Global warming is having an increasingly noticeable impact on tropical forests—unique ecosystems that play a key role in regulating the planet’s climate. Located in the equatorial regions of South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, tropical forests cover less than 7% of the Earth’s surface but account for more than 30% of global carbon dioxide (CO₂) absorption from the atmosphere. However, today they are increasingly not only suffering from the effects of warming, but are themselves turning from carbon sinks into carbon sources.
The main feature of tropical forests’ response to climate change is their vulnerability to rising temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns. Unlike temperate forests, where trees are adapted to seasonality and sharp fluctuations, tropical plants have evolved in a stable environment with high humidity and constant temperatures. Even a slight increase in the average temperature of 1–2°C can cause physiological stress. At the same time, according to research, over the past 40 years, the average temperature in equatorial zones has risen by almost 1°C, and precipitation has become unevenly distributed, with an increase in the duration of dry periods.
Such warming leads to a decrease in the photosynthetic activity of trees, especially during periods of drought. Plants close their stomata to conserve moisture, but this reduces the influx of CO₂ and slows growth. This means that forests begin to absorb less carbon. Moreover, arid conditions lead to mass tree mortality, increasing the risk of forest fires — especially in transition zones between humid forests and savannas, such as in the southern Amazon. These fires, caused by both natural and human factors, release huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, disrupting the climate balance.
Recent observations from the Amazon show an alarming trend: some areas of the forest — especially in the eastern and southern parts of the basin — are already emitting more carbon than they absorb. This is not only due to logging and fires, but also to the fact that the surviving trees are growing more slowly and dying more often. Scientists call this process the “destruction of the carbon pump,” which for millennia has helped maintain CO₂ levels in the atmosphere.
In tropical regions of Southeast Asia, such as Borneo and Sumatra, warming is also exacerbating forest degradation. Peat swamps, which are powerful carbon sinks, are particularly vulnerable. As they dry out, they become highly flammable and, when burned, release huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Climate change contributes to more frequent and intense El Niño events, accompanied by extreme drought, which increases the scale of disasters.
The African tropics, particularly the Congo River basin, have long remained more stable than the Amazon, but the situation is changing rapidly here as well. Rising temperatures and reduced rainfall during the dry season are already leading to a noticeable slowdown in tree growth. Some tree and vine species are less resistant to overheating and dehydration. In addition, warming is changing the composition of plant communities: deciduous species, which are less efficient at absorbing carbon, are displacing more productive evergreen trees.
Of particular concern is the fact that tropical forests cannot adapt to climate change as quickly as warming is occurring. Range shifts — one possible adaptation mechanism — are limited by terrain, soils, and seed migration rates. For example, in mountainous regions such as the Andes or Central Borneo, heat-sensitive trees have already begun to move upslope, but there may simply not be suitable conditions at the summits.
Meanwhile, changes in forests affect not only the carbon cycle but also biodiversity. Many tropical species, especially specialized pollinators and insects, depend on stable conditions. Disruptions in temperature and humidity lead to the breakdown of ecological relationships, species extinction, and ecosystem impoverishment. This can lead to a domino effect, where the loss of a few key species triggers a chain reaction of degradation.
The threat to tropical forests from global warming is not only an ecological problem, but also a socio-economic one. Millions of people in tropical countries depend on forests as a source of food, fuel, water, and medicinal plants. The weakening of forests reduces their ability to regulate the climate, protect against flooding, retain soil, and provide water supplies. The destruction of the tropics accelerates climate change, and climate change, in turn, destroys the tropics — a vicious circle that is becoming increasingly difficult to break.
Experts emphasize that this process can only be stopped through a combination of efforts: global reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, protection of remaining intact forests, restoration of degraded areas, and transition to sustainable land use. It is important to take into account not only environmental parameters, but also the interests of local communities, which should become allies in the preservation of the tropics.
Tropical forests are not only the green lungs of the planet, but also a living shield against climate catastrophe. Their response to global warming is an indicator of our future. And if this shield cracks, the consequences will be felt everywhere — from the equator to the polar latitudes.
