Tropical forests destroyed at fastest recorded rate in 2024
The world's tropical forests, which provide a crucial buffer against climate change, disappeared faster than ever recorded last year, new satellite analysis suggests.
Researchers estimate that 67,000 sq km (26,000 sq mi) of these pristine, old-growth forests were lost in 2024 – an area nearly as large as the Republic of Ireland, or 18 football pitches a minute.
Tropical forestsTropical forests, also known as rainforests, are found between the equator and the two tropics (Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn).
The temperature of these forests ranges from 20°C to 34°C. These regions receive heavy rainfall throughout the year; the annual rainfall is more than 200 cm. The variety of flora and fauna found in these forests is vast (Fig. 10.1). Plants: Orchid, vine, moss, and fern. Animals: Bat, gorilla, monkey, jaguar, sloth, macaw, toucan, and a variety of insects.
Up to 900 tropical bird species could 'go extinct'
The wire-tailed manakin faces an uncertain future
Up to 900 species of tropical land birds around the world could become extinct by 2100, researchers say.
The finding is modelled on the effects of a 3.5C Earth surface temperature rise, a Biological Conservation Journal paper shows. Species may struggle to adapt to habitat loss and extreme weather events, author Cagan Sekercioglu says. Mountain, coastal, restricted-range, and species unable to get to higher elevations could be the worst affected.
African tropical glaciers disappearing and going extinct
Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have been home to tropical glaciers for tens of thousands of years. These glaciers currently are receeding at a rate of between 30 meters per year to 50 meters per year. The largest "glacier" is now about 1 square kilometer, in 2012. The rate at which these glaciers are disappearing is increasing, and they will soon be extinct in our lifetime, probably by 2020. Gloabal warming, caused by pollution and the burning of fossil fuels is the cause of this extinction. Unlike animals, however, glaciers can return when the climate cools down again, if we can reduce our population, pollution, and stop burning fossil fuels and modify our energy system. So perhaps extinction is too strong a word to use.
These glaciers currently are receeding at a rate of between 30 meters per year to 50 meters per year. 
The largest "glacier" is now about 1 square kilometer, in 2012. 
The rate at which these glaciers are disappearing is increasing, and they will soon be extinct in our lifetime, probably by 2020. 
Gloabal warming, caused by pollution and the burning of fossil fuels is the cause of this extinction. Unlike animals, however, glaciers can return when the climate cools down again, if we can reduce our population, pollution, and stop burning fossil fuels and modify our energy system. So perhaps extinction is too strong a word to use.
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