Everyone knows that the Amazon rainforest is threatened by climate change. But what is this? What is its importance? Well, that’s what I’m here in Brazil to study. I’m in the Atlantic rainforest with my mates from Columbia University. We are hosted by the Pesquisas Environmental Institute (IPE), where we study forest ecology and field research methods. Our goal is to identify the best and most sustainable ways to tackle some of the biggest problems facing not just Brazil, but the entire planet.
Walking through the forests here, one cannot help but feel awe that they breathe in the air where there is the greatest concentration of life. It is absolutely heartbreaking to think that these lovely creatures lose their homes for mere minutes of our happiness! It is so amazing and precious, and the loss is so great.
Spoiler alert: The effects of Amazon deforestation will reach everyone, and in our lives, too. But, read on because you can make a difference.
Yes you!
Fast facts about the Amazon rainforest:
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At 1.4 billion acres, the Amazon is the largest single stretch of rainforest in the world. It accounts for more than half of the natural rainforests on Earth
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Its age is about 55 million years
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The Amazon rainforest has four layers. Each has a unique ecosystem that plants and animals have adapted to:
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The longest is the emerging layer. Its trees reach 200 feet in height.
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The second layer is the parachute. The smooth leaves with pointed ends help the water flow easily and prevent the growth of algae and fungus.
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The layer below it is able to receive only 5% of the sunlight. The plants here are uniquely adapted to survive.
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The lowest layer is the forest floor. Only 2% of sunlight gets here
Featured animals:
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1/5 of the world’s fresh water is found in the Amazon basin alone. This makes it a biodiversity hotspot
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1/10 of the known species on Earth are found in the Amazon. In addition, there are still millions as yet undescribed
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The Amazon rainforest is the richest and most diverse biological reservoir in the world. It contains several million species of insects, plants, birds and other life forms:
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40,000 plant species
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5,600 species of fish
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1300 species of birds
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430+ species of mammals
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More than 1000 species of amphibians
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More than 400 species of reptiles
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An estimated 2.5 million species of insects.
The Amazon is home to jaguars, harpy eagles, pink dolphins, manatees, tapirs, red deer, capybara, sloths, many species of monkeys, and other species of rodents. However, about 137 species of plants, animals and insects are lost every day due to rainforest destruction – or 50,000 species per year.
Soil:
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It is about 45% dark, 30% clay and 25% water
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The depth of the topsoil is about 2.5 – 5 cm
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More than 100 million years of exposure to the elements has acidified the soil, leaching it of its nutrients
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Plants are able to thrive despite poor soil quality because they recycle nutrients from dead plants and animals (instead of getting them from the soil).
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Terra preta is a dark, fertile (artificial) anthropogenic soil found in the Amazon basin. Indigenous peoples created this “Amazonian Dark Land” or “Indian Black Land” between 450 BC and 950 BC. They mixed the infertile soil of the Amazon with bones, manure, and charcoal. Charcoal, which gives soil its color, is very stable and remains in the soil for thousands of years, helping it retain minerals and nutrients. Terra preta areas are usually surrounded by common soils. Deforested soils are productive for only 1-2 years. After that, farmers move to new areas and clear more land. However, terra preta is less susceptible to nutrient leaching caused by flooding due to its higher concentration of char, microbial life, and organic matter.
Predominant vegetation:
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16,000 tree species and 390 billion individual trees live in the Amazon rainforest
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The lush vegetation includes a wide variety of tree species. These include myrtle, laurel, palm, acacia, rosewood, Brazil nut, rubber tree, mahogany, and Amazonian cedar.
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Foods found in the Amazon rainforest include breadfruit, nuts, bananas, cocoa, guavas, mangoes, berries, kola nuts, and plantains.
climate:
The Amazon is located in a “tropical rainforest climate” or “tropical climate”. It is warm and humid. The average temperature is around 79 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. The temperature difference between day and night is greater than the difference between seasons.
