Brazil planted vast eucalyptus forests for pulp; 45 years later scientists found groundwater had fallen by 4.5 metres

Latin America Science Wed, 09 Sep 2026 01:39:50 GMT Moderate confidence — 73/100

Image: CanvaBrazil’s eucalyptus industry was built on a simple promise: grow trees quickly, harvest them for pulp and create a renewable supply for the global paper industry.
Over decades, however, the enormous plantations have transformed landscapes across parts of the country, raising concerns about what happens to water beneath the trees.
In one eucalyptus-growing region of Minas Gerais, scientists found that groundwater levels had fallen by 4.5 metres over about 45 years.

Image: CanvaBrazil’s eucalyptus industry was built on a simple promise: grow trees quickly, harvest them for pulp and create a renewable supply for the global paper industry.
Over decades, however, the enormous plantations have transformed landscapes across parts of the country, raising concerns about what happens to water beneath the trees.
In one eucalyptus-growing region of Minas Gerais, scientists found that groundwater levels had fallen by 4.5 metres over about 45 years.

Sources: Times of India