This lecture presents evidence of ongoing transformations in the Amazon forest system that may lead to diminished resilience and the potential of surpassing critical tipping points. Once crossed, these critical thresholds could cause a gradual or abrupt shift to a persistent and environmentally degraded Amazon system. By examining the observed changes, the lecture sheds light on the intricate dynamics that may compromise the Amazon's ability to recover and adapt, potentially leading to regional and global cascading effects of ecological degradation. It also underscores the urgency of understanding and mitigating the identified risks, highlighting key conservation strategies and policies that can be implemented to foster resilience and prevent the Amazon from reaching a large-scale tipping point.

Lecture source language: Portuguese

Available subtitles & translations: English and Spanish