The sheer extent and great continuity of this rainforest is a result of the abundant rainfall, high humidity and high temperatures prevailing in the region.
Disturbance systems (i.e. what natural threats do you face?):
Like most tropical and subtropical broadleaf forests, the Amazon is particularly vulnerable to plowing, overgrazing, and excessive burning due to poor soil and climatic conditions. Human fires (from human sources) threaten habitat loss as well as air and water quality. Taking into account the full range of natural disturbances, human turnover creates a significant increase in biomass, and an even larger carbon imbalance. Rising temperatures and declining precipitation have resulted in droughts of historic proportions. Long periods of drought increase the possibility of wildfires. These incidents have profound effects on other aspects of the ecosystem as well
Primary human use:
For most of human history, deforestation in the Amazon occurred mostly by subsistence farmers producing crops for their families and domestic consumption. But in the 20th century, large-scale industrial and agricultural activities led to a sharp increase in the rate of deforestation. Large-scale mining disrupts natural ecosystems, requires massive amounts of timber, and the Amazon rainforest tree has red eyes.
The Amazon Basin contains deposits of nickel, copper, tin, manganese, iron ore, gold, and other precious metals. Besides deforestation, secondary effects of mining include the dispersal of mercury (used in gold extraction) into the local environment. Mercury poisons Indigenous communities, as well as water supplies, plants, and animal life.
Oil drilling in the Amazon is causing deforestation. In addition, it leads to widespread soil and air pollution, indigenous conflicts, loss of biodiversity, and displacement of local populations.
animal farming:
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1-2 acres of rainforest are being removed per second. This is mostly for industry
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70% of deforestation in the Amazon is to make way for cattle ranches
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Corporations in the meat industry are systematically clearing vast tracts of local forest land and replacing it with crops of soybeans to feed livestock. They use the land until it completely deteriorates. At this point, they repeat the process elsewhere.
- Animal agriculture is responsible for 91% of all deforestation in the Amazon
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The construction of hydroelectric dams disturbs the ecosystem. Studies predict that this could plunge a large portion of the rainforest underwater
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Timber companies also remove valuable timber from the remaining forest
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136 million acres have been cleared for animal farming
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26 million acres of rainforest have been cleared for palm oil production. However, palm oil gets more attention from the media and consumers. Let’s be honest, it’s easier to be passionate about causes one doesn’t have to change one’s lifestyle for. Nobody wants to hear that the real problem is the beef on their plate!
Conservation issues:
30 million people live in the region. Increased industrial activity affected many indigenous tribes. They suffer from displacement and exposure to disease. For example, death rates are increasing among many tribes that had little contact with the industrialized world and did not develop certain immunities.
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Amazon forest loss accounts for 5-8% of global greenhouse gas emissions
- 1,100 activists have been killed in Brazil in the past 20 years. 150 since 2012. Recently, 73-year-old American activist and nun Dorothy Stang was shot by a farmer. She has campaigned for 30 years to save the Amazon and its indigenous farmers from the interests of wealthy landlords. The verdict originally found the shooter “not guilty”, but recently ordered his arrest and a retrial. Less than 100 of these men have gone to court. About 80 of the convicted suspects were gunmen for hire to ranchers and tough loggers. The legal system found only about 15 of the killers guilty. None of them are currently serving a sentence
Thanks for staying with me!
Furthermore, thank you for being an informed, caring, and engaged citizen. Hope this piqued your interest. If you want to learn more about the links between environmental issues and food, I recommend watching “Cowspiracy” on Netflix. Additionally, you can check out this fact sheet, which provides an overview of how our diets affect the environment. I’ll be posting more of my own work as well throughout the summer while I do the research.
On another note, I’m not sure which shape is most interesting to you all. If you have a minute, please let me know in the comments below if you prefer academic research articles, bulleted fact sheets like the one above, or more personal publications. In the end, I feel very passionate about this topic. Subscribe to stay informed and share this post with your friends.
This is happening at an alarming rate. Thus, every person and every effort counts!
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