Falkland Islands once thrived with lush rainforest 30 million years ago

Research conducted by Dr. Zoe Thomas from the University of Southampton revealed that the Falkland Islands were once home to a lush rainforest up to 30 million years ago. This discovery was made possible after local conversations led to the unearthing of well-preserved prehistoric tree remains and pollen at a construction site in Port Stanley in early 2020. The excavation revealed large tree trunks and branches buried in a deep peat layer, prompting further investigation into the age and nature of these remains. The analysis of the samples, which were sent to the University of New South Wales in Australia, utilized specialized scanning electron microscopes. Due to the age of the wood, radiocarbon dating was inconclusive, so researchers turned to pollen spores for dating, which indicated an age range of 15 to 30 million years. This period was characterized by a much warmer and wetter climate in the South Atlantic, capable of supporting a diverse rainforest ecosystem. Dr. Thomas noted that many of the tree species from that era are now extinct, having likely arrived on the islands via prevailing winds from southern hemisphere rainforests, including those in present-day South America. The findings raise questions about the climatic conditions that allowed such a forest to thrive in the past. Ultimately, the research suggests that a significant climate shift to colder and drier conditions may have led to the extinction of the forests on the Falkland Islands, transforming the landscape into the treeless grasslands observed today.