Deforestation in the Amazon
“The ecosystems of tropical forests possess an enormously complex biodiversity which is almost impossible to appreciate fully,
yet when these forests are burned down or levelled for purposes of cultivation, within the space of a few years countless species
are lost and the areas frequently become arid wastelands” (
Franciscus 2015).
This project furthers Pope Francis’ ideas from his encyclical based on climate change (Franciscus 2015).
Introduction
Deforestation of the Amazon has been occurring for decades. Large patches of the Amazon get cut down every year (Figure 1).
Cattle ranching, agriculture and logging are the main reasons why the Amazon is deforested (World Wildlife Fund 2015).
In the past 40 years, about 20% of the Amazon Rainforest has been cut down and over the next two decades an additional 20% of the trees will be lost (Wallace 2015).
We as individuals need to take action to stop deforestation through simple tasks such as buying local and educating people on the vast consequences of deforestation (Moore 2014).
Reasons Why the Amazon is Deforested
Cattle Ranching
Cattle ranching is the leading cause of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest (Butler 2014).
If cattle ranchers want to have steady business and continue their practices, they need more pastures for their livestock (Moore 2014).
It is estimated that in order to raise one steer, two acres of the Amazon need to be cut down (Moore 2014).
Cattle grazing in the Amazon continues to increase due to a rise in beef prices and the constant demand of land for cattle (Walker 2009).
Overgrazing causes the land to degrade fast, which in turn causes farmers to deforest more land to satisfy their needs (Moore 2014).
Logging
Timber harvested from the Amazon is used for furniture, plywood, cardboard, chipboard and paper (Moore 2014).
Increased logging is one of the major reasons why the forest lost in Peru has been increasing greatly (Butler 2014).
Since 2011, forest loss in Peru has increased exponentially (Figure 2). Logging within the Amazon is controlled by strict licensing which allows
timber to be harvested only in designated areas, but in reality illegal logging occurs around the world (Butler 2014). Under the strict licensing
there are laws that regulate the production and trade of timber products at all stages (World Wildlife Fund 2015). These laws can be violated by
taking wood from protected areas and harvesting more than is permitted (World Wildlife Fund 2015). Illegal logging depresses the price of timber
worldwide, which therefore deprives the government of revenues normally generated by duties and taxes (World Wildlife Fund 2015).
Agriculture
As the human population continues to vastly grow, there will be a need for more food (World Wildlife Fund 2015).
The rising food demand has created an incentive to convert forests to agricultural land (World Wildlife Fund 2015).
Large patches of the Amazon are deforested in order to make pasture land (Figure 3). Forms of commercial agriculture such as rice,
corn and sugar cane contribute to deforestation in the Amazon (Butler 2014). Other factors that increase deforestation and the creation
of agricultural land within the Amazon are the demand for soybeans and palm oil (Moore 2014). Once a forest is lost to agriculture,
it is usually gone forever (World Wildlife Fund 2015). Even when efforts are made to replenish barren agricultural land, the depleted soils are not able to support
the same biodiversity they once could (Butler 2014).
Impacts of Deforestation
Increased Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Trees within the Amazon rainforest mitigate carbon dioxide emissions, but once they are cut and burned they become major
contributors to carbon emissions in the atmosphere (World Wildlife Fund 2015). It is estimated that the trees within
the Amazon alone contain more than ten years worth of human-produced greenhouse gases (Lindsey 2007). Increased carbon dioxide
in the atmosphere contributes to the greenhouse effect and global warming (Butler 2014). Increased greenhouse gas emissions are
associated with rising temperatures, changes of weather patterns and an increased frequency of extreme weather events (Lindsey 2007).
Loss of Biodiversity
Tropical rainforests house around 80% of the world’s documented species (World Wildlife Fund 2015).
Many of these species are specialized to microhabitats within the Amazon (Lindsey 2007). This specialization makes these species
vulnerable to extinction (Lindsey 2007). Some species that are endemic to the Amazon include the golden lion tamarain, the Amazonian manatee
and the capybara (Moore 2014). The golden lion tamarain is endemic to the Amazon and is endangered as well (Figure 4). When a forest is cut down,
species become more accessible to hunters and poachers (World Wildlife Fund 2015). Not only do many species die when an area is totally deforested,
but the plants and animals in the fragments of forest that remain become more vulnerable to extinction (Lindsey 2007).
Increased Soil Erosion
When an area is completed deforested, there are not any trees to anchor fertile soil (World Wildlife Fund 2015).
The agricultural plants that often replace the trees, such as cotton, palm oil and soybean, cannot hold onto the soil (World Wildlife Fund 2015).
When an area is deforested for farming, the farmer typically burns the trees and vegetation (Lindsey 2007). After this slash-and-burn deforestation,
the nutrient reservoir is lost, erosion rates are high and soils often become unable to support crops in just a few years (Lindsey 2007).
What Can I Do?
In order to preserve the Amazon rainforest individual action must occur. Simple ways to preserve the rainforest
are to buy local, keep our homes and cars as carbon neutral as possible, buy sustainable and environmentally friendly
products and not waste energy (Moore 2014). It is also important to be educated and educate others about the consequences of the destruction
of the Amazon rainforest (Butler 2014). Other prevention methods include reducing the consumption of paper, wood, oil and beef (Moore 2014).
As Pope Francis said, "because all creatures are connected, each must be cherished with love and respect, for all of us as living creatures are dependent on one another" (Franciscus 2015).
If we as a human race come together and help to stop deforestation, we will be able to save the precious Amazon Rainforest.
References
Butler, Rhett, 2014. Amazon
Destruction. Retrieved on 21 Sep 2015 from http://rainforests.mongabay.com/amazon/amazon_destruction.html.
Franciscus, 2015. Laudato Si‘: On Care For Our Common Home.
Retrieved on 2 November 2015 from http://m.vatican.va/content/francescomobile/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html.
Huffington Post, 2013. Deforestation in
Amazon up by 28% this year. Retrieved on 3 Sep 2015 from http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/11/15/deforestation-
amazon-up_n_4282356.html.
Lindsey, Rebecca, 2014. Tropical Deforestation.Retrieved on 30 November 2015 from
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Deforestation/deforestation_update.php.
MercoPress, 2014. Desforestation in Brazil Doubles, in Anticipation of
an Amnesty for Illegal Logging. Retrieved on 28 Novemeber 2015 from
http://en.mercopress.com/2011/07/01/desforestation-in-brazil-doubles-in-anticipation-of-an-amnesty-for-illegal-logging.
Moore, Daniel, 2014. Amazon Rainforest Deforestation. Retrieved on 29 November 2015 from
http://www.unique-southamerica-travel-experience.com/amazon-rainforest-deforestation.html .
Walker, Robert, 2009. Amazon Deforestation: Earth’s Heart and Lungs Dismembered. Retrieved on 27 Novemeber 2015
from http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?org=NSF&cntn_id=112962&preview=false.
Wallace,
Scott, 2015. Farming
the Amazon. Retrieved on 21 Sep 2015 from http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/last-of-amazon/#page=1.
Worldmagacy, 2014. What Animals live in the Amazon Rainforest- 15 bizzare creatures
Retrieved on 29 Novemeber 2015 from http://www.worldmagacy.com/what-animals-live-in-the-amazon-rainforest-15-bizarre-creatures/4/.
World Wildlife Fund, 2015. Soil Erosion and Degredation Retrieved on 20 Novemeber 2015 from
http://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/soil-erosion-and-degradation.
World
Wildlife Fund, 2015. Threats
of Deforestation. Retrieved on 21 Sep 2015 from http://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation.
