How are we exploiting the Amazon rainforest?

Today is Blog Action Day. Bloggers from all over the world are writing about the environment, which fits rather nicely with today's lesson!

Today's objectives were:

to know that the Amazon has suffered large scale deforestation

to recognise that the rate of deforestation has changed over time

to be able to give reasons for the deforestation of the Amazon

Deforestation is the conversion of forest areas to non-forest areas (i.e. cutting down the forest). In 2005, an area larger than Wales was cut down in the Amazon Rainforest. The rate of deforestation has slowed since 2005.

The main reasons for deforestation are:

Slash and Burn - most commonly for local tribes who need space to plant crops on a small scale. In recent years, only about 1/3 of deforestation can be attributed to shifting cultivators.

Road Building - particularly the TransAmazonian Highway.

Logging - commercial logging is widespread. It has been estimated that 28 trees are damaged for each one that is removed.

Cattle Ranching - an extensive form of farming - beef cattle roam large areas because the land is not fertile enough for them to feed on the grass in a small area. Most people agree that this is now the major reason for large scale forest clearance.

Hydroelectric Power - areas have been flooded when dams have been built for HEP projects. An example is the Balbina Dam.

Farming - soya farming has become big business. Nutrients in the soil are quickly exhausted and the land become infertile.

Mining - eg. gold, tin, copper, bauxite, oil. This can raise large amounts of cash.

New settlements - a significant amount of deforestation is caused by poor farmers who are encouraged to settle. Each squatter acquires the right to continue using a piece of land by living on a plot of unclaimed public land and "using" it for at least one year and a day. After five years the squatter acquires ownership and hence the right to sell the land.

The pie chart below shows the causes of deforestation in Amazon between 2000-2005.

Brazilian deforestation is closely linked to the economic health of the country - periods of lower deforestation (eg. 1988-2001) link to periods of slower economic growth; periods of rapid deforestation (eg. 1993-1998) link to periods of faster growth in the economy. During recessions, ranchers and developers do not have enough cash to rapidly expand their operations, while the government lacks funds to build new roads and settlements and grant tax breaks and subsidies.