Beyond Carbon: The Overlooked Climate Impacts of Deforestation

When we talk about deforestation and climate change, the conversation almost always centers on carbon. Forests absorb carbon dioxide, so cutting them down releases it—warming the planet. But what if that’s only part of the story? According to a groundbreaking study published in Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, forests do far more than store carbon—they also regulate temperature, water, and even air chemistry through powerful biophysical processes.

Understanding these effects is critical. The study, led by researchers from the University of Virginia, Woodwell Climate Research Center, and Bioversity International, reveals that forests act as natural climate stabilizers, especially in tropical regions. Their removal doesn’t just increase CO₂—it also disrupts local and global temperature regulation through changes in albedo, evapotranspiration, canopy roughness, and volatile organic compounds (BVOCs).

Deforestation and Climate: More Than Carbon

The Biophysical Forces at Play

Forests influence climate in four key ways beyond carbon storage:

1. Albedo (reflectivity): Forests absorb more sunlight than other surfaces, especially in snowy or temperate regions.
2. Evapotranspiration (ET): Trees release water vapor, which cools the air and influences rainfall.
3. Canopy roughness: Forests slow down wind and stabilize the atmosphere.
4. Biogenic VOCs: Trees emit compounds that promote cloud formation and surface cooling.

The researchers reviewed dozens of published studies and combined them with climate modeling to quantify these effects across different latitudes. The results show a nuanced—and surprising—pattern.

Where Forests Heat or Cool the Planet

Tropical Zones (±30° Latitude)

In the tropics, the combined effects of reduced evapotranspiration, roughness, and increased solar absorption lead to a net warming effect when forests are removed. This warming is on top of the CO₂ emissions, with biophysical factors contributing roughly +0.1°C of extra heat per 10° of latitude.

These regions, which include the Amazon and Congo Basins, are especially vulnerable. Forest loss here intensifies extreme heat, reduces rainfall, and amplifies local climate instability.

Mid-Latitudes (30–50°N/S)

Here, the outcome is more mixed. When forests are cut, the ground reflects more sunlight, creating a cooling effect from albedo. This partially offsets the warming from carbon emissions—by 40% to 85%, depending on the region. The net effect is still warming, but milder than in the tropics.

High Latitudes (>50°N)

In snowy regions like Siberia or northern Canada, deforestation actually causes net global cooling, because snow-covered ground reflects far more sunlight than dark forest canopies. The cooling from albedo here exceeds the warming from CO₂ emissions by 3 to 6 times.

Yet this doesn't mean we should promote deforestation in the north. The local impacts—like more extreme temperature swings and disrupted hydrology—can be harmful, even if the net global temperature drops.

Universal Local Impacts

Regardless of latitude, deforestation leads to hotter local climates. Losing trees reduces evapotranspiration and canopy roughness, which:

• Raises daytime temperatures
• Increases heatwave frequency and intensity
• Reduces rainfall and soil moisture

In urban and rural areas alike, forests serve as natural air conditioners. Their removal worsens public health risks, water stress, and crop failures.

Trees and Clouds: The Cooling Power of BVOCs

Forests don’t just influence heat and moisture—they emit biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) like isoprene and monoterpenes. These compounds form aerosols that seed cloud formation, increasing sunlight reflection and cooling the surface.

In the tropics, BVOCs contribute an additional 17% of the cooling effect attributed to albedo. In other latitudes, the impact is smaller but still meaningful.

Policy Implications: Rethinking Forest Climate Strategies

Conservation and Restoration

This research urges policymakers to go beyond carbon accounting. Forests offer climate services that are invisible in carbon markets but vital for adaptation and resilience.

• In the tropics: Forest loss is doubly harmful. Protection and restoration here should be a top priority.
• In mid-latitudes: Reforestation offers dual benefits—carbon sequestration and surface cooling.
• In high latitudes: Conservation strategies must weigh cooling benefits against local ecological disruption.

Local Adaptation

Urban planners, farmers, and community leaders can use this knowledge to design nature-based solutions that enhance resilience. Restoring or protecting forests can help regulate microclimates, mitigate urban heat islands, and stabilize water cycles.

Recommendations from the Authors

1. Include biophysical effects in national inventories and global climate models.
2. Prioritize reforestation and protection in tropical regions, where climate impacts are strongest.
3. Design climate-smart landscapes using forest–agriculture mosaics that balance food production, water, and temperature regulation.

Climate Justice and Human Wellbeing

This study reframes forests not just as carbon sinks but as climate stabilizers, health protectors, and water managers. Forest loss in tropical countries not only fuels global warming—it also undermines local economies, agriculture, and public health.

Protecting forests is no longer just about mitigating emissions. It’s about defending ecosystems that regulate our daily weather and protect millions of lives.

Topics of interest

Climate Health