Animals of the Amazon basin include mammals, birds and rainforest reptiles. Why are the Amazon rainforests burning? Endangered Tall Amazon Trees
1. The Amazon rainforest or Amazonian jungle is located on a vast, almost flat plain that covers almost the entire Amazon River basin.
2. The forest itself occupies 5.5 million square kilometers. It is located on the territory of nine countries (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana). The Amazon forest is the largest tropical forest in the world, accounting for half of the total area of remaining tropical forest on the planet.
3. Tropical rainforests South America have the greatest biodiversity. The diversity of animals and plants there is much greater than in the tropical forests of Africa and Asia. Every tenth described species of animal or plant is common in the Amazonian jungle. At least 40 thousand species of plants, more than 3 thousand species of fish, 1,300 species of birds, about 500 species of mammals, more than 400 species of amphibians, almost 400 species of reptiles and about 100 thousand species of various invertebrates were described here. It has the greatest diversity of plants on Earth. According to some experts, there are 150 thousand species per 1 km2 higher plants, including 75 thousand species of trees.
12. Over the past 10 years, new species of animals have been discovered in the Amazon forest.
This bright one poison frog, Ranitomeya benedicta, was discovered in 2008 in Peru. The poison of this frog can be used in the production of painkillers.
13. Forest falcon Micrastur mintoni, distinguished by its bright orange coloring around the eyes. This bird was first discovered in 2002, but scientists still don’t know much about the forest falcon.
14. tree frog Osteocephalus castaneicola has been identified as the new kind after discovery in the Bolivian Amazon in 2009.
15. This snake, Atractus tamessari, was discovered as a new species in 2006 in Guyana. It has distinctive red markings on brown scales, as well as a black and yellow underbelly.
16. Rio Acari marmoset (Mico acariensis) was discovered in 2000. The first specimen discovered is kept as a pet by residents of a small community in the Brazilian Amazon.
17. Purple flowers, protruding from the Bromelia araujoi plant, identified as a new species in 2008. Such plants belong to the same family as the pineapple.
18. The Amazonian lowland is very sparsely populated. The main routes of communication are rivers; along which there are small settlements and two major cities: Manaus - at the mouth of the Rio Negro and Belem - at the mouth of the river. Pair; a motorway has been built to the latter from the city of Brasilia. Due to ongoing climate change and deforestation, vast areas of the Amazon rain forest may develop into a cerrado, the predominant type of arid savanna in modern Brazil. Based on satellite observations of the Amazon floodplain over the past few decades, scientists have noted a 70% decline in forests. Deforestation has negatively affected the fragile ecological balance Amazonian forests and led to the extinction of many species of trees, plants and animals. In addition, the decomposition of wood residues and other vegetation as a result of logging and burning of forests leads to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere by a quarter. This, in turn, increases the greenhouse effect.
In this animation of images from 1975 to 2012 from Landsat 5 and 7 satellites, vast tracts of Amazonian forest are disappearing in Brazil's Rondônia state.
According to data provided by the Brazilian government, deforestation of the Amazon rainforest increased by 28% last year. Minister of Defense environment Isabella Teixeira said that 5843 square kilometers tropical forest were destroyed between August 2012 and July 2013.
Environmentalists blame the increase in deforestation on the easing of sanctions that affect companies involved in infrastructure development, including the construction of dams, highways and railways. Ms Teixeira said on Wednesday she would demand an explanation from regional authorities when she returns from a UN climate change summit in Warsaw.
“The Brazilian government should not tolerate the problem of illegal logging. We must stop the destruction forest areas" Ms Teixeira said, adding that she firmly believes that the damage caused to the rainforest can still be repaired.
Furnaces used to produce charcoal are seen from a police helicopter during Operation Hileia Patria in Nova Esperança do Piria. RICARDO Moraes / REUTERS.
There are several reasons accelerating deforestation:
Firstly, due to the ever-increasing production of soybeans and grain crops in Brazil.
Photo 2. 
