The destruction of the forest in tropical regions not only hastens the process of global warming but is actually responsible for raising temperatures and killing around 28,000 individuals annually because of the extreme heat, a recent report reveals.

According to the latest findings, when the forests in tropical regions are destroyed, it results in the removal of an important cooling system that exposes over 300 million individuals to increased temperatures and health risks.

Cooling through rainforests

Another way that forests can influence temperature in the area is by providing shade on the ground and evaporation of water from the leaves into the atmosphere. The same principle works here, where the effect provided by the forests is similar to how humans sweat to regulate their body temperature.

Expert says, giant tropical trees have sufficient cooling capacity compared to several air conditioners running continuously. This mechanism controls the temperature in regions abundant in forest cover, such as the Amazon and Congo regions.

If deforestation occurs, this cooling mechanism becomes ineffective and temperatures begin rising.

What the research has shown

Satellite observations conducted within the last two decades revealed that:

Intact forested areas experienced an increase in temperature by about 0.2°C
Deforested areas experienced an increase in temperature by about 0.7°C

Therefore, deforestation could lead to an almost tripling of the rate of warming in the region.

According to the research, close to 300 million individuals living in tropical countries such as South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia have been affected by this increased warming trend.

Why does this become a health problem?

Increased temperatures have the potential to result in heat stroke, which could be fatal, especially in locations where there is insufficient access to medical care or cooling facilities.

High temperatures have also been associated with decreased labor productivity and increased incidences of cardiovascular-related mortality.

Using statistical models, the research predicts that up to 28,000 people have died each year because of this increase in warming due to deforestation. Within two decades, this figure may reach over half a million people.

Beyond carbon: wider implications

Deforestation has often been talked about in the context of carbon dioxide emissions, but the research paper points out the other direct effects of deforestation on the environment. Deforestation not only causes warming but also affects precipitation and the ecosystems required for food production and water supply.

It has been suggested that acknowledging deforestation as a public health issue rather than simply an environmental problem would affect future policies and conservation measures.

Wider implications

Tropical deforestation remains a rapidly growing phenomenon despite worldwide pledges to protect rainforests, with millions of hectares being destroyed annually.

These findings show that forest protection may help decrease heat exposure and improve public health conditions, saving thousands of lives annually. The effect is not far-fetched; it is a tangible process happening to millions of people near deforested lands.