Amazon rainforest | Ecosystems

Summary

The Amazon rainforest, the world's largest tropical rainforest, is a critical ecosystem spanning 6 million square kilometers across nine countries in South America. It is home to over 30 million people, 10% of Earth's known species, and 500 indigenous tribes, many of whom have never encountered the outside world. With an astonishing biodiversity, including 40,000 plant species and 2.5 million insect types, the Amazon also plays a vital role in climate regulation by absorbing 2 billion tons of CO2 annually and storing 140 billion tons of carbon. However, the rainforest faces severe threats from deforestation, illegal resource extraction, and climate change, leading to a loss of over 906,000 hectares in 2019 alone. If current trends persist, the Amazon could lose 27% of its tree cover within a decade, potentially releasing massive amounts of carbon and exacerbating climate change. Urgent action is needed to protect this invaluable resource.

Takeaways

• 🌳 The Amazon rainforest is the world's largest tropical rainforest, covering 6 million square kilometers and spanning across 9 countries in northern South America.
• 🌍 It is larger than the next two largest rainforests combined and is home to more than 30 million people and one tenth of known species on Earth.
• 🌿 The Amazon has an extremely diverse ecosystem with around 40,000 plant species, 3,000 types of fish, 1,300 types of birds, 430 mammal species, and over 380 species of reptiles.
• 🐞 There are an estimated 2.5 million different types of insects in the Amazon rainforest.
• 🏡 Around 500 indigenous tribes call the Amazon home, with over 50 of these tribes having never had contact with the outside world.
• 🌳 The Amazon has more than 390 billion trees and due to its dense canopy, only 1% of sunlight reaches the forest floor.
• 💧 It transpires about 7 trillion tons of water per year into the atmosphere, recycling 50 to 75% of its annual rainfall.
• 🌱 The Amazon absorbs 2 billion tons of CO2 per year, which is about one fifth of the annual global emissions, and stores up to 140 billion tons of carbon.
• 💊 We rely on the Amazon for resources, with hundreds of prescription drugs originating from the rainforest and 70% of plants with anti-cancer properties found within it.
• ⚠️ The Amazon faces numerous threats, including deforestation from poorly planned infrastructure, illegal resource extraction, cattle ranching, agricultural expansion, and climate change.
• 🔥 In 2019, it is estimated that over 906,000 hectares of forest were lost to wildfires, often deliberately set for slash and burn agriculture.
• 📉 If deforestation continues at the current rate, 27% of the Amazon will be without trees in 10 years, and it has already lost 20% of its size in recent years.

Q & A

What is the Amazon rainforest known as in terms of its global ecological significance?

The Amazon rainforest is known as the world's biggest tropical rainforest, covering an area of 6 million square kilometers and occupying a significant portion of South America. It is larger than the next two largest rainforests combined and is home to a vast array of biodiversity, including more than 30 million people and one tenth of known species on Earth.

How many countries does the Amazon rainforest span across?

The Amazon rainforest spans across nine countries: Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Guyana, Suriname, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and French Guiana.

What is the approximate number of plant species found in the Amazon rainforest?

There are around 40,000 plant species in the Amazon rainforest.

How many indigenous tribes live in the Amazon rainforest, and what is unique about some of these tribes?

Around 500 indigenous tribes call the Amazon rainforest home, and more than 50 of these tribes have never had contact with the outside world.

How many trees are there in the Amazon rainforest, and how much sunlight reaches the ground due to the canopy's thickness?

The Amazon has more than 390 billion trees. Due to the thickness of its canopy, only one percent of sunlight makes it to the ground.

What is the Amazon rainforest's contribution to the global carbon cycle?

The Amazon absorbs 2 billion tons of CO2 per year, which is about 5% of annual global emissions, and it stores up to 140 billion tons of carbon, playing a crucial role in preventing climate change.

What are some of the threats the Amazon rainforest is facing?

The Amazon faces threats such as deforestation from poorly planned infrastructure, illegal and unsustainable natural resource extraction, extensive cattle ranching, agricultural expansion, and climate change.

How much forest area was lost to wildfires in the Amazon in 2019?

It is estimated that over 906,000 hectares of forest were lost to wildfires in the Amazon in 2019.

What is the impact of deforestation on the Amazon's ability to regulate climate?

Deforestation threatens to release all the stored carbon into the atmosphere, which would fuel climate change. The Amazon's forest and freshwater systems are under threat, and rainfall has declined across 69% of the Amazon forest since the year 2000.

What is the estimated rate of deforestation in the Amazon, and what could be the consequence in the next decade?

If the current rate of deforestation continues, 27% of the Amazon will be without trees in 10 years.

How much of the Amazon rainforest has been lost in recent years due to deforestation?

The Amazon has lost 20 percent of its size in recent years due to deforestation.

What is the impact of constructing the Trans-Amazonian Highway on the rainforest?

To construct the Trans-Amazonian Highway, a massive amount of 1.5 acres of vegetation is cleared constantly for cattle grazing and crop production.

What is the prediction if no action is taken to solve the deforestation problem in the Amazon?

Experts predict that the rainforest could be completely logged by 2060 if no action is taken to solve the problem.