Wednesday, December 10, 2008
This article talks about human pressure on the Amazon forest. 22% of the forest has been deforested for human settlement according to the article, and 11% of the Amazon has been deforested for cattle farming. Between 2000-2002, forest fires tripled (16,000 to 42,000). The last interesting statistics this article states is that the mean annual deforestation rates from 2000-2005 was 18% higher then the previous 5 years.
This is an article that deals with burned forest land and conservation, restoration of these lands. It deals with indigenous people's land and the situation presented. One line that was disturbing to me, "One rationale for this emphasis on uninhabited protected areas is that the conservation value of indigenous lands is lower then that of the parks because indigenous people ultimately adopt the cultural values, technology, and pattern of resource exploitation of nonindigenous neighbors" (Nepstad 2). This article shows the ignorance of the government trying to restore these lands.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Ethanol production in U.S. causing deforestation in Brazil
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Cattle Ranching in the Amazon
Check out how much land is clear cut for cattle! To me it is crazy how famous Brazil is for their beef, when the fact is that that cattle ranching is the main cause of environmental degradation, as well as social unrest among native people, in the Amazon. Next time you see Brazilian beef on the menu at a restaurant, think about the deforestation that had to occur to produce that steak. Use your dollars wisely, if you can, don't purchase Brazilian beef. Alsom think about the fossil fuel inputs required for deforestation, processing and transportation.
Having said that, not all beef is produced unsustainably. Some Brazilian beef is now eco-certified, meaning ranchers follow strict environmental regulations. These ranchers must leave half their land forested, must protect riparian zones (area between land and streams), and must reduce erosion by resitricting livestock from waterways, among other things. But ranchers must be given incentives to follow these regulations, otherwise they will continue to do what they do because it is more affordable. However, the growing demad for organic food shows that consumers are willing to pay more for environmentally friendly food, meaning they would also be willing to pay more for environmentally friendly beef. This price premium should be established to trickle down to the eco-rancher. Brazil is not well known for it's administrative responsibility though, so third-party regulation is crucial.
Check out this article from Mongabay.com (an environmental website) for more on eco-certified Brazilian beef.
Fact sheet: Amazon deforestation
Posted by Julie :)
Last Updated: Thursday May 19 2005 14:45 GMT
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Fact sheet: Amazon deforestation
Some main reasons why areas of rainforests are cut down:
1)Farming e.g. soya fields, cattle ranches
2)Mining
3)Flooding areas of land as part of hydro electric power stations
4)Logging to sell the timber
Once the trees go, the soil becomes infertile in one or two years, making it poor for farming.
Hunting becomes more difficult for the people who live there as the habitat for wildlife is lost. Traditional people's cultures are also lost.
The effects of deforestation:
1)Trees are removed.
2)Trees do not protect soil so nutrients are washed out by the rain.
3)Soil is now less fertile and the unprotected surface becomes dry and compacted.
4)It is hard for rain to soak into the soil, so flooding may occur.
5)New trees grow more slowly and there are less species.
Possible alternatives to deforestation:
You may think that the obvious solution to the problems of deforestation is simply to stop people cutting the trees down.
However, it's not always as straightforward as that. Most of the countries that have rainforests are trying to cope with poverty, debt and high rates of population growth.
Can they be blamed for trying to make some money?
Here are some alternatives to deforestation on a big scale:
1)A mixture of different crops and trees are planted together. This variety helps prevent insect damage and soil erosion, as well as maintaining natural soil fertility.
2)Banning sales of valuable hard wood e.g. mahogany.
3)Less economically developed countries could have some of their debts reduced in return for setting up projects to protect their rainforests.
4)Increased world trade in rainforest products at fair prices.
5)National Rainforest Parks e.g. Korup in Cameroon. These act as wildlife reserves and may make some money through careful tourism.
6)Portable sawmills to reduce damage caused by motor vehicles bringing logs to permanent sites.
7)Reserves for people already living in the rainforests so that local land rights and lifestyles can be respected.
The global effects of deforestation:
1)The destruction of the rainforest is reducing the number of species of plants and animals as there are many species unique to different rainforests.
2)The destruction of the rainforest may lead to the loss of valuable plants that could be useful to people in the future e.g. medicines or crops.
3)The changes in humidity in deforested areas are creating less rainfall and having knock-on effects on savannah climates to the North and South. Rainfall is becoming more unpredictable.