Secondly: according to researchers at Stony Brook University, cocaine production in Colombia also has a huge impact on increasing deforestation. Their destruction is accelerated by the spread of the coca bush, which in tropical forests Lately it became too much.
One of the main reasons for excessive deforestation in the Amazon is also an increase in Brazilian beef exports. It turns out that 60-70 percent of deforested land is used for farming. cattle mainly by farmers running small farms.
Forests absorb approximately one-third of fossil fuel emissions (they remove approximately 2.4 billion tons of carbon from the atmosphere each year). And in order for environmentalists to have a chance to seriously engage climate change– global deforestation must be stopped. Well, or at least reduced to a minimum.
An aerial view shows a section of the Amazon rainforest that has been cleared for Agriculture near Santarem. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS.
Deforestation in the Amazon is already much more than regional problem. This - global problem because the Amazon rainforest is playing key role hydrological and climate system Earth and renders significant influence on the world climate.
Photo 3. 
The Amazon rainforest covers a significant amount of land and extends across Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, Suriname, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana and French Guyana, which represents approximately 40% of South America and can be compared to the size of the 48 states located on the North American continent . The Amazon Rainforest, covers the Amazon River Basin, where the second most long river globally after the Nile and the largest globally, including more than 1100 tributaries, which are an important source of sustenance for plants, animals and people. Although the Amazon rainforest has been accessed by humans and affected by their presence, the importance of this rainforest to the earth continues to be recognized. There are several types of vegetation and ecosystems in the Amazon rainforest, some of which are savannas, deciduous forests, tropical forests, flooded forests and flooded forests.
Photo 4. 
A fisherman's house is seen along the Tapajos River near Santarem. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS.
The most important rainforest in Africa is now in the Congo Basin. The Congo rainforest is second in size to the Amazon rainforest, and extends over other countries like Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic and Cameroon. About two-thirds of the rainforest is still preserved, but the rainforest is under threat from human intervention. The Congo rainforest is home to gorillas, bonobos, peacocks, chimpanzees, elephants and a wide variety of birds, insects; in total, approximately 600 species of trees and approximately 10,000 species of animals; accounting for 70% of Africa's biodiversity, ecosystems and rainforests. More than half the people democratic republic Congo, which has a population of approximately 60 million people, depends on the rainforest for survival. The rainforest is an integral part of culture, diet, omens, habitation and traditional practices. The Congo rainforest also has a very long and interesting historical backdrop to tribal warfare, ethnic violence, and the Arab ivory slave trade. Commercial logging and land clearing for communities – big threat tropical forest.
Once upon a time, tropical forests covered large parts of the land in Central America, making it essentially an area covered by deep tropical forests. Rainforests Central America endowed with many rare and specific varieties of plants, trees and animals. The southwest of Costa Rica, for example, the Osa Peninsula is known for its diverse flora and fauna and animals such as the Harpy Eagle, jaguars, tapirs, macaws, pumas, arrow frogs and the fer-de-lance, Costa Rica's deadliest snake. Some of the birds in this rainforest are rare and have been declared endangered. The rainforest of the Osa Peninsula has been described National Geographic as ‘one of the biologically intense places on earth’.
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Photo 7. 
An aerial view shows a section of the Amazon rainforest that has been cleared for agriculture near Santarem. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS.
Photo 8. 
A tractor works on a wheat plantation in what was virgin tropical forest Amazon near Uruara. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS.
Photo 9. 
An area of smoke billowing from the Amazon rainforest being burned to clear land for agriculture near Novo Progresso. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS.
Photo 10. 
Sawmills that process illegally harvested trees from the Amazon rainforest are visible near Uruara. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS.
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A truck driver eats canned food next to his truck after a rainstorm near the town of Uruara. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS.
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A truck transports a bucket excavator at a sawmill near Morais Almeida. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS.
Photo 16. 
A man walks past a car ready to drag a log from the forest in the Jamanshim National Park near Novo Progresso. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS.
Photo 17. 
A tractor works on a wheat plantation on land that was once virgin Amazon rainforest near Santarem. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS.
Photo 18. 
