Trees in the Amazon are getting bigger. Here’s why

In the Amazon, old giants are quietly growing bigger. Amid climate change, mining, fires, and deforestation, a new study shows that the average tree size is increasing 3.3% per decade, as trees convert atmospheric CO₂ into thicker trunks, broader branches, and deeper roots. This unexpected growth suggests the great forest could be more resilient to climate change than previously feared. However, the findings apply only to undisturbed old-growth forest, which is increasingly threatened by fires and human infrastructure.