4)The destruction of the rainforest is likely to increase the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. However this is a minor effect compared to burning fossil fuels for industry and transport.
5)Some scientists think the destruction of the rainforest is increasing global warming but others say climate change is natural. There have been cold and warm periods on Earth in the past.
Myths about deforestation:
1)The destruction of the rainforest is NOT increasing ozone in the atmosphere. This is due to chemicals (CFCs) released into the atmosphere by people.
2)The destruction of the rainforest is NOT making people short of breath as there is plenty of oxygen in the air to breathe.
Other information:
It is estimated that 7.5 million hectares of rainforest are being cut down each year - that is the same as 20 football pitches every minute.
However, there is an area of rainforest the size of western Europe remaining in South America.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4560000/newsid_4563300/4563353.stm
Brazil and Amazon deforestation
Brazil sets target to slow Amazon deforestation
David Ljunggren, Associated Press in Sao Paulo
The Guardian, Wednesday December 3 2008
Article history
Brazil plans to boost spending and programmes to significantly slow the rate of destruction of the Amazon rainforest by 2017, aiming to reduce global warming by slashing the amount of carbon dioxide emitted when trees are burned.
The plan, announced by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Monday, is the first time Brazil has set specific goals regarding deforestation reduction.
Environment minister Carlos Minc said the plan would slow the rate of destruction by 72% when compared with the 7,330 square miles lost on average each year between 1996 and 2005.
The new proposal would boost federal patrols of forested areas, replant forest, and finance sustainable development projects to give locals alternative work in areas where illegal logging dominates the economy.
"We need to offer help them with one hand, but with the other we have to tell them there will be punishment if they don't pay attention to environmental preservation," Lula said, without describing those penalties.
He did not say how much the plan would cost.
Deforestation - both the burning and rotting of Amazon wood - releases an estimated 400 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year, making Brazil at least the sixth biggest emitter of the gas in the world.
The country slowed deforestation by 60% between 2005 and 2007, but officials said last week that destruction had accelerated slightly in the past year, as rising soy and beef prices prompt farmers to carve more fields and pastures from the rainforest.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/dec/03/forests-brazil-amazon-carbon-emissions
Thursday, November 13, 2008
A Song About Chico Mendes
“Cuando Los Angeles Lloran” -Maná
A chico Méndez lo mataron
Era un defensor y un ángel de toda la amazonia
él murío a sangre fría
Lo sabía Collor De Melo y también la policia
Cuando los ángeles lloran
Lluvia cae sobre la aldea
Lluvia sobre el campanario
Pues alguién murió
Un ángel cayó
Un ángel murio
Un ángel se fue
Y no volverá
Cuando el asesino huía
Chico Méndez se moría
La selva se ahogaba en llanto
él dejó dos lindos crios
Una esposa valerosa
y una selva en agonia
Cuando los ángeles lloran
Es por cada árbol que muere
Cada estrella que se apaga, oh no
Un ángel cayó
Un ángel murio
Un ángel se fue
Y no volverá
Un ángel cayó
Un ángel murio
Un ángel se fue
Se fue volando en madrugada
Cuando los ángeles lloran
Cuando los ángeles lloran, lloverá
Cuando los ángeles lloran
Cuando los ángeles lloran, lloverá
Cuando los ángeles lloran
Cuando los ángeles lloran, lloverá
Cuando los ángeles lloran
Cuando los ángeles lloran, lloverá.
"When Angels Weep" Translation -Nicole
They killed Chico Mendez
Who was a defender and an angel of the Amazon
He died in cold blood
Collor De Melo and the police knew
When angels weep
Rain falls on the village
Rain falls on the bell tower
Because someone has died
An angel has fallen
An angel has died
An angel has left
And will never return
As the assassin fled
Chico Mendez was dying
The rainforest was drowning in despair
He left behind two beautiful children
A valiant wife
And a rainforest in agony
When angels weep
It is for every tree that dies
Every star that turns out, oh no
An angel has fallen
An angel has died
An angel has left
And will never return
An angel has fallen
An angel has died
An angel has left
He went flying at dawn
When angels weep
When angels weep, it shall rain
When angels weep
When angels weep, it shall rain
When angels weep
When angels weep, it shall rain
When angels weep
When angels weep, it shall rain