Carboniferous Rainforest Collapse

The Carboniferous Rainforest Collapse, around 300 million years ago, was a major environmental change that led to the decline of dense tropical forests from the Carboniferous period. This event caused forests to shrink and fragmented, transforming lush, swampy landscapes into drier, more open environments. The collapse was driven by climate shifts, such as global cooling and changing sea levels, which reduced the humid conditions necessary for rainforest survival. It significantly impacted plant and animal biodiversity, paving the way for new ecosystems and the rise of early amniotes (reptile-like vertebrates).