The Amazon Forest releases 20% more carbon than it absorbs - A Weakening Natural Ecosystem.

The Amazon rainforest, the largest in the world, undoubtedly provides a large number of benefits to humans and animals alike. One of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, the rainforest provides shelter to 10 per cent of the world’s species, according to the World Wildlife Fund. According to National Geographic, it houses 1,300 bird species, 3,000 species of fish and approximately 430 species of mammals.

Moreover, the most important benefit of the forest is the massive amount of carbon that the 390 billion trees absorb through their leaves, branches and trunks. According to a study published in Global Change Biology ( in 2007), it was estimated that the rainforest stores 86 billion tons of carbon or more than a third of the total carbon stored by all tropical forests in the world.

However, a startling report published in May of 2021 states that humanity can no longer be dependent on the world’s largest ecosystem to absorb the carbon produced by man’s activities. The report is based on a study that examined the volume of CO2 that was being absorbed and stored (as the forest grew )and the amount that was being released back into the atmosphere (as the forest was being burned).

The Amazon rainforest has reportedly released 20% more carbon dioxide than is absorbed in the past decade. Researchers through the journal Nature Climate Change reported that the Amazon basin gave off 16.6bn tonnes of CO2 as opposed to drawing only 13.9bn tonnes.

Jean- Pierre Wigneron, co-author of the report said, “We half-expected it, but it is the first time that we have figures showing that the Brazilian Amazon has flipped, and is now a net emitter.” According to Jean, the point of time when the changeover could become irreversible could not be determined.

The plight of the forest shouldn’t come as a shock to humanity as the amount of air pollution has been constantly increasing, along with water and soil pollution. Pollution is the main factor that has lead to the weakening state of this ecosystem. The Amazon ecosystem is weakening day by day and the most significant cause is the aftereffect of human activities.

We should definitely discourage any activities that increase pollution and make use of techniques that minimize pollution. The fate of the Amazon rainforest will only reveal itself in time.