Topic: The Amazon Rainforest

[Hedgehogirl]

Some information about the Rainforest in Brazil?
The Amazon Rainforest in Brazil is disapearing. And while the Rainforest in Brazil may cover a huge area, there are still other serious matters that need to be looked at.

Reasons for the Amazon Rainforest being cut down:

-Illegal Loggers. These are groups of people who cut down trees in areas that have been reserved by e.g Greenpeace, Ibama or the Brazilian Goverment.

-Large multi national companies such as Cargill. These companies cut down large areas of trees.

-Cattle Ranching. Farmers need to feed the cattle on grass, and to do so they need to cut down more and more trees.

-Farmers. These people are very poor, and are moved in to the rainforest by the Goverment. Many are not too good at farming and as a result many trees are cut down with no need.

-Gold mines. This can poison fish in rivers. Tribes that need the water to wash in and get food from then also suffer as well.

There are many other reasons also...

The damage this is doing to the Environment:

-Global Climate change
-Acid Rain
-Ozone Depletion
-Wide spread flooding

Many trees are being burnt, releasing many chemicals in to the atmosphere.
Also, loss of trees means that not as much Carbon dioxide is taken in.

Who is suffering:

-Tribes that have been in the Rainforest for thousands of years are now in decline because of loss of habitat.
-Wildlife and plants are also in danger. As a result many species are endangered.

More information soon...