How Cutting Down Tropical Forests is Costing Lives Through Deadly Heat

August 31, 2025 / activist360

Animated map showing heat-related mortality rates linked to deforestation across Tropical Central and South America, with darker colors representing higher deaths per 100,000 people.

The maps show regions of Tropical Central and South America (a), Tropical Africa (b), and Southeast Asia (c). Colours show number of deaths per year per 100,000 people located in areas of forest loss (central estimate), aggregated by second-level administration divisions. Boundaries for second-level administration divisions are from GADM (https://gadm.org/index.html).

When we hear about deforestation, many of us think first about disappearing wildlife, endangered species, or the loss of carbon storage that slows climate change. All of that is true, but there’s another hidden danger. Cutting down tropical forests hurts our planet’s biodiversity and directly affects human health. New research shows that losing forests makes people hotter, sicker, and in many cases, more likely to die from extreme heat.

What the Study Found

A recent study published in Nature Climate Change looked at forest loss across the tropics between 2001 and 2020. The researchers found that when forests are cleared, the land surface warms up quickly. On average, deforested areas became almost 0.5 °C hotter than places that kept their trees.

That may not sound like much, but for people living in already hot, humid places, even small increases can push temperatures past safe limits. The study estimated that about 345 million people have been exposed to this extra warming caused by deforestation. That’s nearly the size of the entire U.S. population.

The Human Toll

The warming from deforestation is deadly. According to the study, deforestation is linked to about 28,000 extra heat-related deaths each year (Reddington et al., 2025). These deaths happen because the body can only handle so much heat before heart, lung, or kidney problems set in.

Some of the hardest-hit regions include:

Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia, where heat deaths per 100,000 people are among the highest in the world.
Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which also face significant impacts.
Southeast Asia overall, which accounts for more than half of all the deaths linked to deforestation-related heat.

In these countries, outdoor workers, such as farmers and construction workers, are especially vulnerable.

Why the Tropics Are Vulnerable

The tropics, regions close to the equator, are home to over 3.5 billion people. Many of these communities depend on outdoor work for their livelihoods. When forests are cut, not only does the land heat up, but shade disappears too. That makes outdoor work far more dangerous.

Health care access also plays a big role. In many tropical nations, hospitals and clinics are already under pressure, and people may not have reliable access to air conditioning, cooling centers, or emergency care. This limited ability to adapt means heat has a bigger impact on vulnerable groups, such as children, older adults, and outdoor workers.

Other Hidden Dangers

Heat isn’t the only risk linked to cutting forests. Deforestation also leads to:

Air pollution from fires: When forests are burned, smoke can spread across entire regions. In past years, haze from Indonesian forest fires exposed tens of millions of people to unsafe air, leading to thousands of premature deaths.
Spread of diseases: Clearing forests can increase the spread of diseases like malaria. In some places, standing water left after logging creates ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Together, these risks make deforestation not only an environmental problem but also a serious public health issue.

What Can Be Done

The good news is that protecting forests can prevent many of these heat-related deaths. Keeping trees standing provides shade, keeps local areas cooler, and reduces harmful smoke. On a larger scale, forests act as a buffer against climate change by storing carbon and releasing moisture into the air.

Steps that can help include:

Stronger protections for tropical forests through laws and enforcement.
Community-led conservation that involves local and Indigenous groups who know the land best.
Investment in health systems and cooling strategies to protect people who already live in areas affected by deforestation.
Global cooperation to reduce demand for products linked to deforestation, such as unsustainable palm oil, soy, and beef.

These actions can save thousands of lives each year.

Summing Up

The study’s message is clear: tropical forests aren’t just “carbon sinks” or wildlife havens. They are lifelines for millions of people. Losing them raises local temperatures, increases the risk of deadly heat, and harms human health in ways many of us never considered.

By protecting tropical forests, we preserve ecosystems while protecting people. Safeguarding these forests is a direct investment in healthier, safer communities around the world.

Source: Reddington, C. L., Smith, C., Butt, E. W., Baker, J. C. A., Oliveira, B. F. A., Yamba, E. I., & Spracklen, D. V. (2025). Tropical deforestation is associated with considerable heat-related mortality. Nature Climate Change. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-025-02411-0

Tropical Bird Populations Plummet

August 17, 2025 / activist360

A Warning Sign for Our Planet

Two colorful tropical parrots perched side by side, one red-and-green and the other blue-and-yellow, against a backdrop of green foliage.

Tropical parrots, key seed dispersers and pollinators, highlight the biodiversity at risk as climate change accelerates bird population declines.

