The Amazon is doing the exact opposite of what scientists predicted

With the advent of climate change, many were concerned about the fate of the Amazon rainforest. This vital region, often dubbed "the lungs of the planet", was seeing its existence threatened by sudden changes in climate. Scientists turned their attention to this ecosystem to see how it would react to the massive increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

The most optimistic scenario of all

After 44 years of observation, the researchers noted that the Amazon was not dying a slow death. On the contrary, trees appear to have grown in size by 3.3% every decade, partly in line with the increase in carbon in the atmosphere. What's surprising is who's benefiting.

The scientists were betting on 3 possible scenarios.

• The first was that the taller, older plants would capture more of the carbon dioxide and benefit from it, at the expense of the smaller plants, which would decline.
• The second possibility was that, conversely, this mass of carbon dioxide would benefit those under the canopy, who would grow better, while the giants would suffer.
• Finally, some wondered whether all vegetation would benefit from this situation.

It seems that this last scenario is indeed unfolding in the Amazon rainforest. Indeed, the researchers noted that all the trees were expanding at a similar rate. This would appear to be the most optimistic hypothesis for the Amazon.

A forest still under threat

This might lead some to say that, after all, climate change is a good thing for the "planetary lung". However, while it's true that vegetation is acting much better than expected, this doesn't mean that global changes are healthy.

The fact remains that rising temperatures multiply the chances of fires, droughts and the like, which can wreak havoc in this part of the world. What's more, while it seems that, ultimately, forests are good carbon collectors, this function is threatened by the deforestation that continues to take place in Brazil, among other places.

It is to be hoped that this discovery will serve as a reminder of the importance of leaving this major ecosystem alone from human activity, so that it can, at best, mitigate the effects of atmospheric pollution.

Illustration: Shutterstock - 2102043682

References:

After 44 years of observation, researchers have discovered that the Amazon is doing the opposite of what all the models predicted - https://sciencepost.fr/apres-44-ans-dobservation-les-chercheurs-ont-decouvert-que-lamazonie-fait-linverse-de-ce-que-tous-les-modeles-predisaient/

Giant trees of the Amazon get taller as forests fatten up on carbon dioxide - https://www.nbcnews.com/world/latin-america/amazon-rainforest-giant-trees-bigger-carbon-dioxide-climate-change-rcna234064

Rising up against Amazon deforestation thanks to the Surui people... and Google - https://cursus.edu/fr/8799/selever-contre-la-deforestation-amazonienne-grace-au-peuple-surui-et-a-google

Trees in the Amazon rainforest 'getting bigger' - https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/c237re7970jo

Big trees in Amazon more climate-resistant than previously believed - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/sep/25/study-shows-big-trees-in-amazon-more-climate-resistant-than-previously-believed

The influence of climate on languages - https://cursus.edu/fr/11917/linfluence-du-climat-sur-les-langues