Global Warming and The Amazon
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 GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL

 PROBLEMS

We are changing the ecosystem forever, as most of the ways in which we use the rainforest are unsustainable.  Many believe that this deforestation (an issue of global concern) is also beginning to affect the global climate through global warming and changing the pattern of global rainfall.  The rainforest itself is essential to its own survival as it helps produce its own rainfall. 

Example - Global rainfall pattern change: The area to the East of the Amazon, Caatinga (see map), has always had low rainfall but in recent years the droughts have been extended and many people are struggling to live on the land, they are lucky if they have one meal a day and a portion of vegetables a fortnight.  This has forced rural-urban migration to the cities. 
Example – global warming: Rainforests contribute one third of the oxygen in the atmosphere, as deforestation continues this fraction will decrease.  Trees also remove the most common greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis.  Deforestation with the associated burning of the ground layer must then add to the percentage of carbon dioxide in the air.  This then prevents the infrared radiation escaping back into space this therefore heats the Earth.  World temperatures have risen by 0.5oC in the past century and are predicted to rise by 1.5-4.5oC this century.

Deforestation not only affects the climate but also destroys the rainforest ecosystem as it breaks the different links that hold the ecosystem together.  If you remove the trees you remove the animals habitats.  Without the producers primary consumers have nothing to feed on and so decrease.  This then affects the secondary consumers that depend on the primary consumers and so the food chain is broken.

Without the trees the soil also does not have a supply of nutrients and becomes too weak to support plants.  If you leave the soil exposed so that erosion can take place it is lost and only hardpan is left.  Many areas are now left barren with little hope of the rainforest returning.  We have not had enough time to study this ecosystem and many believe that we may be destroying species before they have even been discovered.

How do these changes affect people?

Globally everyone is affected by the deforestation of the Amazon due to the associated climate changes.  Many areas are suffering the worst droughts on record and their land is becoming a desert.  Other areas are receiving more rainfall and suffering from flooding.  This all puts more pressure on the land causing depression, malnutrition, premature death and forcing migration into areas, many of which are stretched to the limit.  For example the rural-urban migration of people from the semi-desert of Caatinga is putting ever increasing strain on cities such as Sao Paolo that not only have to try and cope with these immigrants but also with its own high, natural increase.  People hope for a better life and end up living in shantytowns.

 
More locally the most affected group is that of the indigenous Indians.  Ever since S. America was discovered this group has been persecuted.  Their population is now only a tiny percentage of what it once was as they have been the victims of development.  The Yanomani tribe for example, have lost much of their homeland and the forest in it.  They need this for their survival.  They have to compete with incomers for food.  They are not immune to diseases from the outside and many have died from ‘flu’ and measles.  The miners pollute their water with mercury (used to separate the gold from the ore).  This causes deformity in unborn babies and death.

Other victims are the settlers sent here to reduce the pressure on the cities.  They were excited by the thought of having their own plot of land but soon realise that the land is infertile without the trees and they become so poor that they can not even afford to return home.

Many people do however have short-term benefits from the rainforests.  The economic benefits from development mean that there are some social benefits and improved living standards as jobs are created, resources can be sold to earn foreign currency and power is generated.

So what can we do?As you can see there are many conflicts in the rainforest.  Some see the rainforest as an economic resource whilst others value it as an environmental resource.  To manage it sustainably however   People will have to learn how to use the forest sustainably with projects such as agroforestry rather than large-scale clearance.  Some activities that are not suited to this environment such as cattle ranching will have to be banned.  Small scale eco-tourism could be further promoted to draw in income.  People need to be educated about the rainforests importance as a biome and act accordingly.  The Indians have worked this environment for thousands of years; maybe lessons should be learned from them.  This will not be welcomed at first by many of the companies that are based in the region or by the Government weighed down by debt.  However, for the sake of the rainforests future action needs to be taken sooner rather than later before this important resource is lost.