Why Tropical Birds Matter

When we think of the tropics, we often picture the sounds of colorful birds echoing through lush forests. From toucans and parrots in South America to hornbills in Asia and turacos in Africa, tropical birds are more than just symbols of beauty, they’re vital to keeping these ecosystems alive.

But new research published this week in Nature Climate Change delivers sobering news: tropical bird populations are collapsing. In many regions, numbers have dropped by more than half in just 30 years. These declines are warning signals that the ecosystems we all depend on are under threat.

The Study at a Glance

Published: August 2025
Source: Nature Climate Change
Finding: Many tropical bird species have lost more than 50% of their populations over three decades.
Causes: Deforestation, climate shifts, habitat fragmentation, and food scarcity.

Researchers analyzed decades of data from South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. The breadth of the study makes it one of the strongest indicators yet of how climate change and human activity are reshaping entire ecosystems.

Why This Matters Beyond Birds

It may be tempting to think of this as a bird problem, but in reality, it’s a human problem. Birds play critical roles in the health of tropical forests. Many tropical plants rely on birds for pollination, making them essential partners in sustaining rainforest ecosystems. Birds also serve as seed dispersers, carrying seeds across vast distances and helping forests regenerate after storms, fires, or human disturbance. In addition, they act as natural pest control by consuming insects, which reduces crop damage and lowers the risk of diseases spreading.

If these birds vanish, the balance tips. Forests struggle to regenerate, pests multiply, and ecosystems weaken, leading to ripple effects that reach people everywhere. Think of birds as the “canaries in the coal mine” of the tropics. Their decline signals deeper problems unfolding quietly but rapidly.

What’s Driving the Decline?

The study highlights several overlapping causes:

Deforestation: Vast areas of tropical forest are cleared each year for farming, logging, and development. Birds lose nesting sites and food sources.
Climate Change: Rising temperatures disrupt breeding cycles, while shifting rainfall patterns reduce insect and fruit availability.
Habitat Fragmentation: When forests are broken into small, isolated patches, bird populations struggle to survive.
Direct Human Pressure: Hunting and the pet trade further threaten vulnerable species.

Together, these pressures create a perfect storm, pushing many species toward decline faster than conservation measures can keep up.

Lessons for the Rest of the World

What happens in the tropics doesn’t stay in the tropics. Healthy forests regulate Earth’s climate by absorbing massive amounts of carbon dioxide. Without birds to keep these forests resilient, the planet’s ability to fight climate change weakens.

In other words: when tropical birds decline, so does one of our best natural defenses against global warming.

Hope in Action

While the data is troubling, the study also points toward hope. Around the world, conservation efforts have proven effective when communities, governments, and organizations work together.

Protected Areas Work: Expanding reserves and enforcing protections stabilize bird populations.
Reforestation Efforts: Planting diverse native trees provides food and shelter.
Community-Led Conservation: When local people are empowered to steward forests, biodiversity thrives.
Climate Action: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions protects fragile ecosystems long-term.

Small victories are already happening. In Costa Rica, large-scale reforestation has allowed once-declining bird populations to rebound. Similar projects in Indonesia and parts of Africa show that recovery is possible with the right support.

What You Can Do

The tropical bird crisis may feel far away, but every choice we make has global consequences. Here are practical ways to help:

Support conservation groups working in tropical regions.
Choose sustainably sourced products like certified coffee or wood.
Advocate for strong climate policies in your community and beyond.
Reduce personal carbon footprints through energy choices and transportation.

Even small actions add up. Just as a single bird can carry seeds that grow into a new forest, one person’s choices can contribute to a healthier planet.

Birds keep forests alive, and forests keep our planet stable. If they falter, so do we. By protecting habitats, addressing climate change, and supporting conservation, we can ensure that the forests remain full of life, and that their songs continue for generations to come.

Source: Goldwert, D., Patel, Y., Nielsen, K. S., Goldberg, M. H., & Vlasceanu, M. (2025). Climate action literacy interventions increase commitments to more effective mitigation behaviors. PNAS Nexus, 4(6), pgaf191.

New Arctic Coastlines Are Emerging as Glaciers Melt — What That Means for Our Planet

March 30, 2025 / activist360

Geodiversity of new coastlines developed after retreat of Arctic marine-terminating glaciers. a, Young delta system accumulated in the lagoon exposed by Recherchebreen, Svalbard. b, Rocky cliffs and morainic cliffs released from retreating Samarinbreen, Svalbard. c, Juvenile beach system in Brepollen supplied by glacial sediment dropping from remnants of ice cliffs. d, Erosion of a lateral moraine by calving waves from Eqip Sermia, Western Greenland, leading to extension of the spit system along the southern coast. Credit: b,c, Aleksandra Osika. Nature Climate Change (Nat. Clim. Chang.) ISSN 1758-6798 (online)

A Changing Arctic

Over 2,400 kilometers of new Arctic coastline have appeared in just 20 years.

