Pristine rainforest affected by CO2 rises 11 March 04

The abrupt rise in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations which lies behind global warming is also affecting pristine areas of rainforest, according to a study just published in Nature. CO2 has a fertilising effect on the bigger, stronger trees, allowing them to out-compete understorey plants. This is yet more worrying evidence that even pristine environments are now being affected by human activities many thousands of miles away.