The Amazon rainforest is often called the “lungs of the Earth”. This is due to its vital role in our planet regulating the climate and supporting biodiversity. The trees trap large amounts of carbon dioxide through photosynthesis acting as a “carbon sink”, and releasing oxygen at the same time. More than 10% of the world’s biodiversity is housed in this one forest, with many species that are endangered and can only be found here. However, we are destroying the Amazon rainforest at an alarming rate, which has negative effects on indigenous communities, animals, and the overall climate crisis the planet is facing.
Deforestation is a leading cause of the disappearance of the forest, often connected to infrastructure development, logging, and farming. Cutting down trees causes all of the stored carbon in them to be released into the atmosphere, which not only stops the forest from absorbing enough carbon, but it also contributes to the greenhouse effect. Wildfires are also part of deforestation, often started illegally to clear land for things like cattle ranching, which makes up around 75% of cleared land in the Amazon. The beef industry in Brazil is huge, and it is one of the top producers of beef in the world, with America being the second-biggest buyer. It is extremely detrimental to the rainforest to clear so much land for cattle production, but it also has an adverse effect as cattle produce enormous amounts of methane, contributing further to the greenhouse effect.
The Amazon also contains many different ecosystems and an unparalleled diversity of plant and animal species. Many of these species are being pushed towards extinction due to deforestation. The balance of life in the ecosystems of the Amazon is very delicate, so any disruption and loss of life has drastic consequences which weaken the forest’s resilience against climate change.
Many indigenous communities who have inhabited the Amazon for generations are also impacted as a result of deforestation, as they are being forced to leave due to lack of access to resources and cultural practices. There are around 350 different ethnic groups in the Amazon, with unique cultural and spiritual connections to the land. As the forest is destroyed, their cultural identity is destroyed as well. Indigenous people also play an important role as stewards of the land, taking care of it for generations. They depend on the forest as a means of livelihood and subsistence, so as the forest diminishes, so do their resources and opportunities, increasing vulnerability and displacement.
According to The New York Times and The Guardian, recent studies have shown that by 2050, the Amazon rainforest may reach a tipping point due to severe drought and deforestation. Close to half of untouched areas are susceptible to transforming into grasslands, which could collapse the whole forest ecosystem.
It may seem as though these recent events don’t impact our daily lives, but they do. As the Amazon rainforest is being burned day by day, the impacts of climate change can be seen all around the world, from floods and coral bleaching, to droughts and wildfires. Personally, I remember having to leave school due to intense wildfires in my area. The sky was brown and hazy, and the choking smell of smoke filled the air. This is one impact seen in California that can be in part attributed to deforestation in the Amazon, because it is all interconnected. You may not experience wildfires, but I’m sure there are other impacts that can be seen in your community, no matter how small. This is a global crisis with profound consequences, but it is also personal to everyone on the planet. Coordinated efforts globally need to be made in order to address the root causes of deforestation and support indigenous communities as well as sustainable land use. It is imperative that we strive to protect these vital natural resources for future generations, no matter how small our actions may be.
References
https://wwf.panda.org/discover/knowledge_hub/where_we_work/amazon/about_the_amazon
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2022/amazon-beef-deforestation-brazil
The Silent Cry of the Forest: How Deforestation Impacts Indigenous Communities
https://www.wired.com/story/the-horrifying-science-of-the-deforestation-fueling-amazon-fires
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