How to Stop Deforestation in The Amazon

Deforestation in the Amazon can no longer be ignored. In 2019, the Amazon lost nearly 2,000 football fields of the forest a day. The data are from the NGO Map Biomas, which in partnership with RAISG presented alarming information about deforestation in the Amazon.

The consequences of this deforestation in the Amazon accelerate the speed of global warming. The amount of CO² emission from the forest increases and we keep up with climate change. In addition, deforestation takes away the homes of native peoples, destroys biodiversity, and prevents the development of natural medicines.

Beyond the forest territory, the consequences are even more dramatic. The change in rainfall alters all food production. As well as creating natural phenomena harmful to the well-being of humanity. For example, increased storms, long periods of drought and extreme cold.

Absolutely everything is changed as a result of deforestation in the Amazon. So we need to help in some way. Whether through supporting organizations involved in forest preservation, or even in reviewing our way of thinking about the environment.

Nature is not far from our daily lives, it is part of everything we do, including breathing.

In this post, we discuss a little about deforestation in the Amazon and, through it, we can rethink our actions. Understanding how much this deforestation disrupts our lives, how much it causes drastic impacts on a global level.

You already know the importance of the Amazon Forest and now you will better understand the impacts of deforestation on the Amazon and how you can help to stop this action. Keep reading.

In this post has:

• Deforestation in the Amazon in numbers
• The impacts of deforestation in the Amazon
• Deforestation in the Amazon continues in the reverse march of the Paris Agreement
• How to help stop deforestation in the Amazon?
• Get to know REDDA

Deforestation in the Amazon in numbers

The Atlas Amazon under Pressure 2020 is an X-ray of the main threats to Amazon. Published in December 2020, it is a partnership of the Amazon Georeferenced Socio-Environmental Information Network (RAISG, in Portuguese) with MapBiomas.

The report confirms the urgency of looking closely at events involving Amazon. According to the report, from 2000 to 2018, 513,016 km² of forest were destroyed. The activities that generate this deforestation are extractive – mining, oil, wood, fauna, flora – legal and illegal. In addition to infrastructure works – roads, hydroelectric plants, etc – and, finally, agriculture, this represents 84% ​​of the reason for deforestation.

The fastest and most intense deforestation process in the Amazon takes place in the area of ​​Brazil.

According to the RAISG report, in almost 50 years, the country has lost 18.9% of its original forest. To give you an idea, it is almost twice the size of Germany. The period of lowest deforestation in the country took place between 2005 and 2012 with public policies and incentives.

The impacts of deforestation in the Amazon

Deforestation in the Amazon causes an environmental imbalance of gigantic proportions. As the largest tropical forest on the planet, its role as a climate regulator is important for many territories. It is not limited to forest lands, it transcends borders and continents.

The way in which the Amazon is being deforested also changes the position of the forest in terms of the process of carbon absorption: it becomes a major source of carbon emissions. Imagine the scene: a gigantic forest that absorbed CO², through natural and necessary processes, will only emit excessively.

And if carbon dioxide is one of the main greenhouse gases, methane, produced in abundance by livestock, follows close behind. See the relationship? The forest is largely cleared for livestock.

Deforestation increases the level of carbon emissions and makes room for activities that increase methane emissions. Is it, or isn’t it, worrisome? In addition, all the negative impacts generated by deforestation also affect the flying rivers, which are important for climate balance.

In addition to the emission of gases, deforestation has a negative impact on the biodiversity of the forest’s fauna and flora. There are many lost species.

Deforestation also takes away the peace and housing of forest dwellers, such as indigenous and riverine peoples. Finally, it is possible to state that deforestation in the Amazon causes impacts such as:

• Increase in carbon emissions and acceleration of global warming;
• Destruction of the world’s biodiversity of fauna and flora;
• Impact on the culture of native peoples;
• Destruction of medicinal plants used in science.

Increase in carbon emissions and acceleration of global warming

In a normal process, the atmosphere retains a level of gases to maintain global warming ideal for human survival. If this process did not exist, we would freeze.

Increasing greenhouse gas emissions accelerate global warming. The excess of these pollutants in the atmosphere holds more heat than necessary.

The concern is exactly with the Earth’s average temperature increasing, rather than maintaining a natural balance, which is important for the life of living beings.

With an increasingly fast-paced lifestyle, we are destabilizing a natural gas exchange. Including deforestation, done for the needs of unbridled consumption.

Carbon emissions into the atmosphere have reached the highest level in human history. About 40 billion metric tons of carbon are emitted each year. At this speed, it is believed that by the end of the century we will have an increase in the average temperature of 2.7º.

Learn more about the difference between the greenhouse effect and global warming

The relationship of the Amazon Forest with Carbon Dioxide

With deforestation in the Amazon, the forest loses the ability to remove carbon dioxide (CO²) from the atmosphere. To make matters worse, the level of carbon emitted into the atmosphere is increasing. This imbalance between absorption and emission reduces the action of the forest to stop global warming.

