The Amazon Rainforest Flashcards
How much of the Amazon is in Brazil?
50%
What is Brazils world ranking for size?
5th
What other countries is the Amazon in?
Peru, Columbia, and Northern Bolivia
How much of the planets surface is covered by the Amazon?
1%
What percentage of the world wildlife species are in the Amazon?
10%
What does the Amazon contribute 10% to globally?
Terrestrial productivity and carbon stores in ecosystems
What are the main drivers of deforestation in the Amazon?
Land use change for other activities and use of its resources
How much of the Amazon rainforest was destroyed between August 2017 and July 2018?
7,900 sq km
What percentage of deforestation is caused by cattle ranching?
80%
Why is forest cleared for cattle ranching?
For grasslands and pastures for cattle grazing, or in the prospect to sell to ranchers and farmers
Why is cattle ranching becoming a more lucrative industry?
The global demand for beef is increasing as the countries become more affluent
What percentage of deforestation is caused by commercial farming?
10%
What are the main crops being cleared for commercial farming?
Palm oil, sugar cane, coffee and soybean
Why did soybean deforestation double between 1990 and 2010?
Brazilian scientists invented a new soybean that grows well in tropical climates
What percentage of deforestation is caused by subsistence farming?
5%
Who traditionally used slash and burn farming?
Indigenous people
What percentage of deforestation is caused by logging?
3%
What tree species are taken through selective logging?
Mahogany and teak
What are the causes for the other 2% of deforestation?
-road building
-mineral extraction
-energy development
-settlement and population
What did a 2013 study on mineral extraction in the Amazon find?
Small scale gold mining increased 400% in 13years
How do dams drive deforestation today?
By powering industrial mining and farming projects
How many sqm of forest did the Balbina dam flood?
2,400sq km
How did the Brazilian government encourage population distribution from crowded cities?
They granted plots of land to farm and home for those that help construct roads and other infrastructure
What are the two global impacts of deforestation?
Climate change and global warming, Loss of biodiversity
How much of the worlds land based carbon is stored in rainforests?
20%
What percent of carbon emissions is contributed by world wide deforestation?
10%
What percentage of all wildlife species we know is the amazon home to?
10%
What are scientists saying that deforestation at its current rate will cause in relation to species loss?
That it will equal to or be many times greater than those associated with the 5 historical mass extinctions
What are the local and regional impacts of deforestation?
Economic development and soil erosion
What does deforestation offer to the local economy?
Jobs and income
What does eroded soil that flow into rivers and the silt cause?
-affect fish reproduction, harming fisheries
-HEP can become less efficient
-industry can suffer due to a lack of water or polluted water
What are the knock on effects of soil erosion?
The top soil is washed way, removing nutrients through leaching, making it harder for the rainforest to regrow
local techniques for forest management:
-agroforestry
-ecotourism
national techniques for forest management:
-selective logging
-afforestation
international techniques for forest management:
-international agreements
-debt reduction
example of debt reduction:
2010, USA converted $13.5 mil to funds for forest conservation
example of an international agreement:
FSC approves sustainable wood sources
