Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest is serious

– Tipping point of the destruction of the Amazon rainforest is near.
– It will reach a tipping point in 10 to 20 years, after which it will enter a sustained death spiral as it dries out.

Here’s the intro from this Reuters article:

An area the size of Israel was deforested in the Amazon biome last year as destruction surged 21% in the region spanning nine countries that is home to the world’s largest rainforest, according to the Amazon Conservation organization.

At that accelerated rate, the Amazon rainforest will reach a tipping point in 10 to 20 years, after which it will enter a sustained death spiral as it dries out and turns into a savanna, said Carlos Nobre, an earth systems scientist at University of Sao Paulo.

About 17%-18% of the biome has already been destroyed, and with 1% more cleared every three years, the tipping point of 20%-25% destruction is rapidly approaching, said Nobre, who is not affiliated with the Amazon Conservation organization.