By Liam Gibson, Challenge Wednesday Writer
For a few weeks in August 2019, the world's eyes were fixed on Brazil and its government's response to the fires outbreaking in the Amazon region of Brazil. But what is the latest with the fires now, almost two months on? And why might the problem be worse than it first appeared to be?
The Amazon Rainforest has been burning since early March 2019, with its peak in August. In August, the fire was at its worst. There were thousands of individual fires, almost three times as many that month - 30,901 - compared with the same period last year. Many people found the reaction of the Brazillian Government being ‘horrific’ and ‘disgraceful’.
Brazil’s Government (who has control over most of the Amazon) has refused aid from all countries and governments to stop the fires. The Brazillian Government has also put no laws in place protecting the Amazon from industry or deforestation and over 80% of the forest itself can be legally cut down for urbanisation and industry.
Why is this bad? The Amazon Rainforest is the largest carbon store on the planet. The Amazon Rainforest is also referred to as the 'Lungs of the Planet' because it produces more than 20% of the world's oxygen. When a tree burns, all of the carbon dioxide, CO2, stored in the trees is released into the atmosphere and damages our planet, causing an increase in greenhouse gases and climate change. The Amazon Rainforest slows down the rate of climate change, but if it burns down, there will be less carbon dioxide absorbed. It is also teaming with life and wonder as it inhabits 10 million species of plants and animals. These species include big cats,reptiles, birds ,primates and thousands more.
While fires have eased in the Brazilian Amazon, it's been a different story in another fragile region to the south - the Cerrado Savanna. The WWF calls it "one of the most endangered ecosystems on the planet".
The Cerrado is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. But, according to the
Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM) in about half the forests, wetlands,
woods and grasslands there have already been lost to agriculture and industry in Southern America (particularly Brazil). The Cerrado is losing land at a much faster rate than the Amazon, and is devastating news to hear. But, will these wildfires continue and destroy the land, or will governments pull together to reduce this problem?
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