A man carries his chainsaw past fallen trees in the Jamanshim National Park near Novo Progresso. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS.
Photo 19. 
An aerial view of the construction site of a hydroelectric dam along the Teles Pires River, which flows into the Amazon, near the town of Alta Foresta, Pará state, June 19, 2013. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS.
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An illegal sawmill construction site is spotted by a police helicopter during Operation Hileia Patria in Nova Esperança do Piria. RICARDO MORAES/REUTERS.
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An area of Amazon rainforest that was burned to clear land for livestock grazing has been spotted near Novo Progresso. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS.
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A tree lying on the ground in the Amazon rainforest in the Jamanshim National Park near the town of Novo Progresso. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS.
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A tractor previously used to transport logs from the Amazon rainforest is burned by police near Novo Progresso. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS.
Photo 27. 
A police officer inspects a tree illegally felled in the Amazon rainforest in Jamanshim National Park near Novo Progresso. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS.
Police guard a man after he was arrested for illegally felling trees in the virgin Amazon rainforest near Morais Almeida. NACHO DOCE/REUTERS.
By the way, here's another environmental theme: , and here it is, well, somewhat shocking to me The original article is on the website InfoGlaz.rf Link to the article from which this copy was made -
Whose lives have been the subject of countless films for Discovery and the BBC, you will be immersed in a rich natural world our planet, which has no equal in its parameters:
- The Amazon River Basin is the largest tropical rain forest in the world, covering an area of over 6 million km2.
- Humans settled in the Amazon Jungle at least 11,200 years ago. The Amazon Rainforest itself has existed for over 55 million years.
- The Amazon rainforest accounts for more than half of the total area of remaining rainforest on the entire planet.
- 20% of the Earth's oxygen is produced by the Amazon rainforest, which is why it is often called the "lungs of the planet."
- Amazon is the most deep river peace. She brings in Atlantic Ocean up to ⅕ of the flow of all rivers in the world. The Amazon River and its tributaries collect water from the territories of 9 countries: Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guyana.
- The Amazon's biological diversity is the highest on Earth: over 150 thousand plant species, 75 thousand tree species, 1,300 bird species, 3,000 fish species, 430 mammals, 370 reptiles and more than 2.5 million different insects.
- The Amazon Jungle is home to a number of deadly dangerous inhabitants Lands: jaguars, electric eels, piranhas, poisonous snakes and spiders, etc.
- About 80% of the food we eat comes from tropical forests - rice, potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, coffee, chocolate, corn, pineapples and many others.
- About 400-500 indigenous Indian tribes today live in the Amazon rainforest. It is believed that about 75 of these tribes have never had contact with the outside world.
- The city of Iquitos (Peru) is the largest city in the world without land communication with other cities. It is located deep in the jungle and has over 400,000 inhabitants.
Wild nature. Flora and fauna of the Amazon jungle
The Amazon forests are rich in diversity of trees and plants, many species of jungle flora and fauna are endemic - found only here throughout the world. At the same time, 10% of all currently known plant and animal species on the planet are found in the Amazon jungle.
Jaguars, pumas, monkeys, sloths, caimans, anacondas, copybaras, turtles, river dolphins, parrots, toucans, hummingbirds and many, many other jungle inhabitants are part of world heritage humanity. In terms of the number of animal and plant species, the Amazon jungle far exceeds the tropical forests of Africa and Asia.
The jungle is a real treasure trove useful plants- the fruits of some are used as food, parts of others serve as the basis for modern medicines.
Ferns, orchids, mosses, cacti, epiphytes - every plant has adapted to draw everything useful from the humid air of the jungle. Frequent rains and high humidity led to the fact that some of the jungle inhabitants moved to the trees. In such conditions, frogs lay their eggs high in the trees.
The Amazon River is one of the 7 natural wonders of the planet
In 2011, Amazon was recognized as one of the seven natural wonders planets.
This is the deepest river in the world. The Amazon and its tributaries form a system of inland waterways with a total length of over 25 thousand kilometers. At the point where it flows into the ocean, the depth of the river reaches 100 meters.
