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A new study has revealed that deforestation in tropical regions is contributing to tens of thousands of deaths each year by increasing local temperatures and exposing millions to extreme heat.
Researchers from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom examined the effects of deforestation on human health across the Amazon, Congo and Southeast Asia. Their findings, published in Nature Climate Change, indicate that the loss of forests reduces rainfall, raises temperatures, and shrinks shaded areas, all of which exacerbate heat exposure.
Between 2001 and 2020, approximately 345 million people were exposed to excessive heat due to deforestation in these tropical areas. The study estimates that this exposure has resulted in around 28,000 heat-related deaths per year. Southeast Asia is the hardest-hit region, followed by tropical regions of Africa and the Americas.
The study highlights that deforestation not only destroys forest cover but also disrupts local climates. Average daytime temperatures in deforested areas increased by 0.27°C, altering rainfall patterns and intensifying heat stress on local populations. In Brazil’s Mato Grosso region, for example, deforestation driven by soybean cultivation accelerated these warming trends.
The annual toll of 28,000 deaths represents a direct consequence of increased heat due to forest loss. In Indonesia, for instance, 29 out of every 100,000 people are estimated to die from heat exposure linked to deforestation. The research emphasizes that tropical deforestation is not just an environmental issue but also a public health crisis.
Professor Dominick Spracklen from the University of Leeds stressed that protecting forests is essential not only to mitigate global climate change but also to safeguard human health. The study calls for urgent measures to preserve and sustainably manage tropical forests worldwide.
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