The Amazon rainforest not only captures carbon and preserves biodiversity. It also functions as climate infrastructure that produces and redistributes rain on a continental scale.
A study led by the University of Leeds quantified this water contribution and translated it into economic impact. Thus, it provided concrete figures to a historically underestimated environmental service.
According to the analysis, each hectare of the Amazon generates around 2.4 million liters of rain per year. This volume is equivalent to filling an Olympic swimming pool annually.
Consequently, the rain induced by the forest contributes about 18.5 billion euros per year to Brazilian agriculture. The figure contrasts with the limited investment allocated to conserving these ecosystems.
How do forests produce rain and sustain the regional climate?
The central mechanism is evapotranspiration, a process by which water moves from the soil and plants to the atmosphere. Thus, trees release vapor that then condenses and returns as rain.
In tropical forests, this phenomenon reaches an extraordinary magnitude. Millions of trees continuously release moisture, feeding cloud systems that can precipitate even hundreds of kilometers away.
The study estimates that each square meter of tropical forest contributes about 240 liters of rain per year. In the Amazon, the figure rises to 300 liters per square meter.
Therefore, when the forest remains standing, the regional water system stabilizes. In contrast, deforestation weakens this invisible flow that sustains rivers, aquifers, and crops.
The role of rain in agriculture and ecosystems
Rain is the engine of agricultural productivity in vast regions of Brazil. In fact, about 85% of its agriculture directly depends on precipitation.
Crops like soybeans require about 501 liters of water per square meter during their cycle. Cotton needs about 607 liters per square meter, highlighting the dependence on regular rains.
However, the importance of rain goes beyond agriculture. It also recharges aquifers, sustains wetlands, and ensures drinking water for cities.
Additionally, precipitation regulates soil temperature, reduces the risk of fires, and allows carbon capture in forest ecosystems. Consequently, its stability is key to climate resilience.
The cost of deforestation and the political challenge
In recent decades, about 80 million hectares of Amazon forest have been lost. As a result, the value of the rain generated would have been reduced by about 4.6 billion euros annually.
The impact is not limited to agriculture. Less precipitation affects hydroelectric production, river transport, and the availability of drinking water.
In light of this scenario, the study proposes integrating the economic value of rain into agricultural and conservation policies. In this way, it seeks to close the gap between production and environmental protection.
Recognizing the forest as a water generator implies rethinking territorial management. Because without water stability, there is no sustainable agriculture, no secure energy, and no lasting climate balance.
