Scientists discover ancient forest beneath Falkland Islands, dating back millions of years

Scientists have discovered a hidden ancient forest beneath the Falkland Islands, where no trees have grown for tens of thousands of years. The surprising find was made when tree trunks were unearthed nearly 20 feet below the ground during construction near the capital, Stanley, in 2020.

Dr. Zoë Thomas, a physical geography lecturer at the University of Southampton, led the research, noting that trees had long been absent from the windswept and barren landscape.

The preserved tree remains, initially resembling driftwood, were found in layers of peat and are estimated to be between 15 million and 30 million years old.

Analysis of pollen and spores compacted alongside the wood indicated that the Falklands were once home to a temperate rainforest. The trees were similar to those found in modern-day Patagonia, suggesting the islands once had a much warmer and wetter climate.

The discovery sheds new light on the environmental history of the South Atlantic islands, which are a British overseas territory. The study, published in Antarctic Science highlights the importance of the Falklands for studying climate change in the Southern Hemisphere.