As the Coronavirus
epidemic draws global attention, there is a significant increase in
deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in 2020, which is a matter of great
concern.
Deforestation
in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest rose sharply in last month April 2020.
Destruction in Amazon forest increased 64 percent in April 2020, compared with
the same month in 2019, according to preliminary satellite data from space
research agency INPE.
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Deforestation reaches highest level in a decade in the Brazilian Amazon (source) |
According to the INPE data, in the first four months that means from January to April of this year, Amazon deforestation was up 55 percent from a year ago to 1,202 square kilometers (464 square miles).
How is the coronavirus epidemic responsible for increasing deforestation?
The outbreak
of the new coronavirus has led to sophisticated efforts to combat
deforestation, with environmental enforcement agency Obama sending fewer agents
to farms due to health risks.
The
coronavirus epidemic is only complicating things in the Amazon region.
Brazil,
which accounts for more than 60 percent of the Amazon, is the epicenter of the
epidemic in Latin America, with about 10,000 deaths so far.
Environmentalists
say the government is paying less attention to deforestation due to the
coronavirus.
New question arises that how Brazil is protecting its world's biggest rain forest?
The Amazon is the world’s largest tropical rain forest, and scientists say its preservation is vital to stop global warming because it absorbs vast amount of greenhouse gases.
Destruction of the Amazon surged to an 11-year high last year due to massive fire and continues to surge in 2020, which environmentalists blame on the policies of President Jair Bolsonaro who has emboldened illegal loggers, ranchers and miners.
Last year, in Bolsonaro's first year in office, soared 85% in the Amazon rainforest deforestation, to 10,123 square kilometers of forest.
The destruction was increased by massive fire across the Amazon forest from May to October in last year, in addition to illegal logging, mining and farming on protected lands. This trend in 2020 is still matter of concern.
President of Brazil has called for more farming and mining in protected areas of the forest, saying it is the only way to lift the region out of poverty.
Causes of deforestation in the amazon rainforest
Illegal
logging, mining and farming on protected lands is the main cause of amazon
forest deforestation.
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Illegal logging in amazon rainforest |
Cattle
ranching is the another leading cause of deforestation in the Amazon
rainforest.
WWF
estimates that 27% – more than a quarter – of the Amazon will be without trees by 2030 if the current
rate of amazon rainforest deforestation
continues.
Effects of deforestation in amazon rainforest
Wildlife
habitat destruction due to deforestation will cause more deadly pandemics like
coronavirus. Because when you cut down trees and remove the forest, you
eliminate the natural environment of many species.
Millions of
plant and animal species currently face extinction because of habitat loss.
34 million
indigenous people live in the jungles of the Amazon and depend on its
resources. Deforestation in the Amazon can be a major problem for these people.
Ways to stop deforestation in the Amazon
Deforestation
in the Amazon is no longer an issue for individual countries to deal with
alone. It requires an integrated policies and concrete actions to deal with
this problem.
Brazil
government has to design and implement “zero net deforestation” plans, create
awareness of the issues about deforestation, and recognize indigenous peoples
and local communities’ rights.
President of
Brazil Bolsonaro already authorized the deployment of armed forces to deter
illegal loggers and combat deforestation and forest fires in the region. This
measure may help in the short term to stop deforestation but is not a lasting
solution.
Conclusion
The Amazon
Rain Forest in Brazil is the largest tropical run forest in the world. It is
also called the planet's lung because its vast forest releases oxygen and
stores carbon dioxide (CO2).
More than 20% of the world's oxygen is produced in the Amazon rainforest. Therefore, it is a matter of great concern that Amazon Forest is being destroyed day by day. we should think about this problem deeply.
Thank you!!!
More than 20% of the world's oxygen is produced in the Amazon rainforest. Therefore, it is a matter of great concern that Amazon Forest is being destroyed day by day. we should think about this problem deeply.
Thank you!!!