Amazon Rainforest‘s Largest Trees Show Unexpected Resilience to Climate Change, New Study Finds
MANAUS, BRAZIL - Contrary to previous assumptions, the largest trees in the Amazon rainforest are not only surviving but increasing in number and size despite rising temperatures and increasing deforestation, according to research published this week. The findings offer a glimmer of hope for the future of the vital ecosystem,though scientists caution that this resilience is far from enough to offset the impacts of global carbon emissions and ongoing forest loss.
For decades, it was believed that these massive trees, representing just 1% of the Amazon’s total tree population, would be particularly vulnerable to climate change due to their presumed shallow root systems. However, recent studies reveal many possess surprisingly deep and efficient root structures capable of accessing water from significant depths. This discovery challenges earlier models predicting accelerated mortality rates for large trees as temperatures climb.
The research,led by Adriane Esquivel-Muelbert from the University of Cambridge,highlights the disproportionate importance of these trees to the Amazon’s overall health. They are responsible for an estimated 50% of the forest’s carbon cycling and storage, and likely a similar proportion of its water cycling. “Forests get much drier after big trees die. It alters the structure of the forest and it takes a long time to bounce back because the big trees take a long time to grow,” esquivel-Muelbert said. ”So it is indeed a little bit hopeful that we find them increasing in size and number across the Amazon. There is some resilience there.”
However, the study also underscores the critical need to prevent further deforestation, particularly in the heavily fragmented southeastern Amazon, where areas impacted by agribusiness and infrastructure have already transitioned from carbon sinks to carbon sources. Big trees are especially vulnerable to strong winds, fire, and drought when isolated or bordering cleared land.
The long-term effects of the severe droughts experienced in the Amazon in recent years on tree mortality trends remain unclear. While the findings suggest a degree of resilience,scientists emphasize that these large trees alone cannot counteract the overwhelming influx of carbon dioxide from human activities like vehicle emissions,industrial processes,and power generation. A study published in August 2025 found that deforestation has killed half a million people in the past 20 years.
