UNITED NATIONS, Sep 20 (IPS) – This year has been the worst for the Amazon rainforest in almost two decades. Although there has been a modest reduction in deforestation compared to 2023, forest fires have destroyed hectares of critical biodiversity. In the first eight months of this year, the Amazon has seen regular forest fires, including more than 53,000 recorded incidents.
According to the Rainforest Foundation US, so far this year, forest fires have consumed more than 13.4 million hectares in the Amazon, which is roughly the size of Costa Rica or Denmark. In addition, according to Amazon Watch, Amazon forest fires were limited to the regions of Brazil and Bolivia in previous years. By 2024, these fires have spread across the Peruvian regions, something that has never been seen before.
The recent fires are partly the result of the El Niño drought, which has reduced annual rainfall levels in the Amazon. They are also the result of climate change and human exploitation, which indicate global problems if left unchecked.
“Combined, the effects of climate change, deforestation and more forest burning could result in 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest disappearing by 2050,” said the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
The Amazon is important to the life of the entire planet for many reasons. For one, it is one of the world’s largest carbon sinks, second only to the Earth’s oceans. According to Greenpeace International, the Amazon absorbs approximately 90 to 140 billion tons of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Without it, there can be a significant increase in the greenhouse effect.
Dr. Elena Shevliakova, a Princeton University scientist, estimates that if the Amazon were to burn completely, Brazil and its eight neighboring territories would be “almost uninhabitable”. Shevliakova adds that the planet will see a 25 percent decrease in rainfall and a 4.5°C increase in global temperature.
Regions bordering the Amazon are already seeing negative effects from the fires. Figures from IQAir say the air quality in Manaus, the capital of Brazil’s Amazonas state, has reached unhealthy levels. Natalia Gil, an expert in air science and a member of the Department of Air Quality and Products at the Technological Laboratory of Uruguay, also saw an increase in particulate matter found in the air in surrounding countries.
In addition, the Amazon is one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, supporting more than ten percent of all species of plants and animals on Earth. Losing this would have a negative impact on the world’s ecosystems as food chains would be severely disrupted, leading to increased food insecurity. In addition, species of plants that are widely used in medicine will become extinct, endangering the entire human population. The US National Cancer Institute estimates that 70 percent of all plants associated with cancer drugs come from the Amazon.
The livelihoods of several indigenous communities depend on the natural health of the Amazon rainforest. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), about 40 million people live in the forest, including 2.2 million indigenous people. The Amazon Conservation Association says, “More than 400 tribes, each with a different culture, language, and location, continue to live a normal life, relying on these forests for their survival…The local people rely on the Amazon forests for their daily needs. such as food, water, fiber, and traditional medicine”.
For the overall well-being of nature and humanity, it is important that efforts are made to reduce the impacts of human behavior. UNEP is currently launching programs that focus on sustainable practices, biodiversity conservation, and supporting indigenous communities.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
