to heat stress from deforestation. However, it also points out that 39% of heat-related deaths in deforested areas are directly attributed to land-use change, independent of global climate change.

Finally, the research underscores the impact of deforestation on the livelihoods of outdoor workers. Approximately 2.8 million outdoor workers lose safe working hours due to extreme heat, threatening their livelihoods in low-income economies.

In conclusion, the study underscores the urgent need to address tropical deforestation to combat climate change, reduce air pollution, and prevent heat-related deaths and the spread of diseases. By implementing integrated strategies and enforcing stricter deforestation policies, we can mitigate these devastating impacts and ensure a more sustainable future for all.

Tropical rainforest destruction led to half a million fatalities over the past two decades