To what extent have attempts to mitigate climate change been successful in the Amazon
rainforest? [20 marks]
Mitigation is the action of reducing the impacts of something. Attempts to mitigate climate
change in the Amazon have been put into place, from international agreements, such as the
TARAPOTO process and environmental laws, to local policies such as the creation of
national parks and forest reserves. These have been successful to some extent.
International agreements, such as the TARAPOTO process, have allowed the Amazon
rainforest to mitigate climate change through the help of other countries. This process
included forest policy makers from 8 member countries, who identified 12 criteria to help
manage the forest sustainably at a national and global level. The priorities of this strategy
were to invest in research, education, and technology transfer, as well as creating a legal
framework for land-use planning through ecological and economic zoning. The TARAPOTO
process have been successful in mitigating climate change to some extent. The policy
allowed different countries to come together, raising more awareness to the issue of climate
change. However, it was less easy to survey and manage, due to the scale of the Amazon
covering 7% of the Earth. The policy is also not legally binding; therefore it is less effective
as some countries may not want to be involved when the rules are not beneficial to them.
Therefore this policy may not be able to mitigate climate change fully in the Amazon
Rainforest.
Further agreements, such as environmental laws, have been successful in mitigating climate
change in the Amazon to an extent. These international laws include banning the use of
wood from forests that are not managed sustainably, banning excessive legal logging, and
controlling land use. The Brazilian Forest Code states that all landowners must only farm on
up to 20% of their land. Putting in place legally binding rules means that this method is more
effective in mitigating climate change. People are more likely to abide by the laws if they
have negative consequences otherwise, therefore more forest will remain untouched, and
wood will be managed more sustainably as a result. However, the law only covers the
monitoring of legal logging, which is an issue because the Amazon has problems with illegal
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Oliviams. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £3.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
