In September 2005, NASA’s Goddard Institute reported its findings that global deforestation (particularly in the Amazon region of South America) has a greater and broader effect on international rainfall patterns than previously believed. Clear-cutting and fire cleaning in South America removes approximately 7700 square miles of forest, annually, an area roughly the size of New Jersey.

Scientists now recognize that deforestation within the Amazon region causes reduced rainfall in Mexico, Texas and the Gulf states. Reduced forest canopy in Central Africa produced similar results (reduced rainfall), and throughout the U.S. Midwest (especially in the spring and summer months, when rainfall is essential for agricultural productivity). Deforestation in southeast Asia similarly suppressed rainfall levels in China and the Balkan Peninsula.

These findings contradict assumptions that temperature and precipitation effects from deforestation would be strictly localized and would not influence extra-regional climatic activity. Diminishing forests in these three regions simultaneously act to increase precipitation in southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Scientists recognize that land-cover changes from forest to urban, agriculture or mining will alter global carbon emissions and climate.