Interactive map from University of Leeds exposes how deforestation accelerates local warming and endangers tropical communities

Interactive map from University of Leeds exposes how deforestation accelerates local warming and endangers tropical communities

(IN BRIEF) Researchers at the University of Leeds have developed an interactive map revealing that tropical deforestation can raise local temperatures by up to 5°C, intensifying heat exposure and threatening human health in vulnerable regions. The tool, led by Dr Nike Doggart and hosted by the UK Met Office, visualises temperature changes caused by forest loss across tropical countries and is based on research published in Nature Climate Change by Dr Carly Reddington and Professor Dominick Spracklen. The initiative, launched ahead of COP30 in Brazil, is part of the UK-Brazil Climate Science for Services Partnership (CSSP) and aims to guide governments and conservation groups in prioritising forest protection. The data highlights how deforestation not only contributes to global warming but also drives severe local heating, posing risks to water security, agriculture, and public health.

(PRESS RELEASE) LEEDS, 7-Nov-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — University of Leeds has unveiled a powerful new interactive map showing how deforestation in tropical regions can raise local temperatures by as much as 5°C, reshaping how policymakers and environmental organisations understand the climate-regulating role of forests. Developed by researchers from the School of Earth and Environment, the online tool highlights the direct link between forest loss and heat exposure across Central and South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia — regions home to hundreds of millions of people already vulnerable to rising temperatures.

The launch builds on groundbreaking research by Dr Carly Reddington and Professor Dominick Spracklen, which found that tropical deforestation has contributed to local heating affecting over 300 million people and is associated with around 28,000 heat-related deaths each year. Their findings underscore how deforestation intensifies heat stress by removing trees that provide cooling through shade, evapotranspiration, and carbon absorption.

Led by Dr Nike Doggart, also from Leeds, the interactive map enables users — from governments to conservation groups — to visualise how different levels of deforestation translate into measurable temperature increases at the regional or even district scale. The results are striking: clearing forests in Brazil’s Rondônia state could warm the area by 2.1°C, while deforestation in parts of Tanzania’s Katavi Region could push local temperatures up by more than 5°C.

Dr Doggart said the tool’s launch is especially timely as world leaders convene in Belém, Brazil for COP30. “This is the first tool allowing stakeholders from tropical countries to see how deforestation impacts their local climate,” she said. “We hope it will inspire stronger forest protection policies, aligned with initiatives such as the Brazil-led Tropical Forests Forever Facility, which aims to shield millions from extreme heat.”

Hosted by the UK Met Office on its CSSP Brazil VIEWpoint platform, the bilingual English-Portuguese tool presents data from the peer-reviewed study Tropical deforestation is associated with considerable heat-related mortality, published in Nature Climate Change earlier this year. The project forms part of the Climate Science for Services Partnership (CSSP) Brazil — a collaboration between UK and Brazilian researchers supported by the UK Government’s International Science Partnerships Fund.

Dr Andy Hartley of the Met Office said, “This tool demonstrates how vital forests are for moderating local climates and guiding adaptation strategies. It’s another example of how UK-Brazil partnerships are producing world-class science to support climate resilience.”

Further information 

Top image shows deforestation in Tanzania. Photo credit: Dr Nike Doggart.

The map is based on the already-published peer-reviewed paper:

Reddington, C.L., Smith, C., Butt, E.W. et al. Tropical deforestation is associated with considerable heat-related mortality. Nat. Clim. Chang. 15, 992–999 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-025-02411-0 

The Climate Science for Service Partnership (CSSP) Brazil project is part of the Weather and Climate Science for Service Partnership (WCSSP) Programme, which spans Brazil, China, India, South Africa, and Southeast Asia. The programme involves a network of global partnerships, harnessing scientific expertise, to address the impacts of extreme weather and climate change. It is funded through the UK government’s International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF), with the Met Office serving as a delivery partner.

For media enquiries/interview opportunities, please contact Kersti Mitchell via k.mitchell@leeds.ac.uk 

SOURCE: University of Leeds