During the dry season, the Amazon reaches a width of 11 kilometers, covering 110 thousand sq. km with water, and during the rainy season it increases three times, during this period the river’s waters rise to 20 meters, covering an area of 350 thousand sq. km and spilling over 40 km and more.
The Amazon and its tributaries are home to about 3,000 species of fish, but the most famous inhabitants of these rivers remain piranhas - predatory fish, which can even attack large predators crossing the river.
Wild tribes of the Amazon
Of the more than 10 million Indians who lived in harmony with the jungle, this moment Only about 200,000 survived.
According to various sources, today 400-500 tribes live in the Amazon rainforest. Of these, about 75 tribes have no contact with the outside world.
These people serve as a living reminder of the fragility of ancient cultures. The Indians have repeatedly stood in the way of commercial exploitation of the Amazon. In the past, oil production has led to aggressive and disastrous contact with isolated Indians - in the early 1980s, Shell research led to contact with the isolated Nahua tribe, which subsequently killed about 50% of the tribe within a few years. Wild tribes are powerless before modern society- Indians have no immune defense against epidemics of modern diseases.
Almost all isolated Indians are nomads - they move through the forest in small groups depending on the season. During the rainy season, when the water level is high, the tribes who do not use canoes live far from the river, deep in the forest. During the dry season, when water levels are low, they live on the banks of rivers.
During the dry season river turtles They lay eggs on river banks, burying them in the sand. Eggs are an important source of protein for Indians, so this also serves as a reason for moving to the banks of rivers, along with fishing.
In addition to turtle eggs, uncontacted Indians eat a variety of meat and fish dishes, bananas, nuts, berries, roots and grubs.
Holidays in the jungle of Peru. Amazon National Parks
Much of the Amazon River basin still remains unexplored and dangerous for humans; access to the wild rainforest is possible only in protected areas permitted by the government, and only accompanied by accredited guides.
In Peru there are 3 interesting protected areas for visiting the Amazon Jungle:
- Nature reserves in the Iquitos area
- National Park Manu
- Nature reserves in the Puerto Maldonado area
1. Iquitos
It is the largest city on Earth that does not have land connections with other cities. You can only get to Iquitos by water or air.
The city began to grow in the 19th century due to the beginning of the “rubber fever”. Here they began producing rubber from natural raw materials - wood growing in the Amazonian jungle. The tycoons who owned rubber factories built luxurious mansions that still give the city its unique style.
From Iquitos you can make a lot of interesting forays into the jungle, immerse yourself in the world of the jungle, and get to know the local tribes and their culture.
How to get there: There are 8-9 flights daily from Lima to Iquitos. You can view tickets on the websites of local airlines: LAN Perú, Peruvian Airlines and Star Perú. The flight takes 1 hour 45 minutes.
2. Manu National Park. Misty Andean forests
Manu National Park is one of the largest nature reserves in the world: it covers almost 2,000,000 hectares and is located at an altitude of 300 to 4,000 meters above sea level. Due to this location and vast area, the park contains several different ecosystems, providing a great diversity of plant, insect and animal species. Manu - a reserve with the most big amount biological species in the world!
Most of the park is closed to visitors; only scientists are allowed there, but even they have a hard time getting a pass. Visitors can enter Protected area Manu, but only as part of groups organized by accredited agencies. A limited number of visitors are allowed into the park each day. In this part of the park you can see huge variety landscapes, animals and flora, the bends of the rivers form lagoons with a magnificent diversity of flora and fauna.
How to get there: Groups, accompanied by accredited guides, travel to the Manu Nature Reserve from Cusco. You can get to Cusco from Lima by plane (1 hour) or by bus (24 hours).
3. Puerto Maldonado
This small city 55 kilometers from the border with Bolivia is very similar to Iquitos, but it is much easier to get to. There are several in the area around Puerto Maldonado national parks, where you can see caimans, monkeys, capybaras and other animals, reptiles, insects and birds.
How to get there: There are direct flights to Puerto Maldonado from Cusco (the flight takes only 1 hour) and from Lima (1 hour 40 minutes).
