Amazon under threat
The videos discuss issues affecting the health of the Amazon rainforest. While it is well-known that the rainforest host the world's largest array of biological diversity current industrial practices are threatening the health and vitalityof this vital ecosystem and placing many species at risk. In addition to threating biodiversity deforestation is also a major driver of climate change as these forests act as a carbon sink.
While all documentaries discuss the effects of indigenous interactions with forest is concluded that these are on a small scale and they're hunting and fishing practices have little impact on the current degradation of the forest. In fact many organizations such as Amazon watch and the world wildlife foundation considered indigenous populations to be a great asset to the rainforest. This is due to their incredible wealth of knowledge regarding the forest and because they act as the greatest defenders of the forest.
Remarkably the vast majority of trees cut down in the amazon done so illegally. These trees are cut down for a variety of purposes including making way for new farmland and illegal wood harvests. What harvesting operations are simply not rogue locals in need of firewood but major international business schemes involving international companies. Since their business is a legal many of these companies act similar to a mob style cartel using violence to ensure their operations are uninterrupted. This is particularly tragic as cutting down in danger trees is entirely unnecessary and could simply be solved by substituting forless rare forms of wood.
Clearing of forests is also done to create new farmlands. This is also particularly tragic as Amazonian soilis a poor choice forcrop growth. This is because Amazonian soil is low in nutrientssince most nutrients are stored in the Amazon the biomass. As a resultnutrients are depleted from the forest rapidly creating the need for more and more farmland.
Picture of farm in the amazon
Finally mining is another major issue contributing to the decline of the Amazon. The primary problem with mining is the byproducts it leaves behind. Walenty chemicals are used in the mining process the improper disposal of mercury is particularly alarming. Mercury is used extensively throughout the mining process is often disposed of by simply dumping it in the river. Such a practice is reminiscent of the US free Clean Water Act what rivers could actually be designated for waste disposal.
While all documentaries discuss the effects of indigenous interactions with forest is concluded that these are on a small scale and they're hunting and fishing practices have little impact on the current degradation of the forest. In fact many organizations such as Amazon watch and the world wildlife foundation considered indigenous populations to be a great asset to the rainforest. This is due to their incredible wealth of knowledge regarding the forest and because they act as the greatest defenders of the forest.
Remarkably the vast majority of trees cut down in the amazon done so illegally. These trees are cut down for a variety of purposes including making way for new farmland and illegal wood harvests. What harvesting operations are simply not rogue locals in need of firewood but major international business schemes involving international companies. Since their business is a legal many of these companies act similar to a mob style cartel using violence to ensure their operations are uninterrupted. This is particularly tragic as cutting down in danger trees is entirely unnecessary and could simply be solved by substituting forless rare forms of wood.
Clearing of forests is also done to create new farmlands. This is also particularly tragic as Amazonian soilis a poor choice forcrop growth. This is because Amazonian soil is low in nutrientssince most nutrients are stored in the Amazon the biomass. As a resultnutrients are depleted from the forest rapidly creating the need for more and more farmland.
Picture of farm in the amazon
Finally mining is another major issue contributing to the decline of the Amazon. The primary problem with mining is the byproducts it leaves behind. Walenty chemicals are used in the mining process the improper disposal of mercury is particularly alarming. Mercury is used extensively throughout the mining process is often disposed of by simply dumping it in the river. Such a practice is reminiscent of the US free Clean Water Act what rivers could actually be designated for waste disposal.