Scientific communication
A recent study published in the scientific journal Communications Earth & Environment estimated the economic value of the rainfall generated by the Amazon Rainforest, highlighting the importance of the forest not only for environmental balance but also for the Brazilian economy.
The research examined the role of the forest in the regional hydrological cycle, particularly through the process of evapotranspiration—when trees release water vapor into the atmosphere. This vapor contributes to cloud formation and precipitation that supply large regions of Brazil, including agricultural areas far beyond the Amazon itself.
Using satellite data and climate models, the researchers calculated the volume of rainfall associated with the presence of the forest and estimated its economic value based on the importance of water for agricultural production. The results indicate that rainfall generated by this natural system may represent around US$20 billion per year in economic benefits.
The authors emphasize that a large portion of Brazilian agriculture depends on natural rainfall, and that reductions in forest cover could significantly affect precipitation patterns. Therefore, the conservation of the Amazon directly contributes to maintaining agricultural productivity and economic stability in climate-dependent sectors.
The study reinforces the idea that the Amazon rainforest functions as a major climatic and hydrological regulator. Thus, beyond its ecological and biodiversity value, the standing forest plays a strategic role as a natural infrastructure essential for the country’s water and economic security.
References
BAKER, J. C. A. et al. The economic value of rainfall generated by the Amazon forest. Communications Earth & Environment, 2026.
NOBRE, A. D. The Future Climate of the Amazon: Scientific Assessment Report. São José dos Campos: National Institute for Space Research (INPE), 2014.
MARENGO, J. A.; SOUZA, C. M. Climate change and impacts in the Amazon. Brazilian Journal of Meteorology, 2018.