Amazon Jungle Tours
The Amazon Jungle Tour is an amazing adventure in which you can feel the primal forces of nature and hear the call of the wild Earth.
Houses on stilts, mosquito nets over the beds, night walks with flashlights, boat trips along a raging river, bungee rides and much more will become unforgettable moments your bright adventure.
Even at night, you will feel with all your senses that you are at the mercy of the wild jungle.
What is included in the tours:
- Transfer
- Accommodation in houses
- Professional English speaking guide
- Meals: all breakfasts, lunches and dinners
- Drinks and water to refill your own bottles
- Excursions, active recreation programs
Not included in tours:
- Travel insurance
- Single occupancy (on request)
Comfort and safety in the jungle. Important information
Do not forget that the jungle is not an artificial park adapted for people. The Amazon forests hide many dangers that are invisible to our eyes - sharp thorns may be hiding under the soft moss on the trees, and cute ants on your way may turn out to be poisonous.
Being close to the best guides jungle, you can be sure of your safety, but you must be vigilant and strictly adhere to the rules that will be announced to you upon arrival.
If you are planning a trip to the rainforest (Manu National Park), we recommend getting vaccinated against yellow fever. We also recommend taking the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites: use repellent and wear clothing with long sleeve and trousers.
When to go. Seasonality, climate, temperature
You can go to the Amazon Jungle in any season, each of them has its own advantages: during the rainy season you can see flowering plants, attracting birds and primates that descend to the water itself; in the dry season, when the water level drops, you can see migrating schools of fish, birds attracted by easy prey, caimans hunting fish.
The average temperature in the jungle throughout the year is +30º
Rainy season: mid-December - mid-May.
Dry season: mid-May - mid-December.
Most high level water in the river is in May, the lowest is in September.
What to take with you? Clothing, shoes, protective equipment
- Clothing: We recommend bringing light, quick-drying, preferably cotton clothing, including several short-sleeved T-shirts, a long-sleeve sweater/jacket, several pairs of socks, a raincoat, and a swimsuit.
- Sun protection hat
- Comfortable waterproof shoes
- Flashlight and spare batteries
- Camera and spare battery
- Binoculars
- Repellent (we recommend OFF factor 35)
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle
In the jungle you will be given rubber boots.
FAQ
Is it possible to get into the jungle territory on your own?
Some tourists dare to go into the jungle unaccompanied, but this does not always end well. You can find a guide who will agree to work individually and live with tourists for several days in a wild forest away from organized accommodation (hotels and lodges).
What is the maximum group size?
Usually there are no more than 8 people in a group. In case the group is large - 10-16 people, it is accompanied by one or two additional guides.
Are there any age restrictions for staying in the jungle?
There are no age restrictions. The lodges welcome guests of all ages.
What if you didn’t have time to get vaccinated?
The vaccination can be done in Lima, but you will need to wait 10 days for the vaccine to take effect before heading into the jungle.
The Amazon rainforest, or Amazon jungle, is located on a vast, almost flat plain that covers almost the entire Amazon River basin. The forest itself occupies 5.5 million square kilometers. It is located on the territory of nine countries (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana). The Amazon forest is the largest tropical forest in the world. They occupy half the total area of the planet's remaining tropical forests.
The tropical rainforests of South America have the greatest biodiversity. The diversity of animals and plants there is much greater than in the tropical forests of Africa and Asia. Every tenth described species of animal or plant is common in the Amazonian jungle. At least 40 thousand species of plants, more than 3 thousand species of fish, 1,300 species of birds, about 500 species of mammals, more than 400 species of amphibians, almost 400 species of reptiles and about 100 thousand species of various invertebrates have been described here.
It has the greatest diversity of plants on Earth. According to some experts, there are 150 thousand species of higher plants per 1 square kilometer, including 75 thousand species of trees. The Amazon jungle is home to many animals that can pose a serious danger to humans. Among the large predators, the jaguar, anaconda and caiman live here. Found in rivers electric eels and candiru, they live in trees different kinds tailless amphibians from the poison dart frog family, whose skin secretes a strong poison. Various parasites and vectors also live here infectious diseases. In particular, some types bats may be carriers of the rabies virus. A humid, warm environment creates favorable conditions for the spread of malaria, dengue and other infectious diseases by their carriers.
