The Amazon Rainforest

Question 1

How much of the Amazon is in Brazil?

Answer 1

50%

Question 2

What is Brazils world ranking for size?

Answer 2

5th

Question 3

What other countries is the Amazon in?

Answer 3

Peru, Columbia, and Northern Bolivia

Question 4

How much of the planets surface is covered by the Amazon?

Answer 4

1%

Question 5

What percentage of the world wildlife species are in the Amazon?

Answer 5

10%

Question 6

What does the Amazon contribute 10% to globally?

Answer 6

Terrestrial productivity and carbon stores in ecosystems

Question 7

What are the main drivers of deforestation in the Amazon?

Answer 7

Land use change for other activities and use of its resources

Question 8

How much of the Amazon rainforest was destroyed between August 2017 and July 2018?

Answer 8

7,900 sq km

Question 9

What percentage of deforestation is caused by cattle ranching?

Answer 9

80%

Question 10

Why is forest cleared for cattle ranching?

Answer 10

For grasslands and pastures for cattle grazing, or in the prospect to sell to ranchers and farmers

Question 11

Why is cattle ranching becoming a more lucrative industry?

Answer 11

The global demand for beef is increasing as the countries become more affluent

Question 12

What percentage of deforestation is caused by commercial farming?

Answer 12

10%

Question 13

What are the main crops being cleared for commercial farming?

Answer 13

Palm oil, sugar cane, coffee and soybean

Question 14

Why did soybean deforestation double between 1990 and 2010?

Answer 14

Brazilian scientists invented a new soybean that grows well in tropical climates

Question 15

What percentage of deforestation is caused by subsistence farming?

Answer 15

5%

Question 16

Who traditionally used slash and burn farming?

Answer 16

Indigenous people

Question 17

What percentage of deforestation is caused by logging?

Answer 17

3%

Question 18

What tree species are taken through selective logging?

Answer 18

Mahogany and teak

Question 19

What are the causes for the other 2% of deforestation?

Answer 19

-road building
-mineral extraction
-energy development
-settlement and population

Question 20

What did a 2013 study on mineral extraction in the Amazon find?

Answer 20

Small scale gold mining increased 400% in 13years

Question 21

How do dams drive deforestation today?

Answer 21

By powering industrial mining and farming projects

Question 22

How many sqm of forest did the Balbina dam flood?

Answer 22

2,400sq km

Question 23

How did the Brazilian government encourage population distribution from crowded cities?

Answer 23

They granted plots of land to farm and home for those that help construct roads and other infrastructure

Question 24

What are the two global impacts of deforestation?

Answer 24

Climate change and global warming, Loss of biodiversity

Question 25

How much of the worlds land based carbon is stored in rainforests?

Answer 25

20%

Question 26

What percent of carbon emissions is contributed by world wide deforestation?

Answer 26

10%

Question 27

What percentage of all wildlife species we know is the amazon home to?

Answer 27

10%

Question 28

What are scientists saying that deforestation at its current rate will cause in relation to species loss?

Answer 28

That it will equal to or be many times greater than those associated with the 5 historical mass extinctions

Question 29

What are the local and regional impacts of deforestation?

Answer 29

Economic development and soil erosion

Question 30

What does deforestation offer to the local economy?

Answer 30

Jobs and income

Question 31

What does eroded soil that flow into rivers and the silt cause?

Answer 31

-affect fish reproduction, harming fisheries -HEP can become less efficient -industry can suffer due to a lack of water or polluted water

Question 32

What are the knock on effects of soil erosion?

Answer 32

The top soil is washed way, removing nutrients through leaching, making it harder for the rainforest to regrow

Question 33

local techniques for forest management:

Answer 33

-agroforestry -ecotourism

Question 34

national techniques for forest management:

Answer 34

-selective logging -afforestation

Question 35

international techniques for forest management:

Answer 35

-international agreements -debt reduction

Question 36

example of debt reduction:

Answer 36

2010, USA converted $13.5 mil to funds for forest conservation

Question 37

example of an international agreement:

Answer 37

FSC approves sustainable wood sources