Contributed Session Abstracts

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION-2515
Impacts of tropical deforestation on local temperature and human heat exposure
Nicholas H. Wolff* 1, Lebin Yen2, Ike Anggraeni3, Yuta Masuda4, Saidatul Adnin3, Yuli Astria3, Yessika Canigia3, Kristie Ebi
5, Muhammad Firmansyah3, Teevrat Garg6, Jennifer Krenz5, Harsidi Nur3, June Spector5, Edward Game7

1Global Science, The Nature Conservancy, Brunswick, United States, 2The Nature Conservancy, 3Mulawarman

University, Indonesia, 4Global Science, The Nature Conservancy, 5University of Washington, 6University of California San
Diego, United States, 7Global Science, The Nature Conservancy, Australia

Please choose one of the ICCB themes from the menu to assist us in selecting an appropriate session for your
presentation.: Engaging emerging and critical conservation issues
Sub-theme first choice: Ecosystems
Category first choice: Forest conservation
Sub-theme second choice: Issues
Category second choice: Ecosystem functions and services
Sub-theme third choice: Issues
Category third choice: Habitat degradation and fragmentation
Please indicate your presentation preference: Oral Presentation
Alternate presentation format: If your preferred format cannot be accommodated, would you wish to have your
abstract considered for another presentation format? : Speed Presentation
Are you an SCB member? : Yes
Are you a student?: No
Do you plan to request travel support from SCB? : No
Are you comfortable presenting in English? : Yes
Do you have any accessibility accommodation requests? Please list them below:: No
Is your abstract part of a symposium?: No
I am willing to review abstracts: Yes
Abstract: A growing body of work has highlighted the significant negative impacts of increasing temperatures on human health and
well-being. This research, however, has largely focused on extreme heat events in developed countries or on projected impacts from
climate change. Here we present research from East Kalimantan, Indonesia, that demonstrates temperature increases from
deforestation may present a far more immediate threat than climate warming in rural tropical communities. Using satellite data,
grounded and contextualized with field measurements, we found deforestation drove increasing temperature trends in some villages at
rates that far outpaced regional background climate driven trends. Further, many of these villages are experiencing an increasing
frequency of temperatures that exceed recommended heat exposure thresholds. This threat to the health and productivity of rural
villagers will grow if emissions and deforestation are not abated. However, our results point towards an opportunity to strengthen the
case for forest conservation. The connection between forest health and human health offers a perhaps more locally resonant and more
immediately relevant argument than the biodiversity or carbon storage arguments have been to date.
Social Media Summary - to be used in promoting ICCB : In many tropical villages, heat exposure from deforestation reresents
a greater threat to human health and well-being than climate change.