What is it about?
Tropical forests are not only home to incredible biodiversity but also play a huge role in storing carbon, which helps fight climate change. This study uses NASA’s space-based laser technology (called GEDI) to explore why tropical forests grow to different heights in different parts of the world. By understanding what controls forest height, we can better predict how these forests will respond to climate change and how much carbon they can store. Using statistical modeling, we show that climate, topography and soil can account for about 75% of the variation in forest height across the tropics. In addition, elevation and drought season length play critical roles determining forest height both regionally and locally. We also found that extremely tall trees (over 70 meters) tend to grow in areas with moderate environmental conditions, rather than extreme ones.
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Why is it important?
Forest canopy height directly links to carbon storage, so understanding what controls their height helps us predict how much carbon tropical forests can absorb from the atmosphere. This is crucial for fighting climate change. Our findings also highlight the vulnerability of tropical forests to climate change, especially in regions where dry seasons are getting longer. By identifying the environmental conditions that promote tall forests, we can better protect these vital ecosystems and prioritize areas for conservation and reforestation.
Perspectives
Our findings help policymakers identify areas that are vulnerable to climate change and prioritize them for conservation. For example, we show that dry season length is a critical driver of canopy height in the southern Amazon, and as dry seasons lengthen due to climate change, we may see significant reductions in canopy height and carbon storage. In addition, by identifying the environmental conditions that promote tall forests, our research can help prioritize areas for conservation and reforestation. Taller forests store more carbon, so protecting these areas can enhance natural carbon sinks and contribute to global climate goals.
Shaoqing Liu
Harvard University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Environmental drivers of spatial variation in tropical forest canopy height: Insights from NASA’s GEDI spaceborne LiDAR, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, March 2025, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2401755122.
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