The Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE) stated in a press release on November 7, 2024, that 6,288 square kilometers of forest were destroyed in the Amazon between August 2023 and July 2024.[1] The Amazon rainforest has formed one of the most critical parts of the world’s ecosystem. Covering an area of approximately 5.5 million square kilometers, these forests harbor 10% of the world’s wildlife.[2] The Amazon, often referred to as the “lungs of the world,” plays a vital role in annual carbon absorption and oxygen production. However, in recent years, this natural balance has been severely disrupted, particularly due to deforestation and construction activities.
The destruction of the Amazon rainforest has affected not only regional ecosystems but also global climate systems. The expansion of agricultural land, deforestation, and industrial projects have been among the main factors threatening this unique ecosystem. The losses in the Amazon have increased carbon emissions, strengthening the greenhouse effect, and have also led to irreversible consequences for the region’s water cycle.
The Amazon rainforest can be described as one of the indispensable elements of the world’s ecosystem. These forests play a critical role in regulating the annual carbon cycle. According to research, the Amazon rainforest has helped reduce the impact of greenhouse gases by absorbing approximately 2 billion tons of carbon from the atmosphere.[3] Forests have served as a natural buffer against global climate change thanks to this characteristic.
However, the effects of the Amazons are not only vital for the carbon cycle but also for the water cycle. The dense vegetation in the region has released large amounts of water vapor into the atmosphere, directly affecting South America’s rainfall patterns. The moisture provided by the Amazon forests has created a water cycle known as “flying rivers,” which has supported the continent’s critical hydrological systems for agriculture and energy production.
Agricultural and livestock activities have emerged as a primary cause of the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. Especially soybean production and cattle ranches have accelerated deforestation. A study conducted in Brazil has shown that 80% of the deforested areas are allocated for livestock activities.[4] In addition, global timber trade and illegal logging have been among the other significant factors contributing to forest loss.
Industrialization and construction activities have also posed another threat to the Amazons. Especially mining projects have caused serious environmental destruction in the region. According to research, due to mining activities in the Amazon basin, gold mining activities have led to the disappearance of 1.4 million hectares of forest from 2001 to 2020.[5]
The destruction of the Amazon rainforest has created environmental and climatic impacts worldwide. Firstly, deforestation has severely reduced carbon absorption in the atmosphere and has caused the region to cease being a carbon sink, turning it into a source of carbon emissions. Studies have shown that deforestation causes approximately 2.6 billion tons of carbon emissions per year.[6] This situation is increasing the greenhouse gas effect, which accelerates global temperature rise.
The effects on the water cycle have also been quite devastating. The Amazon has played a vital role in regulating the amount of rainfall in the region. However, deforestation has increased the risk of regional drought and jeopardized the sustainability of water resources. This situation has directly affected the agricultural sector, threatening food security as well. For example, one of Brazil’s largest agricultural regions, Mato Grosso, has faced decreasing rainfall amounts due to the destruction of the Amazon forests.
The impacts on biodiversity are another serious consequence of the destruction. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), approximately 10,000 animal species living in the Amazon rainforest are endangered due to habitat loss.[7] This situation has affected not only the ecosystem but also sectors that directly contribute to human health, such as the global pharmaceutical industry.
The destruction of the Amazon rainforest has not only been limited to environmental impacts but has also caused serious problems in socioeconomic and cultural areas. The indigenous people in the region have been forced to leave their habitats due to deforestation. According to United Nations data, approximately 1 million indigenous people living in the Amazon are losing their habitats every day.[8] This situation threatens the economic independence and cultural identity of indigenous communities.
Additionally, the destruction of the Amazon rainforest has shaken regional economic balances. Sectors such as tourism based on forest resources and sustainable agriculture have suffered greatly. The annual economic benefit derived from the ecosystem services of the Amazon rainforest is approximately 8 billion dollars.[9] However, deforestation significantly reduces this potential.
The protection of the Amazon rainforest is an issue that requires coordination not only at the regional level but also at the global level. In this regard, it is necessary to regulate the activities that cause deforestation. The adoption of sustainable methods in the agriculture and mining sectors will reduce the environmental impacts in this area.
At the international level, it is necessary to increase financial support mechanisms for the protection of the Amazon forests. It is important for developed countries to cooperate in the fight against deforestation by offering financial incentives to Amazon countries. Additionally, projects that support the economic independence of local populations in the region will contribute to these communities’ resilience against deforestation.
In conclusion, the future of the Amazon rainforest is a shared responsibility not only of the regional countries but of all humanity. The measures taken to protect the forests will play a critical role in combating global climate change. Therefore, decisive steps must be taken to protect the Amazons for a sustainable future.
[1] Meyerfeld, Bruno. “Deforestation of the Amazon at a Nine-Year Low”, Le Monde, https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2024/11/09/deforestation-of-the-amazon-at-a-nine-year-low_6732182_114.html, (Accessed Date: 12.15.2024).
[2] World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). “Amazon Rainforest Facts”, WWF UK, https://www.wwf.org.uk/where-we-work/amazon, (Accessed Date: 12.15.2024).
[3] World Economic Forum. “Deforestation in the Amazon Is Causing Parts of It to Release More Carbon than It Absorbs.” World Economic Forum, Feb. 2020, https://www.weforum.org/stories/2020/02/amazon-deforestation-carbon-sustainability-climate-change/, (Accessed Date: 12.15.2024).
4 Skidmore, Marin Elisabeth, et al. “Cattle Ranchers and Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon: Production, Location, and Policies.” Global Environmental Change, vol. 68, May 2021, article 102280. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378021000595, (Accessed Date: 12.15.2024).
5 World Resources Institute. “Mining Is Increasingly Pushing into Critical Rainforests and Protected Areas.” World Resources Institute, https://www.wri.org/insights/how-mining-impacts-forests, (Accessed Date: 12.15.2024).
6 Ritchie, Hannah. “Carbon Emissions from Deforestation: Are They Driven by Domestic Demand or International Trade?” Our World in Data, https://ourworldindata.org/carbon-deforestation-trade, (Accessed Date: 12.15.2024).
7 Eisenhammer, Stephen, and Oliver Griffin. “Over 10,000 Species Risk Extinction in Amazon, Says Landmark Report.” Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/over-10000-species-risk-extinction-amazon-says-landmark-report-2021-07-14/, (Accessed Date: 12.15.2024).
8 United Nations Environment Programme. “In the Heart of the Amazon, a Forest-Friendly Model for Development Takes Root.” United Nations Environment Programme, https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/heart-amazon-forest-friendly-model-development-takes-root, (Accessed Date: 12.15.2024).
9 Brown, Sarah. “A Standing Amazon Rainforest Could Create an $8 Billion Bioeconomy: Study.” Mongabay, https://news.mongabay.com/2023/07/a-standing-amazon-rainforest-could-create-an-8-billion-bioeconomy-study/, (Accessed Date: 12.15.2024).
