The Forests of the Amazon and Cerrado Moderate Regional Climate and Are the Key to the Future

Tropical forests, including those in the Cerrado Protected Areas of Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks, play a crucial role in moderating regional climate by maintaining cooler surface temperatures and higher precipitation levels. Research indicates that deforestation for agricultural purposes in Brazil's agricultural frontier has led to significant regional climate change over the past 40 years, with temperature increases of up to 3℃ observed in areas like Mato Grosso state compared to forested regions such as the Xingu Indigenous Park. Additionally, deforestation in neighboring Rondônia has resulted in decreased rainfall and prolonged dry seasons. Numerical models suggest that Brazil's agricultural frontier will become warmer and drier as greenhouse gas concentrations rise, highlighting the importance of preserving tropical forests to mitigate future climate change.

Coe, M. T., Brando, P. M., Deegan, L. A., Macedo, M. N., Neill, C., & Silvério, D. V. (2017). The Forests of the Amazon and Cerrado Moderate Regional Climate and Are the Key to the Future. Tropical Conservation Science, 10. https://doi.org/10.1177/1940082917720671