The Amazon burns and nobody cares

The Amazon rainforest, one of the most important lungs of our planet, has been burning for more than 15 days, with no media coverage.

Strange, right? And then they'll ask, what's this climate change?

We must stop this now. The consequences are fatal. Are we really so blind as to not see what's happening? Or is it that we prefer look the other way? To stop all this, we first need to understand why these fires occur, what deforestation is, and what are the direct consequences on Earth.

DEFORESTATION:

According to Wikipedia, "Deforestation or tree felling is a process generally caused by human action, in which forest areas are destroyed."

Deforestation is devastating our planet's forests and jungles on a massive scale. Tropical rainforests and tropical forests could disappear. completely within 100 years if the current frenetic pace continues.

THE REASONS:

In case you didn't know, deforestation is directly caused by the man, we human beings are the ones who that we cut down or burn forests. This is the reality, no unprovoked fires. Don't be fooled.

The reasons for indiscriminate logging are many, but most are related to the commercial interests of agricultureFarmers clear forests to create more space for their crops (mainly soybeans, palm oil, and cocoa) or for grazing their livestock. Companies that They sell paper and wood, but also participate in the felling of countless forests each year. Last but not least, forests and jungles also fall victim to constant urban growth.

Deforestation

Image: National Geographic

CONSEQUENCES:

Deforestation has many negative consequences for the environment.

a) The loss of habitat for millions of species. Nearly 70% of the animals and plants live in the jungles and forests of the Earth. Many of them cannot survive this phenomenon, since their Their environment is completely altered and destroyed. They can no longer feed themselves, and therefore, the survival of their species is extremely endangered. The best-known example, but not the only one, is that of the orangutans in Indonesia, where these animals have even stood up to humans. facing bulldozers.

b) Deforestation directly affects climate change. Rainforest floors are humid. Without trees and their shade, forests dry out quickly. Furthermore,the trees too Helpto perpetuate the hydrological cycle by returning water vapor to the atmosphere. The consequence is that many jungles and forests can quickly become arid deserts.

c) More extreme temperature changes. Removing the topsoil and therefore of the protection Tree cover that blocks the sun's rays during the day and keeps the heat at night contributes to the appearance of more extreme temperature changes than are harmful to plants and animals.

d) Greater emission of greenhouse gases. Trees play a crucial role in absorbing greenhouse gases that are responsible for global warming. Having fewer jungles and forests It means emitting more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and at a faster rate. in the advance of climate change.

SOLUTION:

First of all, become aware of the problemMany of us look the other way, but we all know that's not the solution to any of life's problems.

The solution is simply to stop logging and plant enough young trees to replace the older ones in all forests and jungles.

We need governments that give greater importance to this issue and other environmental problems. Governments that apply economic policies in this regard, for example by limiting or even restricting imports of products that generate deforestation, and incentivizing those that come from sustainable crops. Governments that take action and sanction to companies that act in this sense, and governments that regulate in this matter, prohibiting such practices.

But not everything is in the hands of governments, We as consumers have a lot of powerWe are the ones who generate demand by shopping in supermarkets. We are the ones who can decide what to buy and how to buy it. We are the ones who have the obligation to be more curious and know where what we buy comes from, and what consequences for our planet arise from taking a product off the shelf and taking it home.

You can also support the work of international organizations such as Rainforest Action Network and World Wide Life among others.

In summary:

a) The first thing you can do is spread the word. That is, talk about the topic. Many people may not be aware of the situation. Get informed and share your knowledge.

b) Consume responsibly. The main reason for deforestation and fires in the Amazon (and many other areas) is that we continue to buy soy, palm oil, meat, and timber. Reduce your meat consumption and try to buy organic (local) products.

c) Protest in front to governments. Europe, the US, and China are the largest importers of all these products. Pressure is being put on them to restrict these imports and promote those of sustainable crops.

d) Contribute to international organizations and NGOs working directly in the affected areas. These organizations work hand in hand with local communities threatened and affected by fire, while lobbying for change.