The Dangers of Amazon Wildfires: And How They're Caused
“Out-of-control fires in the Amazon, which covers two-thirds of Brazil, put both the rainforest’s ecosystem and the entire world at risk.”
Vast wildfires are destroying the Amazon rainforest, the largest in the world and home to over 30 million people. It contains large numbers of mammals, birds, and reptiles that are unique to the region and it's known that a new plant or animal species is discovered every two days. Since the start of 2019, Brazil's National Institute for Space Research has reported approximately 72,843 wildfires in the country. According to the institute, there has been an 80% increase in deforestation this year compared to last year. Since this tragedy is happening in South America, why does this affect us? What's causing these fires and what can we do to prevent them?
The Amazon is often referred to as the “planet’s lungs” because it produces 20% of earth's oxygen, making it vital for the world as a whole. Out-of-control fires in the Amazon, which covers two-thirds of Brazil, put both the rainforest’s ecosystem and the entire world at risk. Due to all of these fires, fields of the rainforest are being destroyed day by day. Evidence of this devastation comes from the European Union's satellite program. It shows that the fires are spreading along Brazil to the east Atlantic coast and smoke has covered almost half the country leaving blackened waste. Approximately 200,000 acres of the Amazon burns every day. To put this into perspective, some 77,000 acres burned in this year's Kinkade fire in Sonoma alone, and according to CalFire, a total of about 250,000 acres has burned in California through November 24.
You might be wondering, since its a RAINforest, how can it burn? The program director of the non-profit organization Amazon Watch, Christian Poirier, says that farmers and cattle ranchers are partially to blame. They use fire to help clear land and make it ready to use for agricultural purposes. Farmers wait for the dry season and then start to burn and clear the land so their cattle can graze. Poirier goes on to say that “the vast majority of these fires are human-lit” and the rainforest cannot burn as easily as places such as California, as we know from experience… Scientists believe that 99% of the fires result from human actions, either on purpose or by accident. They are caused by small-scale agricultural works or modern agribusiness projects. Sadly, deforestation isn't only happening in Brazil. Cleared land is needed to expand agriculture in such areas as soy production and cattle ranching, which is favored in Brazil. These actions are responsible for 80% to 90% of the loss of tropical forests around the globe says scientists. Another 20% of the Amazon has been lost due to mining, farming, roads, and hydropower dams according to the World Wildlife Fund. Thanks to satellite data, other researchers had already observed that there is already lots of land that's already cleared that can be used for farming, more forests don't need to be cleared in Brazil and yet they are.
Scientists offer one more reason to fight deforestation. The Amazon remains a net source for our oxygen today, even though 20% of the world's total carbon dioxide emissions are a result of deforestation. Scientists feel that excessive carbon dioxide emissions are contributing to rising average temperatures around our planet. Before the recent fires, the Amazon released up to 0.5 billion metric tons of carbon per year because of deforestation. Rapid deforestation could result in the Amazon becoming a source of CO2. Many environmentalists believe this to be cause for alarm since it could mean that wildfires in the Amazon could harm the planet even further by emitting huge amounts of CO2 and contributing to climate change.
While political leaders around the world have either caused or tried to resolve the problem of fires in the rainforest, there's a lot we as a community can do to save the Amazon. Making donations to rainforest organizations can help to provide habitats for 50% of the world’s plants and animals. For example, donating money to the Arbor Day Foundation helps to shelter animals in the Amazon. Your money could be used to save many animals whose homes are being burned down. You can also buy products that are “Rainforest Alliance Certified.” Your purchases can help restore homes for many creatures living in the Amazon whose livelihoods have now burned down.
