Smoke from forest fires found to boost Amazon rainforest growth

Smoke from forest fires in the Amazon, while highly damaging to nature, may have an unexpected side effect: it can help parts of the rainforest grow faster.

Researchers from the University of Antwerp and the CREAF research centre in Barcelona found that smoke from fires releases nutrients, especially phosphorus, which act like fertiliser when they settle on untouched rainforest. This helps trees grow and absorb more carbon dioxide.

Most fires burn in the heavily deforested southern Amazon. During the dry season, winds carry the smoke north and east, where it drops phosphorus onto intact forest soils. The study found that phosphorus was a stronger driver of tree growth than temperature or rainfall.

Using satellite data, scientists saw higher photosynthesis in areas receiving more phosphorus. On average, each extra milligram of phosphorus per square metre led to an increase of 7.4 grams of carbon stored each year. Trees also developed denser canopies, allowing them to capture more sunlight and CO2.

The researchers stress that forest fires remain a major environmental disaster. However, the findings show how closely ecosystems are linked. While fires release carbon locally, they can unintentionally boost carbon uptake in forests elsewhere.

^{#FlandersNewsService | © ANTONIO SCORZA / AFP}