Amazonian Forest Climate Research Intensifies at French Guiana's Paracou Station

Long-Term Research Underway in French Guiana

At the Paracou scientific station in French Guiana, researchers are engaged in a comprehensive effort to inventory plant species and monitor forest dynamics, aiming to decipher the intricate effects of climate change on Amazonian ecosystems. This long-standing research site, managed primarily by CIRAD (French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development), is a critical hub for understanding tropical forest responses to environmental shifts.

The station, located approximately 50 km northwest of Kourou, is situated within a 40,000-hectare domain owned by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales. It encompasses lowland terra firme rainforests, with a core area of about 500 hectares boasting exceptional biodiversity, including over 750 woody species.

Decades of Data Collection and Key Findings

Research at Paracou has involved meticulous data collection over several decades. Since 1984, approximately 70,000 trees have been mapped and measured at regular intervals. The station features a network of 16 permanent plots, including fifteen 6.25-hectare plots and one 25-hectare plot, where tree inventories have been conducted every one to two years for more than 35 years.

These extensive studies have yielded significant insights into forest health and resilience. For instance, long-term research at Paracou has indicated that plots subjected to logging continued to emit carbon for 10-12 years post-logging, with a projected recovery of carbon stocks taking at least 45 years. This highlights the lasting impact of human-induced disturbances on forest carbon cycles.

Understanding Climate Change Impacts on Amazonian Forests

The research at Paracou is crucial for understanding how major climatic drivers — such as drought, water saturation, and temperature — influence forest resilience in French Guiana. Findings suggest that drought can decrease annual growth and mortality rates, while high precipitation may increase mortality rates, and elevated temperatures can reduce growth.

The broader Amazon biome, including the forests of French Guiana, is facing increasing pressure from climate change and deforestation, pushing it towards potential 'tipping points' that could transform lush rainforests into drier savanna-like ecosystems within a century. Scientists involved in the Paracou studies, often in collaboration with organizations like UMR EcoFoG and the Office National des Forêts (ONF), contribute vital data to global efforts to monitor and predict these critical ecological shifts.