What is happening to the Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon rainforest is the largest tropical rainforest in the world which covers over five and half a million square kilometers. Over half of the Amazon is located in Brazil but also in South American countries; Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Guyana, Bolivia and Suriname. (Science Kids, 2013). During the past 40 years, 20% of the Amazon rainforest has been cut down, this percentage could be higher but was not put in account due to logging. this causes damage and shows that there is less seen cuts. Scientists says that 20% trees could be lost in the next two decades. (National Geographic, 1996)

The Amazon gets worse and worse every time it is observed. The main cause for this is deforestation. This investigation will show what is happening to the Amazon Region and what could be the management for it. Socially, the main cause for rainforest destruction is deforestation which is done by humans, who are at fault for it. Deforestation is the process of cutting down, damaging and burning a rainforest. Every year an area of a rainforest is cut down and destroyed. The plants and animals that used to live there die or adapt somewhere else.

There are many reasons are for wood, agriculture, land for poor farmers, cattle, paper, road construction and extraction of minerals and energy. In 2005 and 2010 the Amazon had the worst droughts ever recorded. Rivers dried up, communities were isolated and land was burned. The smoke interfered with transportation and blocked the formation of rain clouds. This burnt carbon dioxide and worsened the effects in climate change. The flooding of damns and wildfires destroy rainforest and migrants clear the land to keep some for themselves.

This shows that people don’t really care about how much damage is caused for the rainforest but only about themselves and the things they need to do. (SlideShare, 2013) This affects the rainforest because if people keep damaging the rainforest, there will be no rainforest left. Economically whats happening the Amazon is mostly because of logging, fires, mining, agriculture, cattle ranching and currency devaluation. The Amazon Rain forest is cleared out to raise cattle and to produce beef, this means that many different species of animals are losing their habitats and this leads to extinction.

The human population is growing faster and faster and this means we need more food. The Amazon is society’s best way of clearing out cattle to produce food. As the rainforest is losing its ability to stay green because of fires but this means that more trees, plants and parts of the forest are being killed. (SlideShare, 2013) One of the main causes of the rainforest destruction is logging. Many types of wood is used for the furniture, floor, constructions and tropical forests in Africa, Asia and South America.

When people buy certain wood products they are usually from the Amazon, this causes destruction of the Amazon Rainforest. Poor farmers in the world rely on clearing rainforest land to feed their families. Without access to better agriculture land most people burn and clear patches of forest land. Agricultural companies have started clearing more rainforest than before, specially in the amazon where places are converted into soybean farms. Apparently South America will have an area of farmland coming for the Amazon rainforest.

This means that it will cause more damage and destruction for the Amazon. (Mongabay. com, 2005). This affects everyone that like specific woods that come from the Amazon, because if tree’s keep getting cut down no one will get the furniture, floor or constructions they want. Scientist say 4C rise will kill 85% of the Amazon Rainforest, even small temperate would cause 20-40% within 100 years. Global warming will wreck attempts tom save the Amazon as, there is a prediction one-third of trees are killed by small temperature’s rises. (The Guardian, 2013)

This means that climate is a big issue in the Amazon and that it is affecting everything within in. If the climate continues killing the Rainforest, under 300 years the whole Amazon would be destroyed. There are possible strategies for a sustainable management for the Amazon rainforest. These include; Agro-forestry- growing tree’s and crops at the same times. This means that farmers can take advantage of shelters from canopy of trees. It will also prevent soil erosion. Selective logging- trees are cut down when they reach are particular height.

This allows young trees to have a longer life p. The forest will be fresh fore 30-50 years. Protect particular area’s from exploitation. This saves some wildlife and parts of the forest and does not let humans invade on them. Monitoring- use technology/photography to check no illegal activities take place and everything is in order. Afforestation- opposite of deforestation, if tree’s are cut they are replace to maintain the canopy. Education – make sure people who explore the Amazon understand their boundaries, actions and consequences. (Bitesize, 2013)