The Amazonian lowland is very sparsely populated. The main routes of communication are rivers; along which there are small settlements and two large cities: Manaus - at the mouth of the Rio Negro and Belem - at the mouth of the river. Pair; a motorway has been built to the latter from the city of Brasilia. Due to ongoing climate change and tree felling, vast tracts of the Amazon rainforest could become the cerrado, the predominant type of arid savanna in modern-day Brazil. Based on satellite observations of the Amazon floodplain over the past few decades, scientists have noted a 70% decline in forests. Deforestation has negatively impacted the fragile ecological balance of the Amazon forests and led to the extinction of many species of trees, plants and animals. In addition, the decomposition of wood residues and other vegetation as a result of logging and burning of forests leads to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere by a quarter. This, in turn, increases the greenhouse effect.
Based on materials from Wikipedia.org
Photos from Flickr.com users
Video tour
At this place there were:
Someone aptly noted that a person who finds himself in the Amazon forests experiences intense joy twice - when he first enters this “green paradise” and when he finally gets out of this “green hell”. We invite you to amazing land unusually rich in flora and fauna. He is called lungs of the planet, and the death of the Amazon forests threatens global environmental disaster... and they die.
The Edge of Eternal Summer
The Amazon Basin is home to the world's largest tropical rainforest. Its borders are clearly delineated by the eastern foot of the Andes and the slopes of the Brazilian and Guiana highlands. The forest is located in nine countries, but most of it is in Brazil.
The equatorial climate is characterized by depressing monotony - humid and hot prevail all year round. air masses. Regardless of the season, the temperature fluctuates between 25–28 °C and even at night does not fall below 20 °C. But even such moderate heat is difficult to bear due to high humidity air and the lack of night coolness - you feel as if you found yourself in a greenhouse in the summer.
But local residents do not need forecasts from weather forecasters. A day without rain is a unique phenomenon here. All year round Every new day begins with a cloudless morning. By mid-day, clouds roll in, the wind rises, and torrents of water fall to the ground amid deafening rumbles of thunder. After 2–3 hours, the rain ends and a quiet, clear night sets in.
Horizontal and vertical
The Amazon surprises with its richness of flora and fauna; the biodiversity of these forests is much greater than the forests of Asia and Africa. Species composition And appearance plantings changes depending on their “relationship” with rivers. In the Amazonian lowland, three types of forest vegetation are distinguished: forests in river valleys, flooded for several months a year (in the local language - “higapo”) and a short time(“Varzeya”), and forests on watershed areas, not flooded (“Ete”). There are also mangroves on the Atlantic coast.
Under the power of the rivers
Igapo forests are not as rich in vegetation diversity. Usually they are devoid of soil cover and filled with marshy silt, enveloping tree trunks to a height of several meters. Representatives of the flora with respiratory roots and support roots are often found. Lots of vines and epiphytes. And the surface of the water is covered with various algae and aquatic plants, among which notable is the royal Victoria (from the Nymphaeaceae family), with leaves up to 2 m in diameter, capable of supporting a weight of up to 50 kg. Its flowers change color from white to purple during flowering.
The Varzea vegetation is not much richer in species. The main trees in these forests are palms. Representatives from the legume, mulberry (ficus genus), and euphorbia families are often found, including the famous rubber plant, Hevea. And in lower tiers Various types of theobroma (chocolate tree) are not uncommon. These forests also contain many vines and epiphytes, including orchids. The rich grass cover contains an abundance of ferns, plants from the banana and bromeliad families.
