Slash and Burn

Most people know that the Amazon Rainforest and its inhabitance are in danger, but just how bad is it? In the last 40 years, about half of the original forest has been cut down, and scientist estimate that the remaining portion has until 2020 at current consumption rates.

Farming is a leading cause for deforestation. Farmers in South America often clear land using a slash and burn technique that involves burning large areas of land. The charred remains of the forest are fertile, but definitely not eco friendly. Trees, when living, take in the carbon found in the atmosphere, thus aiding in atmospheric pollution reduction. However, when carbon-consuming foliage is combusted, their carbon is released into the atmosphere in the form of nitrous oxide and methane (greenhouse gasses). Instead of naturally combating global warming, the Amazon rainforest is literally turned to fuel for it.

Soybeans are one of the major commodities replacing the precious forest, Brazil is poising itself to replace the United States as the worlds largest soybean exporter. Another reason farmers slash and burn is to clear grazing land for cattle.

Below is a list of some exports contributing to deforestation; percentages are based off of world totals. (Mongabay.com, cited: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization, Institute for International Trade Negotiations)

• Orange juice: 82%
• Soybeans: 38%
• Soy meal: 34%
• Sugar: 29%
• Chicken: 29%
• Coffee: 29%
• Soybean oil: 28%
• Tobacco: 23%
• Beef: 20%
• Pork: 16%

Also according to Mongabay.com:

“Brazil exported $27.6 billion in agricultural products last year and imported goods worth $3.2 billion. That agricultural trade surplus of $24.4 billion was the biggest in the world and is crucial to Brazil’s efforts to pay foreign debts and keep its economy humming.”

Brazil is attempting to delicately balance the interest of the economy and the environment simultaneously, areas which are often in opposition.

The government of Brazil has tried to curb the forest destruction by passing a law that only allows farmers to clear twenty percent of their forestland. Farmers are not pleased with this law and are demanding congress to raise the allotment to fifty percent. (Huffington Post)

It’s not just the forest that’s hurting, the Amazon Rainforest is home to 20 percent of the worlds species. As the Amazon disappears many of these species are being threatened by habitat loss and are on the verge of extinction.

Government agencies are finding it difficult to devote resources to environmental protection, while the world’s economy is struggling. Farmers are faced with the choice of whether to provide for their families at an environmental expense or allow poverty strike them. Many farmers have chosen to break environmental protection laws in order to reap a profit; evidence of this is in 40 tractors and 76 trucks seized by environmental protection agencies in Brazil this year.

Rainforest animals going extinct:

• Golden Lion Tamarind Monkey
• Toucans and Parrots
• Jaguar
• Poison Dart Frog
• Harpy Eagle
• Three Toed Sloth

While farmers slashing and burning is a major cause of habitat destruction and species death. Many of the animals above are also under the gun as they are poached for sale on the black market. The Golden Lion Tamarind Monkey can net up to $20,000 for it’s fur on the underground market.

Last December the Brazilian government gave a press release announcing the lowest deforestation rate in twenty-two years. Since then, satellite images have shown that rainforest destruction has not decreased but increased since August 2010 and August 2011 by twenty-seven percent.

Check out Nasa’s satellite images at http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WorldOfChange/deforestation.php to see the progression of the Amazons deforestation from 2000-2010 for yourself.

As you can tell from the slideshow link above, at current rates, there will be no forest left in ten years. Scientist, economist, and environmentalist agree that the use of the Amazon rainforest is unsustainable. When the forest is gone it won’t just be the forest critters suffering, but the economy of South America. The downside of slash and burning is that the land is only fertile for a couple years before farmers are forced to move, often continuing deeper into the forest, slashing and burning all the way.

What makes it Green:

Greencupboards.com is not a fan of slashing and burning. We hope this Amazon deforestation synopsis will inspire people to look further into what is going on in one of the world’s most majestic and most threatened forests and try to help.

The effort to save the Amazon will not be simple, but every person who lends a hand can save an unknown amount of trees and/ or endangered species.

What do you think could be done to save the Rainforest environment?

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/19/amazon-deforestation-in-b_n_864087.html

http://www.mongabay.com/brazil.html

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/05/20/brazil-s-amazon-deforestation-prompts-crisis-cabinet/

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WorldOfChange/deforestation.php

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13449792

http://www.stevequayle.com/Giants/Ancient.Civ_Technol/041116.Mayans.html

http://rainforests.mongabay.com/0907.htm

http://news.mongabay.com/2005/0822-la_times_amazon.html

http://amazonrainforestanimalsfacts.blogspot.com/

http://www.lizasreef.com/HOPE%20FOR%20THE%20RAIN%20FORESTS/endangered_rain_forest_animals.htm

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