It's a bit more than that. We've known about the water cycle of plants and what role they play in their environment for some time. That's why I find this all strange. It's not just the common sense it's the fact we knew but now I guess we've finally proven it, again?

Makes sense too. Much of the water that is being transfered throughout the plant is then lost and moved due to deforestation. That water cycle is then disrupted. Why there wasn't a clear correlation until now seems strange to me.