Amazon Rainforest at Tipping Point as Deforestation and Warming Take Hold

New research on the Amazon rainforest reveals that it can regrow quickly after extreme events, but deforestation and warming could trigger a system-wide tipping point in the next 15 years.

A series of studies published in 2026 found that the forest is more resilient to fires than anticipated, but warns that new ecosystems emerging from the recovery process are vulnerable to future climate disturbances.

The research also shows that repeated wildfires have replaced fire-resistant specialist trees with generalist species, leading to a halving of biodiversity at forest edges despite a closing canopy.

Experts warn that ending deforestation is necessary and achievable, but must be combined with global actions to curb climate change.