The Amazon is shifting from a carbon sink to a source. While the loss of trees is visible from space, a hidden change is unfolding beneath the surface. Our research investigates the mechanistic controls of soil organic carbon (SOC) persistence as the Amazon undergoes a massive transformation from “Forest to Field.”

By combining continent-scale field sampling across the “Arc of Deforestation” with advanced modelling, we are uncovering how fire, mineralogy, climate, and land-use management determine whether carbon remains in the soil or enters the atmosphere.

• Aim: To resolve the uncertainty of soil carbon fate in the tropics.
• Scope: Spanning plots across the Brazilian Amazon.
• Impact: Providing the evidence base for carbon-negative agriculture and climate mitigation.