Four Liebherr 85 EC-B tower cranes are helping scientists study the future of the Amazon rainforest by providing access to the forest canopy as part of one of the world’s most ambitious climate research programmes.
Installed at the AmazonFACE experimental site near Manaus, Brazil, the cranes are enabling researchers to investigate how the world’s largest tropical rainforest will respond to rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. Rather than supporting construction, the cranes lift scientists and sensitive monitoring equipment more than 45 metres above the forest floor, allowing measurements to be carried out with minimal environmental disturbance.
AmazonFACE (Free-Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment) is the largest scientific partnership between Brazil and the United Kingdom. Led by Brazil’s National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA) and the University of Campinas (Unicamp), the programme exposes sections of intact rainforest to projected future CO₂ levels, helping researchers better understand how the ecosystem’s carbon storage, biodiversity and plant physiology may change under future climate conditions.
The decision to use tower cranes was driven by environmental considerations. Unlike scaffolding or elevated walkways, each crane occupies only a small footprint while providing access across a wide area without repeated disturbance to the forest floor or canopy.
“You don’t expect to be so close to the forest. And then I’m working within it – you can understand its real importance very well,” said Maria Juliana Monte, Site Engineer for the AmazonFACE programme.
The four Liebherr 85 EC-B cranes were selected for their compact flat-top design, operational precision and ability to perform reliably in the Amazon’s extreme heat and humidity. Each crane offers a maximum jib length of 50 metres and a lifting capacity of five tonnes, while frequency-controlled drives ensure smooth movement of both personnel and delicate scientific equipment.
“Here in the Amazon rainforest, the use of the crane is that scientists can study nature conservation more efficiently,” said Bruna Prisco, Application Engineer at Liebherr Brazil. “The four Liebherr 85 EC-B 5 tower cranes were chosen precisely because they can withstand the extremes of heat and humidity and not disturb the habitat.”
Supported by Liebherr-Brasil through operator training, maintenance and technical assistance, the cranes have become an integral part of a research programme involving more than 150 specialists from Brazil, Europe and the United States. The findings are expected to contribute to international climate research and improve understanding of how one of the planet’s largest carbon sinks may respond to future atmospheric conditions.
