Over three decades, Amazonian forests have experienced an increase in tree size and biomass, especially among large trees, likely driven by increased atmospheric CO2 levels, with no evidence of decline in large trees despite climate-related stresses. This suggests a strengthening of the forest carbon sink, with structural changes favoring larger trees, although declines in smaller stems may impact future resilience.
New evidence from rock art in the Serranía de la Lindosa caves of Colombia suggests that humans settled in the Amazon lowlands around 13,000 years ago, challenging previous understanding of the region's habitation history. The findings hint at a much earlier arrival of settlers in the Americas, potentially upending established theories about human migration and development. The study sheds light on the challenges of researching ancient settlements in dense rainforests and acidic soils, while also raising questions about the possibility of advanced human development prior to the end of the last glacial period.
Amazonian dark earth (ADE) or terra preta, exceptionally fertile because rich in nutrients and stable organic matter derived from charcoal, could be a ‘secret weapon’ to boost reforestation – not only in the Amazon, where 18% or approximately 780,000 km2 has been lost since the 1970s – but around the world. ADE can enhance the growth of pasture and trees due to their high levels of nutrients, as well as to the presence of beneficial bacteria and archaea in the soil microbial community.
Amazonian dark earth (ADE) or terra preta, exceptionally fertile because rich in nutrients and stable organic matter derived from charcoal, could be a 'secret weapon' to boost reforestation—not only in the Amazon, but around the world. ADE contains microorganisms that are better at transforming soils into nutrients that can be taken up by plants, thus providing more resources for plant development. ADE can boost plant growth and its characteristics, particularly its microorganisms, can be copied for use in future ecological restoration projects.