That’s like adding a whole new stretch of shore equal to the length of the U.S. West Coast — all because of melting glaciers. As temperatures rise across the globe, nowhere is changing faster than the Arctic. In fact, the Arctic has warmed nearly four times faster than the rest of the planet in the past few decades.

And with that warming comes dramatic change: the disappearance of ice, the reshaping of coastlines, and the emergence of land that hasn’t seen the light of day for thousands of years.

Why Glaciers Matter

Let’s start with the basics. Some glaciers, called marine-terminating glaciers, end in the ocean instead of on land. These icy giants slowly move downhill and, when they meet the sea, they break off chunks of ice into the water — a process known as calving.

But as the planet gets warmer, these glaciers are shrinking. Warmer air and ocean water are causing them to melt and pull back from the coast. When they do, they uncover land that used to be buried under thick ice.

This retreat is happening all over the Northern Hemisphere — from Alaska to Greenland — and it’s changing what our maps look like.

What Happens When Glaciers Retreat?

When a glacier melts and retreats, it exposes new ground beneath it. That newly uncovered area often becomes coastline, especially when the glacier used to flow into the ocean.

These brand-new coastal areas are made of soft sediments like sand and gravel, or sometimes smooth, polished rock. Because this land has been hidden under ice for so long, it hasn’t had time to settle or stabilize. That means it can be quickly reshaped by wind, waves, and weather.

Scientists call these places “paraglacial coasts” — a term that simply means land newly exposed by melting glaciers. These coasts are among the most dynamic and fast-changing landscapes in the world.

Where Is This Happening?

Between 2000 and 2020, researchers tracked over 2,466 kilometers of new coastline created by glacier retreat.

Here’s where the biggest changes are:

Greenland: 66% of the new coastline came from here — over 1,600 km.
Northern Canada, Russia, and Svalbard: Each contributed around 9–10% of the new coastlines.
Alaska and Southern Arctic Canada: Though smaller in size, these areas had some of the most efficient coastline formation per glacier.

This isn’t just about flat beaches — new islands are also appearing. In fact, 35 new Arctic islands were identified between 2000 and 2020, most of them in Greenland.

Why This Matters to People and Nature

New coastlines might sound exciting — and they are — but they come with both risks and opportunities.

Risks

Tsunamis and landslides: Some new coasts are unstable and prone to large waves caused by landslides, falling icebergs, or glacier collapse. A tragic example happened in Greenland in 2017, when a tsunami destroyed homes and took lives.
Tourism safety: Melting glaciers change the landscape rapidly, affecting local communities and visitors who camp or sail near them.

Opportunities

New habitats: As glaciers melt, they make room for new ecosystems. Plants, animals, and even fish begin to move in and adapt to these fresh environments.
Natural resources: Some of the newly exposed land is rich in materials like sand and gravel, which could be valuable for local economies, especially in Greenland.

What’s Next?

Glaciers are expected to keep retreating as global temperatures rise. That means even more coastlines and islands will appear in the coming decades. But this change isn’t always predictable. Some glaciers move slowly, while others retreat in big bursts. And the way the land responds depends on things like the type of rock, the presence of permafrost (permanently frozen ground), and the local climate.

Scientists emphasize the importance of monitoring these new areas closely. Understanding how they’re forming — and how fast — helps us prepare for what’s ahead, from rising sea levels to new environmental challenges.

What You Can Do

Even if you’re far from the Arctic, there are still ways you can make a difference.

Read and share reliable information about changes happening in the Arctic and around the world.
Organizations and scientists are doing amazing work using satellite data and field studies. Supporting or sharing their findings helps spread awareness.
Advocate for climate action, including clean energy and reduced carbon emissions, to help slow ocean warming.
Vote for leaders and policies that take action on climate change.
Hold your local, state, and national elected officials accountable for taking climate action and protecting our water, air, and health.

Closing Thought

The Arctic is not a frozen, unchanging place — it’s alive, moving, and reacting to what we do. The more we understand these changes, the better we can care for our planet.

Source: Kavan, J., Szczypińska, M., Kochtitzky, W., Farquharson, L., Bendixen, M., & Strzelecki, M. C. (2025). New coasts emerging from the retreat of Northern Hemisphere marine-terminating glaciers in the twenty-first century. Nature Climate Change. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-025-02282-5?error=cookies_not_supported&code=8d5715a0-7844-4fe6-968e-fb11036e25bd.