Tropical Deforestation Linked To Thousands Of Deaths Annually
Recent research marks the deadly impact of tropical deforestation on local temperatures and human health. Between 2001 and 2020, deforestation in tropical regions caused nearly 28,000 excess deaths each year. The study reveals how forest loss drives local warming, exposing millions to dangerous heat. South-east Asia faces the highest mortality, followed by tropical Africa and the Americas.
Deforestation and Local Temperature Rise
- Tropical deforestation has raised daytime land surface temperatures by an average of 0.27°C.
- Some areas experienced warming up to 0.7°C or more. The highest temperature increases occurred in South Asia (+0.72°C), Central and South America (+0.34°C), and tropical Africa (+0.10°C).
- Forest loss leads to reduced shade and moisture, amplifying heat locally.
- The most severe warming coincides with regions of intense deforestation such as the southern Amazon and Indonesian islands like Sumatra and Kalimantan.
Scale of Exposure
Approximately 345 million people live in areas affected by deforestation-induced warming. Of these, 33 million experienced temperature rises above 1°C, 8 million above 2°C, and 2.6 million above 3°C. The tropical belt hosts over 3.5 billion people, with 13% residing in zones of forest loss. South-east Asia, tropical Africa, and Central and South America are the most affected regions. Dense populations in these areas increase vulnerability to heat-related health risks.
Health Consequences
Heat exposure from deforestation is linked to an estimated 28,330 non-accidental deaths annually. The majority of these deaths occur in south-east Asia, especially Indonesia, due to its large population and high deforestation rates. Tropical Africa follows with nearly 9,900 excess deaths each year. Heat also impairs cognitive function and reduces labour productivity. Between 2003 and 2018, 2.8 million outdoor workers lost safe thermal working conditions due to rising temperatures.
Environmental and Global Implications
Deforestation not only warms local areas but also releases carbon dioxide. From 2014 to 2023, tropical deforestation emitted 1.7 gigatonnes of CO₂ annually, about 15% of global human-caused emissions. This contributes to global climate change beyond local warming effects. The study’s mortality estimates are conservative as they exclude deaths caused by broader climate impacts and warming outside deforested zones.
Regional Hotspots of Deforestation
Key deforestation hotspots include the Amazon’s Arc of Deforestation, parts of Central America like Guatemala and Nicaragua, West African countries such as Ivory Coast and Ghana, Central and Eastern Africa including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and mainland south-east Asia covering Cambodia and Vietnam. These areas face the combined challenges of forest loss, rising temperatures, and vulnerable populations.
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