The Devastation and Rebuilding of the Amazon Rainforest
Over the past two weeks, the Brazilian Amazon rainforest has been experiencing an unprecedented number of forest fires, with no signs of slowing down. This year, a record-setting 74,000 wildfires have already been recorded, nearly double last year’s total. For comparison, in 2016, this number was just over 68,000. These fires, visible from space, have released a thick blanket of smoke that has darkened the skies over S?o Paulo, Brazil’s largest city.
Why is This Happening?
Forest fires are a common occurrence in most forest ecosystems; smaller, naturally occurring fires help to clean the forest floor of debris, clearing the way and adding nutrients to the soil, which benefits younger trees and plants. Controlled man-made fires can also be helpful, provided they are done in the right areas at the right time. However, the situation in the Amazon is far from natural.
Changes in the political environment in South America have led to higher rates of deforestation. This year, more of the Amazon in Brazil has been cleared than the previous three years combined. Industry and farmers have received encouragement to fell as much forest as they require to grow their businesses. The primary method is often starting a controlled burn, which quickly clears the land of vegetation. However, this practice is inherently risky, and these fires often get out of hand, spreading and causing the devastation we are witnessing today.
A Critically Important Forest
The loss of Amazon forest coverage is tragic on many levels. The Amazon is a critically significant ecosystem for global biodiversity. More species of plants, animals, insects, and micro-organisms are found in the Amazon than anywhere else on land. Studies have shown that an area smaller than half a football field could support 1,100 tree species alone! The Amazon is also one of the world’s most important carbon sinks, responsible for more than 400 million tonnes of carbon uptake annually. As the forest burns, not only is the ability to sequester that much carbon lost, but previously stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere. The Amazon also provides the planet with a huge amount of oxygen, with most estimates placing its oxygen output at 20% of the world’s total.
Given these critical impacts, it is clear that taking action to protect and restore the Amazon is imperative.
What Can Be Done?
While it may seem impossible to undo the damage caused by the loss of old-growth trees, planting new trees is a vital step forward. The only way to rebuild the Amazon is to put more trees back in the ground. These newly planted trees will help restore the most severely damaged areas. As they grow, they will sequester carbon and release oxygen. More importantly, they will serve as the foundation for rebuilding an entire ecosystem, providing critical habitat for potentially 2,000 different species of animals, including endangered ones like river dolphins, tapirs, spider monkeys, and sloths.
Planting trees also supports Indigenous communities. These communities, who rely heavily on the resources of the forest for their livelihoods, are often not the cause of these fires or other destructive forest practices. They are conscientious and responsible stewards of the land. Unfortunately, they are disproportionately affected by these fires.
To support the rebuilding of the Amazon, we need your help. Every one of our project regions is in need of trees, but the Amazon needs it the most right now. While we cannot plant directly in the burn scars of these ongoing fires, there are other areas in the Amazon that are ready for planting. One such area is our Amazon project in Peru, which is home to the second-largest portion of the Amazon. Our local partners are doing a fantastic job growing, planting, and maintaining the trees we plant here. By completing our reforestation projects in Peru when the time comes, we will be ready to make a difference immediately.
Planting trees is the most effective way to get involved in saving the precious Amazon rainforest, supporting Indigenous communities, and helping protect our climate.