Discussion Forum: The Role of Tropical Forests in Climate Change

tropical forest

tropical forest

by Kongduo (Luke) Li -
Number of replies: 2

The article shows the results from extensive research conducted over several decades in tropical forests especially at La  Selva Biological Station. The research conducted by David and Deborah Clark and other scientists revealed that small temperature rises  create substantial effects on tree development. The research conducted by the scientists shows that tropical trees experience reduced growth  during warmer years but show increased growth during cooler years. Tropical forests play an essential role because they occupy  17% of Earth's land surface yet contain 40% of terrestrial carbon and generate more than  one-third of global plant growth. Tropical forests function as significant carbon sinks because they effectively trap excessive  CO₂ from the atmosphere. The research shows a disturbing positive feedback loop: CO₂ increases global warming, which slows down tropical  tree growth, which reduces carbon uptake, and in turn, accelerates global warming. This loop suggests  that tropical forests, which were once thought to be a buffer against climate change, may soon become net  emitters of CO₂ in a very worrying possibility. Scientists work to engineer C₃ plants which represent most food crops to acquire traits from efficient  C₄ and CAM plants. The acquired traits would enhance plant resistance to heat and drought conditions and salinity  while improving their carbon uptake efficiency. The implementation of this solution faces obstacles because of genetic incompatibilities  and hybrid sterility issues. The natural occurrence of this shift multiple times according to evolutionary evidence indicates that  advanced genomic techniques could potentially achieve this transformation.

Beyond engineering plants, other solutions include protecting and restoring tropical forests, reducing deforestation, and investing in renewable energy to cut fossil fuel emissions. Supporting biodiversity and sustainable land use practices also play crucial roles. Ultimately, tackling climate change requires a multifaceted approach that combines biological innovation, conservation, and policy action.



In reply to Kongduo (Luke) Li

Re: tropical forest

by Runlang Liu -
I thought your take on the article was a strong start—especially in recognizing how sensitive tropical forests are to even small temperature changes. What really stood out to me is that these forests, which we usually think of as protectors against climate change, could actually start making the problem worse if their growth slows and they stop absorbing as much carbon. That feedback loop is a big deal, and it’s something scientists and policy makers really need to consider moving forward.

One thing that might be interesting to explore more is the C₃ vs. C₄ and CAM plant engineering. Since most of our food crops are C₃, helping them become more efficient under heat and drought could be a game-changer, especially with rising global temperatures. It’s cool (and kind of hopeful) that evolution has already done this naturally several times—so maybe with the right tools, we can help that process along. It’s complicated, though, because of hybrid sterility and compatibility issues. But that’s where modern genomics really offers some hope.

If you ever expand on this, you might want to bring in ideas like sustainable agriculture, community-led conservation, or even carbon farming. These kinds of ideas add a human angle, which is great in discussions like this.

Keep going—your ideas are solid, and the more we talk about these solutions, the more we understand just how many ways there are to make a difference. You’re definitely on the right track! GOODJOB Luke
In reply to Kongduo (Luke) Li

Re: tropical forest

by Yue Ma -
I found it really surprising that such small increases in temperature could slow down tree growth so much. It’s kind of scary that forests might actually start releasing more CO₂ instead of absorbing it.

I agree with you that the positive feedback loop is one of the most concerning parts. It shows how climate change could start to speed up in ways we can’t fully control if we don’t act soon. I also liked how you brought up plant engineering. The idea of giving C₃ plants better traits like C₄ or CAM sounds promising, even though it's not working perfectly yet. I thought it was interesting that this kind of change has happened before in evolution — maybe with better technology, scientists can make it happen again.

I also agree that we need more than just one solution. Protecting forests, using clean energy, and changing the way we use land all need to work together. There’s no quick fix, but it helps knowing that scientists are trying a lot of different things.