How deforestation causes nearly 30,000 deaths per year worldwide.

Deforestation is linked to 28,000 deaths per year worldwide, according to a study published in August in Nature Climate Change . The research shows that the devastation of tropical forests causes local warming that threatens human health and increases risks in outdoor activities, both for leisure and work.

The investigation was led by scientists from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, and included the participation of a researcher from Fiocruz Piauí in Brazil, and another from Ghana in Africa. The team cross-referenced satellite images that reveal changes in forest cover and land surface temperature in deforested regions.

The analysis also revealed information on population distribution and excess mortality between 2001 and 2020. The highest mortality rates related to deforestation are concentrated in regions of the Amazon, Africa, and Southeast Asia. In these locations, forest loss may account for up to one-third of heat-related deaths.

It is known that deforestation heats the soil and air of the region, intensifying the effects of global warming. “Thousands of people, especially in the hottest and poorest regions of the planet, suffer more from heat-related illnesses such as dehydration, heart problems, and heat exhaustion,” reports general practitioner Frederico Polito Lomar of the Einstein Israelite Hospital. “Protecting forests is not just an environmental or climate issue. It’s a way to save human lives.”

Excessive heat overloads the body and can be fatal. When the ambient temperature rises too high, the body has difficulty dissipating internal heat, causing dehydration, a drop in blood pressure, and strain on the heart. In extreme cases, this leads to heatstroke or hyperthermia, where the body loses its ability to regulate its own temperature, possibly resulting in organ failure and death. The elderly, children, and people with chronic illnesses are the most vulnerable.

The study indicates that the greater the forest cover, the lower the mortality rate. In areas with more than 50% original cover, the mortality rate associated with deforestation was 42%, while in more deforested regions it reached 58%.

In addition to the heat, the loss of green areas exacerbates other health problems: the pollution generated by burning vegetation deteriorates air quality, increases carbon dioxide emissions, and raises the risk of infectious diseases such as malaria.

According to the authors, the results reinforce the urgency of conserving tropical forests, protecting areas that help mitigate temperature extremes, and ensuring greater access to healthcare, especially for vulnerable populations.

Source: Einstein Agency

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