The increase in fires and deforestation are factors that have increased the level of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Therefore, it is possible to affirm that the speed of forest degradation in the Amazon has transformed the forest into a source of CO².

In fact, this new dynamic in the carbon balance directly affects the forest ecosystem. With a major environmental transformation, the vegetation present can disappear and give way to the cerrado.

This is bad because forests remove much more carbon than savannas.

This imbalance in the process of absorption and emission of CO² causes worrisome climatic consequences, including the regularity of rainfall. The forest produces an amount of water vapor essential for the production of rain. It is a rain used not only for that region but also for other parts of the country.

The waters in the heavens are carried by the winds for different distances and directions. These waters preserved in the skies are known as flying rivers.

Flying rivers directly reflect climate change in the country and on the planet. The speed of deforestation and forest degradation also compromise their existence.

The role of the Amazon rainforest in curbing global warming

It is important to understand that the natural balance of the Amazon Forest helps to stop global warming. That is, by absorbing and emitting the right amount of CO² and O², the forest collaborates to stop global warming.

The braking happens because the forest helps to reduce the concentration of CO² in the atmosphere. In addition, the proper functioning of rainy periods is essential to keep the average temperature under control. The cyclical process is all related to forest preservation.

Maintaining the biodiversity of the Amazon is a way of allowing its ecosystem to function well by working through the stages of photosynthesis. These are fundamental steps for the dynamics of CO² concentration in the atmosphere. This vivacity of the forest is responsible for the well-being of everyone, even those who are far away.

Destruction of the world’s biodiversity of fauna and flora

The destruction of fauna and flora around the world has been another major environmental concern. These living beings participate in the whole process of nature in recomposing and surviving, each step counts.

Humanity’s unbalanced use of natural resources has caused worrying impacts. In addition to climate change, we are following the disappearance of species of fauna and flora. It is necessary to understand that all species contribute to the survival of forests.

This is because both animals and plants participate in the process of absorption and emission of CO². Global warming also disrupts the way these beings live. Some plants cannot resist change and animals migrate from their habitats to survive.

Do you understand how everything connects? How is it necessary to maintain the balance between natural and human resources and avoid deforestation in the Amazon?

More than 10,000 species are threatened with extinction in the Amazon. Meet some of these species:

Porpoises

Porpoises are species of freshwater dolphins. These animals live in the rivers of the Amazon region. The pink dolphin is considered the largest freshwater dolphin.

Illegal mining is one of the causes of their deaths, as they suffer from mercury contamination. The construction of hydroelectric dams also puts the survival of porpoises at risk.

Amazonian manatee

The manatee is considered the largest freshwater mammal in Brazil and lives in the rivers of the Amazon basins. It is one of the most important animals for the Amazon, as it feeds on river plants. This diet prevents the proliferation of these plants in the rivers, which would prevent the decrease of solar rays in the water.

The manatee has become extinct due to predatory hunting, many live in areas of environmental protection. It is still a little-studied animal in the country, but environmental organizations have carried out productive conservation work.

White Uakari

The White Uacari is the most mysterious monkey species in the Amazon. Little is known about him and most live in the west of the forest. Most of the time, it lives in the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve.

They live exclusively in flooded areas, so access to the species is difficult. White uakari usually lives in flocks of up to 50 individuals. They draw attention to their peculiar characteristic: a lot of hair on their body, a reddish face without hair, and a short tail. They usually feed on hard-shelled fruits, such as Brazil nuts.

Eskimo curlew

Despite the Amazon having the largest number of bird species in its biome, about 65 species are threatened with extinction. Among them, are the curassow, the harpy eagle, and the Eskimo curlew.

The Eskimo curlew is a curious bird because it reflects the consequences caused by climate change. The once highly populated bird in North America is now extinct globally.

Brazil was part of the migratory route of the long-beaked, curved bird, which originated from Canada. The bird came from North America, however, changes in vegetation drove it away from the country.

An interesting feature of this bird is that it rummaged through the ground in search of food.

Impact on the culture of native peoples

The forest, rich in flora and fauna biodiversity, also has other residents. They are the natives and the native peoples, or traditional peoples. These suffer from the impact caused by deforestation in the Amazon.

The native peoples include the quilombolas, riverside dwellers, fishermen, and family farmers. These are communities that were formed in the forest and its surroundings, basically living off the resources offered by the forest. Therefore, deforestation takes away many people’s homes, as well as the raw material needed for the survival economy.

Indigenous communities also lose their habitats. In addition, they lose the space where their culture is best preserved. The relationship of the natives with the forest is also important for the knowledge they acquire from this close relationship. Including the discovery of natural resources for medication.

