Deforestation: Brazil Impacts (AOS_2)

Question 1

positive environment impacts in Brazil

Answer 1

• Clearing of forests for dams provides hydroelectricity which is a renewable form of energy

Question 2

negative environment impacts in Brazil

Answer 2

• Deforestation of the Amazon accounted for 1.5% of the increase in carbon dioxide levels since the mid-nineteenth century. Amazon clearing thought to be responsible for 10% global greenhouse gas emissions
  
  • More than half of all tree species (e.g. Brazil Nit and Acai Palm) in Amazon are threatened according to a 2015 study
  • Soil erosion (no trees anchoring fertile soil) leads to increased sediment in streams/water supplies. Leaching of soils means farmers must be dependent on chemical fertilisers in order to maintain soil fertility

Question 3

positive economic impacts in Brazil

Answer 3

• Increased large scale production of beef and soy beans contribute to exports and helps Brazil’s trade balance (Brazil has 24-25 million hectares devoted to soy beans and is currently the second largest producer in the world)
  
  • Brazil is the world’s biggest beef exporter (1/4 of global market). Earns over $1 bill/year
  • Projects such as hydro dams e.g. Belo Monte provide employment for 1000s during construction
• High percentage of people in poverty (26% in Brazil live below the poverty line) leads to small farmers clearing land in an effort to improve their livelihoods

Question 4

negative economic impacts in Brazil

Answer 4

• Potential loss of revenue from other rainforests plants which may provide medicines etc. in the future
  
  • Small scale selling of forest products such as rubber, Brazil nuts and Jaguar skins threatened by deforestation
  • Tough penalties for those who clear illegally e.g. rancher in State of Para fined 720,000 reals (US$230,000) and banned from selling cattle after trying to clear a field in 2009
• Deforestation increases food insecurity

Question 5

positive social impacts in Brazil

Answer 5

• Indigenous people’s rights are preserved in the Brazilian Constitution as well as via international conventions
  
  • Native reserves established
  • Movement of people from poverty stricken areas such as NE to states such as Para and Mato Grosso e.g. town of Altamira now 100 000
• Over 20 million people and 70 million cattle now inhabiting the Amazon, about a 600% increase in the last 60 years

Question 6

negative social impacts in Brazil

Answer 6

• Increased contact with outsiders exploiting the rainforest has led to increased disease e.g. tuberculosis for indigenous people such as the Awa tribe (down to 100 members) due to lack of immunity (1500 there were between 6-9 million Amazon natives, today there are an estimated 250,000 left)
  
  • fear Amazonian tribes will lose their traditional way of life)