But the “ete” forests are particularly lush and diverse. They can safely be considered the richest type of vegetation on Earth. There are no dominant trees here. Although the abundance of species is large, the number of plants of each species is usually small. Characteristic trees upper tiers - Bertolletia, or castaneiro (Brazil nut - a tree that often lives up to 1000 years, with a trunk diameter of 1-2 m), ceiba ( sacred tree Maya), palm trees, as well as plants from the laurel, myrtle, mimosa, and legume families. There are many creeping, creeping plants, the stems of which are as thick as ropes. Ferns reach several meters in height, and grasses that do not grow in flooded areas are also found in the grass cover.
In the eastern part of the Amazon, the climate is already subequatorial, and deciduous tree species, patches of open forests and savannas appear on the watersheds; only the “igapó” and “varzei” stripes remain evergreen.
According to the World Fund wildlife(WWF), due to global warming and deforestation, about half of the Amazon rainforest could be damaged or destroyed within 20–30 years. Already, due to climate change, droughts (contributing to forest fires) are becoming more frequent in this region.
Amazon Problems
Many people have heard that the Amazon forests are called green lungs Earth. All plants produce oxygen through photosynthesis and absorb carbon dioxide. But the Amazon rainforest produces about 50% of the planet's oxygen. Therefore, the death of this important “organ” can have the most dire consequences for the entire Earth.
In the 60s of the last century, intensive, uncontrolled logging began. Both banks of the Amazon between the mouth and the city of Manaus suffered the greatest devastation. Once upon a time, tropical rainforests stretched along the entire coast of Brazil (which is 8,500 km!), but today only 7% of them remain there.
Despite bans on timber exports, deforestation continues to rise. Trees are often cut down by poaching, floating them down rivers in sea ports, and from there they are legally sent to consumers. It’s even worse when forests are simply burned down for agricultural land. Fueling the destruction of forests is the increasing demand for soybeans - the area of soybean fields is increasing. Selective logging is also very harmful - when only selected trees are cut down, while the forest around remains untouched. After all, at the same time, giant perennial trees disappear and simply thickets appear, the value of which in the existing ecosystem is much lower. Cutting down even one type of tree has a devastating effect on all tiers." forest house».
In some areas they are now trying to revive the forest, and, of course, it is being restored. But such plantings contain only small part original species diversity.
But in some places tropical forests have been completely turned into desert, as, for example, in the industrial zone near the Trombete River - one of the world's largest bauxite mining centers. Looking at how the wind raises clouds of dust from the cracked reddish ground, on which there is not the slightest sign of life, it is difficult to imagine that just 10 years ago this place was covered with thickets.
By cutting down a tropical forest, it is easy to turn its territory into a new Sahara. Rains very quickly wash away the top, fertile layer of soil that is not protected by plants. And the sun and wind complete their work.
Without thinking about the future...
The most terrible paradox is that the deforestation of the Amazon forests is, for the most part, completely unnecessary from the point of view of economic development. Now in the Amazon basin, as a result of inept use of land, the exploitation of agricultural land and pastures has ceased in areas equal to the territory of Germany. If these lands are rehabilitated, there will be no need to take territory away from the forest. Moreover, the soil of tropical forests cannot be called fertile. A farmer who has cleared a plot of forest for himself will be surprised to find that the productivity of the land sharply decreases after 2-3 years (at first, the ash from the burned forest serves as fertilizer). In the Amazon tropical forest, plants get nutrients not from deep layers of soil. Some of the substances come with raindrops, which “wash” all the plants on their way to the ground, and the other part comes as a result of the decomposition of forest “garbage” (fallen branches, fruits, leaves). Every year, about 8 tons of litter fall on 1 hectare of tropical forest. Processed by the residents of the “forest house” (termites drag it underground, mushrooms decompose it into mineral components), it turns into a highly nutritious fertilizer.
But you can benefit from the forest without destroying it. How many medicinal plants grows in this forest! It deserves the name of a huge natural pharmacy. In addition to natural medicines you can get fruits, oils, nuts, rubber...
A person who destroys this forest is like a farmer who eats the seeds stored for sowing to satisfy his immediate hunger, without thinking about supplies for the future.
We need to look at the forest from a different perspective - as a source of wealth, and not as an obstacle to getting rich. However, the incessant clouds of smoke over the Amazon remind us that this intention is not so easy to realize...