Westlake Word

Today, the Amazon Rainforest has been a heated topic because of the many destructive forest fires that have shocked the world. The Amazon Rainforest plays a significant role in our ecosystem and in climate change. 

 

Biodiversity is prominent in this environment and provides habitats for thousands of unique species. Protection against deforestation in the Amazon is essential because deforestation will continue to speed up global warming and will also be the cause of extinction for some species. 

 

Many trees and plants make up the vast majority of the rain forest, regulating most of the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, which allows us to breathe cleaner air. According to Steven Mufson and Andrew Freedman, “Thomas Lovejoy says, The Amazon forest holds something like 90 billion tons of carbon, and if that ends up in the atmosphere it’s not a good thing.’” The world depends on the Amazon Rainforest to filter harmful toxins out of the atmosphere. Without this rainforest, the indigenous species, as well as the human race, is threatened.

 

In early August 2019, media outlets did not acknowledge the Amazon forest fires; however, they have since changed their tune. Social medias, like Twitter, began to expose images and video of Brazil caught ablaze during the intense forest fires, forcing broadcast media to pay more attention to the devastation. 

 

After thorough investigation, it came to light that the people in the Amazon caused the many fires either purposefully or accidentally. According to Mufson and Freedman, “Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research found the country has lost more than 1,330 square miles of forest cover to development since January when President Jair Bolsonaro took office.” President Bolsonaro must take a closer look and begin to further educate Brazilians about their culpability. 

 

Ultimately, this forest fire problem appeared to be getting out of hand in Brazil which is why it has become the center of attention all around the world. In recent years, the Brazilian government has taken action towards decreasing the deforestation rates which has been largely successful. Brazil has invested $22.2 million so far to control these Amazonian fires. Thankfully, the situation is under more control, however, people need to recognize the importance of being environmentally cautious to prevent these dire forest fires.  

​

Works Cited

Mufson, Steven, and Andrew Freedman. "What you need to know about the Amazon rainforest fires." The Washington Post [Washington D.C.], 27 Aug. 2019. The Washington Post, www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-amazon-rainforest-fires/2019/08/27/ac82b21e-c815-11e9-a4f3-c081a126de70_story.html. Accessed 27 Sept. 2019.