Running head: DEORESTATION IN THE AMAZON 1

Deforestation in the Amazon

Vanessa Corrales

Arizona State University

Kandice Kardell
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DEOREFORESTSTAION IN THE AMAZON
Deforestation in the Amazon
Deforestation is one of many the most destructive and a controversial environmental

issue. It is the removal of trees to be converted to a non-forest use. Studies show about 17% of

the Amazon rainforest was been lost (Pfaff, 2015). There are multiple different ways to reduce

the number of trees being cut down and animals being killed along with the damages that affect

the Amazon. Although, many may don’t care for deforestation because the resource from the

forest they use for natural resources and to provide for their families. Deforestation is a main

problem in the Amazon because climate change, soil erosion, global warming, loss in the

biodiversity, displacement of Indigenous communities and their traditional way of life. Though

some of these Indigenous uses some of the natural resources to make a living and use the sources

to keep living.

Americans today tend to believe that deforestation is a world-wide problem. In the

Amazon the main problems with deforestations leads to affects in the ecosystem, soil erosion,

fresh drinkable water, biodiversity loss, displacement of Indigenous communities, and climate

change/global warming. There are ways to protect deforestation in the Amazon by making

certain areas illegal as well as restrict the illegal roads leading to the forest. Although, there will

be people still trying to make a living with deforestation. Wanting those natural produced

materials in the amazon.

Many argue that deforestation is not a problem for those who need to do it to make a

living. Cutting down trees for land due to overpopulation. Others killing animals to putting them

endanger by making them instinct and not knowing certain animals exist (Constantino, 2016).

Some laws have tried to be pass with hunting permits and denying access to parts of the amazon

where the animals are in danger.

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In addition, another serious problem in the amazon forest is climate change/global

warming. There are major problems with wildfires and droughts in the Amazon. The drop-in

temperatures lead to animals having to adjust to the warmer temperatures in the day and colder

temperatures at night (Badger, 2015). Also, animals won’t have any water due to the drought.

Droughts are the biggest cause of forest fires. The risk of droughts not only leads to forest fires

but also leads to change of water temperatures from greenhouse emission. The releasing carbon

into the atmosphere from the cutting of trees in the Amazon (Badger, 2015).

To continue, there are certain areas of the Amazon and other forest that are more

protected than others. The ones that are more protected has hardly any problems with

deforestation. By “comparing protected regions with the most similar with the most similar

unprotected regions based on factors that explain deforestation, such as distances to roads, cities,

or land suitability for agriculture” (Jusys, 2018). For instance, a forest that are near an urban

setting then there will be problems with deforestation. Off roading for easy access to the

agricultural commodities (Jusys, 2018). Along with cutting down trees to make room for people

to live. Since the population is growing there needs to be more land for those who need a place to

live or a place to go shopping.

In conclusion, with the many problems that comes with deforestation there needs to be an

end to it. There are other resources farmers, hunters, and other people can do to save as much

and as possible (Lopez-Carr, 2018). If deforestation continues then the will be no more

resources, the atmosphere will have more major problems, and the population will keep growing

and there will be fewer natural resources.

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