Amazonian study identifies most effective ways of conserving biodiversity and carbon
A new study led by Lancaster University researchers suggests that protecting existing forests from disturbances like logging and wildfires is more cost-effective for biodiversity and carbon conservation than restoration efforts. The study analyzed over 3 million hectares in the Brazilian Amazon.
Why it matters
The findings provide a data-driven strategy for environmental policy, suggesting that preventing forest degradation yields higher returns on investment than reforestation.
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source Pygmy Antwren ( Myrmotherula brachyura ) recorded in the Santarém region where it occurs in the midstory and subcanopy of primary tropical rainforest. This species was used to model biodiversity value. Credit: Alexander Lees/Manchester Metropolitan University As the 2026 El Niño intensifies across the Amazon, new research highlights the urgent need to better protect the region's remaining forests from disturbances.
While measures to avoid deforestation or restore cleared land dominate many conservation strategies, approaches to protect existing forests from disturbances, including selective logging and wildfires, can often provide the biggest "bang for your buck," a new study published today in Science shows.
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