Nature Communications (Aug 2018)

Carbon losses from deforestation and widespread degradation offset by extensive growth in African woodlands

  • Iain M. McNicol,
  • Casey M. Ryan,
  • Edward T. A. Mitchard

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-05386-z
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Degradation—the loss of carbon stored in intact woodland—is very difficult to measure over large areas. Here, the authors show that carbon emissions from degradation in African woodlands greatly exceed those from deforestation, but are happening alongside widespread increases in biomass in remote areas.