The Amazon World’s largest rainforest and river basin. Falls within 8 countries and covers about 40% of South America. Produces 60 – 80% of its own rainfall.

Deforestation in Brazil

Between May 2000 and August 2006, Brazil lost nearly 150,000 square kilometers of forest—an area larger than Greece Large portion of deforestation is attributed to the following – Land clearing for pastureland – Misguided government policies – Infrastructure Improvements

Land Clearing for Pastureland Leading cause for deforestation 60% - 70% Cost of meat cheaper Eradication of foot and mouth disease in Brazil. Land Tenure Laws

Misguided Government Policies Brazilian Government encourages poor farmers to settle in the rainforest They can gain rights to the land after a few years of farming and can then sell it.

Infrastructure Improvements Roads create access to parts of the forest that were inaccessible before.

Other Causes for Deforestation Commercial farming – Soybeans Fire – Caused by farmers clearing land Logging – Legal and illegal

Solving Deforestation: Amazon Creation of a federal force to fight environmental crime – for which 3,000 new agents will be hired. Plans to bring criminal charges to the top 100 companies and individuals. Inclusion of protected area costs in highway plans and budgets – a key measure as new and improved roads often cause greater deforestation

The Congo Basin World’s second largest river by volume World’s second largest rainforest 18% of World’s remaining rainforest 70% of Africa’s plant life Has 600 plant species and 10,000 animal species Since 1980 has the largest amount of deforestation out of any region in the world

Logging Increased since the start of peace time in 2004 Timber industry is the largest industry in this region

Subsistence Agriculture Majority of deforestation due to this Poor farmers and colonists who have been pushed into the rainforest due to many past wars

Mining One of the world’s richest mineral deposits Mining is poorly operated

Bush Meat Trade Exotic animals being killed for meat Creates more deforestation to create roads accessible to these animals

Problems with monitoring The size of the Congo River Basin is too large for people to keep an eye on the entire area. There are only two proposed solutions to keep monitoring on cutting down trees Many corrupt governments in this region who get most of their GDP from these logging companies.

Proposed Solution: Regulating Logging Industry Banning the cutting down of endangered trees (similar to ban on ivory trade) Greatly decrease the harvesting of some trees (similar to what was done with whaling) Agree to lower the amount of deforestation per years (similar to caps and trade system) Since most of the companies doing the logging are for pulp and paper, require a more strict recycling program in contrast to cutting down more forests. Problem: Commercial logging only constitutes 25% of the logging that happens in the Congo

Proposed Solution: Forest Protection Schemes Creating national parks and forest reserves Investing countries could give interest free money to these countries to invest towards these parks and reserves. Paying off countries debt if the country will promise to not develop the said area (As in cases of Norway and Costa Rica)

Effects of Deforestation Climate affects – Desertification – No water recycling – Loss of carbon and nitrogen exchange – Rise in temperature Other effects of deforestation – Soil erosion

Climatic Effects: Water Cycle Vegetation helps play a big role in precipitation of a region: They do this by absorbing ground water from their roots Then they release the water vapor into the atmosphere This then leads to precipitation falling back down to the ground replenishing the ground water So as a result of the vegetation being removed it cause the precipitation patterns of a region to completely change

Climatic affects: Desertification The loss of the vegetation causes the soil to lose it’s moisture As a result of this the area beings to dry out Also because of the area drying out this leads to a lack of precipitation Thus causing the area to become a desert

Climatic Effects: Soil Erosion Vegetation helps to hold soil together – This is especially important in hilly areas As a result of deforestation soil no longer has anything holding it in place – So during rain storms most of the soil is washed away often causing big problems for anyone that lives in the area

Climatic Effects: Soil Erosion cont. Soil erosion also leads to flooding in some areas Another big problem with soil erosion is the fact that the soil is being washed into the river causing them to silt up – As a result this is making the freshwater undrinkable and killing the fish population in what ever water system is near by

Citations Balakrishnan, Angela. (Sept. 2008) Brazilian government faces criminal charges over Amazon deforestation. Butler, Rhett A. Deforestation in the Amazon. World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Oct. 2008) Brazil Gets Tough to Stop Amazon Deforestation protected-areas-for-mining-operations-in-the-province-of-katanga-the-case-of-the-basse- kando-reserve/