'At some point we're going to have to react': How El Niño, climate change, and crime are pushing the Amazon rainforest over the brink

As the El Niño climate pattern intensifies, there are fears that the Amazon rainforest could be pushed over a tipping point, transforming it from a lush rainforest into a dry savannah. Dr. Bernardo Flores, a Brazilian ecologist, explains that during past strong El Niños, the Amazon experienced severe droughts and forest fires. This year, scientists warn that climate change has intensified the El Niño event to potentially the strongest ever recorded.

The combination of climate change, deforestation, and organized crime syndicates exploiting the forests creates a perfect storm of conditions that could lead to irreversible damage. If global warming reaches 1.5 to 1.9 degrees Celsius and deforestation reaches 22% to 28%, researchers believe the Amazon could undergo a near systemwide transition, with irreversible feedbacks making it increasingly difficult to prevent.

However, Dr. Flores emphasizes that there is still time to act, investing in reforestation, restoring economic activities, and combating organized crime to save the Amazon.