The Amazon Rainforest Crisis: Turning the Planet's Lungs into a Carbon Source

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/04/02/why-deforestation-means-less-rain-in-tropical-forests/

Often referred to as the "Lungs of the planet" the Amazon is unfortunately in the midst of an environmental crisis. Lately, the Amazon Rainforest, which was once the biggest carbon sink, has begun releasing a higher amount of CO2 than it takes in. This has been mainly caused by people's need for wood, minerals, roads, and cities in this area. In other words, logging, mining, infrastructure, and urban development are the reasons for this. The deforestation of the rainforest caused the extinction of tens of thousands of species of plants and animals, the insecurity of local communities, and the crippling of the earth's natural machinery for shielding the climate change challenge. The Amazon will remain a net carbon sink as long as it is undisturbed by the construction of the Indigenous lands. In this blog, we will discuss how the forest got to this critical stage and what potential actions can revive it.

Amazon is not just a place on the planet; it is a pivotal ecosystem that balances global climate change. The wildlife it houses are both the main contributors and beneficiaries of the ecosystem, while it stores about four-fifths of the total carbon on the planet. This green wall in Latin America is more than just a rainforest. In fact, over 5 million species of animals and plants are being saved by this unnatural habitat. Apart from this, it sequesters nearly 90% of the CO2 emitted from cities in the Northern Hemisphere and generates its own space-based carbon sinks and circulatory flows.

That is to say, the Amazon Rainforest covers eight countries: Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. The year 2021 saw Brazil suffer the highest depletion of this forest. The Amazon Rainforest is an enviable object of nature and extremely crucial for sustainability within the ecosystem. Additionally, the land measures over 2.72 million square miles over an area which is double the size of India. Despite its size, it is still the largest untouched area in the world. This is the reason why it is still home to a vast amount of species and indigenous cultures.

Deforestation affects millions of people living in the Amazon, including Indigenous communities. While Indigenous land management has historically protected the rainforest, modern deforestation threatens their way of life. Additionally, the loss of biodiversity and habitat destruction due to deforestation could lead to the extinction of many plant and animal species.

It has a social consequence on millions of people due to the razing of the Amazon rainforest. Even though the self-prescribed farming laws of Indigenous people have historically allowed them to save the rainforest, non-native deforestation has been the main threat to their existence, all the same. Furthermore, the consequences of deforestation such as the extinction of a range of species and habitat loss are visible. In order to prevent further deforestation, we as consumers can reduce consumption, plant trees, and support sustainable practices.