Amazon Rainforest, large tropical rainforest occupying the drainage basin of the Amazon River and its tributaries in northern South America and covering an area of 2,300,000 square miles (6,000,000 square km). Comprising about 40 percent of Brazil’s total area, it is bounded by the Guiana Highlan...
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Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon rainforest, the largest rainforest on Earth, encompasses an area roughly
the size of the United States (the 48 contiguous states), contains most of the plant and animal
species found on the planet and contributes to weather patterns on a global scale.
This natural wonder is disappearing at an alarming rate due to deforestation and with it the
animals, plants and eventually humans will disappear as well. This applies to all plants, animals
and humans, not just those who inhabit this region of South America.
If the Amazon rainforest disappears, the entire human race will likely suffer the same fate
resulting from the climatic changes that would result. This disturbing scenario has been well
documented by environmental organizations, governmental studies, independent agency
reviews and scientific journals spanning the past three decades from which this discussion will
draw.
The Amazon rainforest represents close to half of the world’s rainforest regions. Estimates of its
size vary but the general consensus is that the Amazon rainforest covers approximately seven
million square kilometers. It represents 40 per cent of the South American continent
encroaching on nine of its countries including Brazil, Suriname, Bolivia, Guyana, French
Guyana, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela.
The greatest portion (62 per cent) lies within the boundaries of Brazil. This massive area, if a
single country, would rank sixth largest in the world and is at least half the size of the entire
European continent. (Amazon Life, 1998)
, The seemingly boundless rainforest is shrinking at a rapid pace due to deforestation, however,
which will soon result in grave consequences for both the region and the planet. “Land-use
conversion is occurring at unprecedented scales and in a complex manner.
As in other humid tropical forest regions worldwide, negative consequences include losses of
biological and cultural diversity, changes in the regional and potentially global climate, and an
increase in social conflicts.” (Kommers, 2007)
Deforestation describes the removal of trees along with other types of vegetation. Since 1970, at
least 20 per cent of Amazon rainforest has been lost from deforestation. This figure could be
under-representative because it does not include trees that have been felled by selective logging
techniques which are less noticeable than clear-cutting yet causes considerable harm.
Ecologists and scientists warn that another 20 per cent will be lost within the next 20 years. If
this were to occur, the ecological system that sustains the forest and thus the planet’s weather
patterns will start to disintegrate. At present, the Amazon rainforest generates half of the
rainfall it consumes but the removal of an additional 20 per cent will impede this phenomenon
to the point where much of the remaining forest will die from lack of moisture.
The rising temperature of the Earth, due to global warming, will exacerbate the situation and
cause droughts which will lead to massive wildfires in the region. Instead of life-giving oxygen
which is now furnished by the lush rainforests, the fires will expel great amounts of carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere.
Given this very real and impending scenario, it is difficult to imagine how the human race along
with all other life on earth could continue to live. Today, the greenhouse gases emitted from
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