AMAZON RAINFOREST: deforestation (living world)

How does the Amazon impact global biodiversity?

home to 20% of the Earth's species at a size of 8million km^2

How has the amazon been affected by deforestation

since the 1970s, an area 3x the size of the UK has been destroyed, and if current rates continue, over 30% of the rainforest will disappear

How does mining affect the land

the explosives and destructive nature of extraction means the land cannot be used for another 500 years

How does mining affect the water

mercury can seep into the river water

How has population growth increased deforestation rates

population of the Brazilian Amazon grew 23% between 2000-2010

How does cattle ranching affect deforestation

200million cattle on 450 000 km^2 of deforested pasture

Percentage cattle ranch contribution to deforestation

70-80% total Amazon deforestation

Energy development projects in the Amazon rainforest

150 planned HEP dams in the Amazon, Balbina Dam (near Manaus) flooded 2400km^2 rainforest

How does road development affect the rainforest

plans for 4000km Trans-Amazonian Highway from Brazilian Coast to Peru

How are deforestation methods damaging

Slash and burn deforestation methods, releases more CO2 and causes more soil erosion

Commercial farming in the Amazon

43% of rainforest in Brazilian Mato Grosso was deforested for commercial agriculture

How has deforestation affected soil erosion

Brazilian Amazon losing up to 1000 tonnes of topsoil per hectare annually

How has deforestation contributed to climate change

Amazon stored 140bn tonnes of CO2, deforestation releases this into the atmosphere

How is Brazil responsible for the deforestation of the Amazon

75% total carbon emissions come from deforestation

how has deforestation brought wealth

Brazil exported 600mn dollars worth of beef from cattle grown on Amazonian pastures

How has deforestation created jobs

mining company in Peru employs more than 8000 people

How has global legislation affected deforestation in Brazil

Paris Agreement, WWF and World Bank helped reduce Deforestation in Brazil between 2004-2012 by 80%