Amazon Rainforest Case Study - Unit 1B

Where is the Amazon Rainforest?

Within Amazon River Basin

Includes parts of 8 countries - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Columbia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname

How much of the South American Continent does the Amazon Rainforest cover?

40%

8 million km²

Where are the deforested areas in the Amazon Rainforest?

Worst in South and South East near major Brazil settlements

Most follow roads

Mainly on the outskirts of the Amazon basin

Between 2001 - 2012 how many hectares of the Amazon rainforest were lost?

18 Million ha

1.4 million/ha

What are the main reasons the amazon is being deforested?

Farming

Logging

Road Building

Mineral Extraction

Energy Development

Population Growth + Settlements

How does subsistence farming cause deforestation in the Amazon?

farmers occupy plots of forest to grow food

They slash and burn forest and move on when soil is exhausted

How does commercial farming cause deforestation in the Amazon?

Forest cleared for cattle grazing or huge plantations

How many cattle are there in Brazil?

200 million on 450,000km² of pasture

How much land of former forest is used for soy plantations?

250,000km²

How does Logging cause deforestation in the Amazon?

Amazon has many valuable hardwood trees + trees used for many products - buildings, furniture, paper

What are the two types of logging used in the Amazon?

Selective logging - only cutting certain trees

Clear cutting - cutting everything

How does road building cause deforestation in the Amazon?

Trees cleared for new roads

400km Trans Amazonian Highway

BR163 road - 1700km from Cuiaba - Santarem being paved

Roads for logging open up previously inaccessible areas

How does mineral extraction cause deforestation in the Amazon?

Huge mines - gold, iron, copper

Explosives and deep pits

How does energy development cause deforestation in the Amazon?

Hydroelectric dams flood large areas of forest

Balbina Dam flooded 2400km² of forest

How does population growth and settlements cause deforestation in the Amazon?

Many people migrating to rainforest looking for work

Settlements for workers rapidly destroy forest

How has deforestation impacted the amazon?

Loss of biodiversity

Climate Change

Soil Erosion

Decline in indigenous tribes

Conflicts

Economic loss/gains

How has deforestation in the amazon caused a loss of biodiversity?

As land is cleared biodiversity is lost

Estimated 137 plant, animals and insect species lost daily

How has deforestation in the amazon caused climate change?

Trees store CO₂ ( 140 billion tonnes of carbon in amazon) but when cut down release it

75% of Brazil’s CO₂ emissions are from deforestation

How has deforestation in the amazon caused soil erosion?

Brazil losing up to 100 tonnes of top soil per hectare each year → landslides and flooding

Less tree canopy and tree roots → reduces soil fertility + nutrients as soil washed away

Farmers forced to find new areas = more deforestation

How has deforestation in the amazon caused a decline in indigenous tribes?

1990 - 330 tribes ►240 now

Forced to move

How has deforestation in the amazon caused conflict?

conflicts over land rights and conservation

How has deforestation in the amazon caused economic gain?

Wealth in farming ►Brazil exported $600 million of beef in 2018 + second largest soy bean exporter

Mining jobs ► Buenaventura Peru employs over 8000 people

Logging

How has deforestation in the amazon caused economic loss?

Reduced attractiveness of area for tourists due to logging

local Rubber tappers jobs lost as rubber trees cut down