Environment correspondent by Helen.
Image source, Getty ImagesResearchers say that the Amazon rainforest is moving towards a tipping point where trees may die off on mass.
The world's largest rainforest is losing its ability to bounce back from damage caused by fires, according to a study.
It is less efficient than a tropical forest to take carbon dioxide out of the air.
The forest traps carbon that would add to global warming.
Some parts of the Amazon emit more carbon dioxide than can be absorbed.
The trees are losing health and could be approaching a tipping point, according to Dr Chris Boulton.
Satellite data shows alarming trends in the health of the Amazon rainforest.
There are signs of a loss of resilience in more than 75% of the forest, with trees taking longer to recover from the effects of climate change as well as human impacts.
The scientists said that a vicious cycle of damage could cause adieback.
The implications for climate change, biodiversity and the local community would be devastating if that critical point was not reached.
Image source, Getty ImagesIt could take decades before a significant chunk of the Amazon is transformed into a savanna.
The Amazon stores lots of carbon and all of that would be released into the atmosphere, which would contribute to increasing temperatures and have future effects on global mean temperatures, according to Dr Boulton.
They said that a fifth of the rainforest has already been lost.
The research was carried out by three universities.
Climate change and deforestation are likely to be the main drivers of the decline.
The latest findings are consistent with the evidence that the twin pressures of climate change and human exploitation of tropical forests are endangering the world's largest rainforest.
The findings are published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
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