Each of these communities in the Amazon lives differently.

It is possible to say that deforestation in the Amazon ignores that the forest is the “city” of these people.

How would you feel about leaving your house and seeing your entire street destroyed? Or, your neighborhood destroyed as far as the eye can see? They go through this with deforestation and forest degradation.

Destruction of medicinal plants used in science

Deforestation in the Amazon destroys the biodiversity of the forest’s flora. The diversity of vegetation there is so wide that some species are unknown. In addition, there is a variety of medicinal plants used by local people and even science.

In fact, some well-known medicines were developed from the knowledge of medicinal plants. For example, aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) has an active ingredient extracted from willow. Poppy is the active ingredient in morphine.

In this way, it is possible that deforestation in the Amazon will deprive us of the possibility of enjoying the medicinal possibilities of nature. Environmental degradations are also gateways to prevent us from developing medicines.

Medicinal and endangered plants in the Amazon

• Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) Tamarind tea is used for cholesterol control. Although the tree is originally from India, it has adapted well to Brazil. In addition to the peel, it is possible to produce juice with the fruit, which has a laxative effect.
• Jatobá (Hymenaea courbaril) The fruit grows from a tree that can reach 40 meters in height. Its properties are diverse: anti-inflammatory, vermifuge, fortifying, expectorant, good for colic. As a medicinal plant, tea is usually made from the dried bark of the tree.
• Quina quina (Coutarea hexandra). With a bitter taste, the bark of the tree helps detoxify the liver, fights fever and has anti-inflammatory action. It is indicated to aid digestion and body aches.
• Andiroba. The oil extracted from andiroba is used as an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and healing agent. Because it is a weak tree, it tends to fall in heavy rains and felled, being increasingly scarce.
• Rosewood. This tree reaches 30 meters in height, the oil extracted from the tree is used in the production of perfumes. This purpose of the tree put it on the extinction list. For the production of 10 liters of oil, about a ton of raw material is needed.
• Chestnut tree. Remember that the White Uacari monkey is endangered? Well, one of the monkey’s food sources is too. The chestnut tree was one of the most found in the Amazon. The fruit, the Brazil nut, takes about a year to mature. Trees often suffer from deforestation and felling.

Deforestation in the Amazon continues in the reverse march of the Paris Agreement

Unfortunately, the latest news reveals how deforestation in the Amazon continues to reverse the Paris Agreement.

In addition to the forest becoming a source of CO² emissions, climate change hinders the development of ecosystems.

Therefore, we are following the reduction of CO² absorption not only by terrestrial ecosystems but also by the oceans. In the 2015 Paris Agreement, one of Brazil’s goals was to eliminate illegal deforestation by 2030.

Currently, Brazil has presented new proposals to the Paris Agreement. Including the 400 million ton increase in greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the country is moving backward by proposing an increase in areas to be deforested, not the opposite.

How to help stop deforestation in the Amazon?

There are several ways to help stop deforestation in the Amazon, check out some of them:

• Support projects and non-governmental organizations: look for organizations focused on developing projects designed for the Amazon. There are many different projects, from support in the construction of sustainable cities to reforestation. Don’t forget to support! Find one whose project you identify with.
• Support projects beyond the Amazon: Some projects are not directly linked to deforestation in the Amazon. However, they collaborate indirectly. For example, projects to stop carbon emissions, recycling projects and even food redistribution. Remember, in the end, everything connects.
• A Meat-Free Day: Choose at least one day a week to not eat meat. The balance in the daily consumption of meat, for example, reflects the unbridled need for pasture. We need to reflect on the daily need for meat in our diet. Did you know that there are people who think of a balanced diet for health and the environment? They are the climatarians, click here and learn more about this diet designed for the well-being of you and nature.
• Review your lifestyle. Our lifestyle reflects the impacts on the Amazon. That’s why it’s worth looking at your consumption modes, as well as which companies you’ve been buying from. Considering the carbon footprint of companies is an interesting alternative to help stop global warming.
• Sustainable ecological awareness. Think about the environment concretely, understanding how important it is for everyday life. In this way, you learn to reflect on your decisions in any area – from political decisions to consumer decisions.

Find out how REDDA+ and you can help preserve the Amazon

REDDA+ is an organization created from the mechanisms offered by REDD. The acronym REDD stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation. Based on the mechanisms, REDDA+ proposes to put into practice beneficial actions for the Amazon and the region.

Projects include building people’s environmental awareness and practices. One of the projects takes place in Portel, Pará. Where the concept of a sustainable city is being applied, thinking about the integrative and inclusive well-being of the community with the forest.

And it doesn’t stop there, REDDA+ also carries out its actions supported by the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. In this way, we believe it is possible to improve people’s quality of life, without so many harmful impacts on the forest.

Click here to learn about REDDA+ and our projects.