Research Findings
What our measurements and models are revealing
KEY FINDING
Deforestation in the Amazon does not just remove trees — it triggers a carbon cascade beneath the soil, releasing the equivalent of 1.2 times the forest’s aboveground biomass in total carbon.
What we have found so far
Our first measurements and modelling, published in CATENA (2025) and synthesised in a policy brief, point to three interconnected findings about soil carbon in the Amazon’s Arc of Deforestation.
1.2×
The Deforestation Multiplier
Converting Amazonian forest to agriculture eliminates 100% of aboveground carbon and triggers an additional 38% loss of soil organic carbon — a total carbon loss roughly 1.2 times the original forest’s aboveground biomass. The soil carbon story is inseparable from the tree carbon story.
Resilient
Soil Carbon Withstands Fire
Unlike aboveground biomass — where repeated burning doubles carbon loss — soil organic carbon is statistically resilient to fire frequency. Burned forests retain approximately 42 Mg C ha−1, compared with 50.5 Mg C ha−1 in intact forest. The soil holds on even when the canopy does not.
36%
An Unrecognised Carbon Stock
Burned Amazon forests hold 36% more soil carbon than agricultural land (42 vs 31 Mg C ha−1), yet current carbon credit standards such as VERRA/VCS focus only on standing timber. Burned forests receive no financial recognition or protection for this significant soil carbon reservoir.
Science Brief & Policy Recommendations
Our findings are synthesised in a freely available science brief aimed at policymakers and carbon market practitioners. It sets out the evidence base and calls for soil carbon to be included in REDD+ and voluntary carbon market frameworks.
Publications
Naval, M. L. M., Bieluczyk, W., Alvarez, F., Carvalho, L. C. da S., Maracahipes-Santos, L., Oliveira, E. A. de, Silva, K. G. da, Pereira, M. B., Brando, P. M., Marimon Junior, B. H., Camargo, P. B. de, & Feldpausch, T. R. (2025). Impacts of repeated forest fires and agriculture on soil organic matter and health in southern Amazonia. CATENA, 254, 108924. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2025.108924
Additional papers from the field campaign are in preparation. Check back for updates, or follow our news page for announcements.