Amazon rainforest | Ecosystems
Summary
TLDRThe 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.
Outlines
🌳 The Amazon Rainforest: A Biodiverse Ecosystem
The Amazon rainforest, the world's largest tropical rainforest, is situated in northern South America and spans across nine countries, covering an area of 6 million square kilometers. It is larger than the next two largest rainforests combined and is home to over 30 million people and one tenth of the known species on Earth. The Amazon boasts an extremely diverse ecosystem with approximately 40,000 plant species, 3,000 types of fish, 1,300 bird species, 430 mammal species, over 380 reptile species, and an astonishing 2.5 million different types of insects. It also hosts around 500 indigenous tribes, more than 50 of which have had no contact with the outside world. The rainforest plays a crucial role in climate regulation by absorbing 2 billion tons of CO2 per year and storing up to 140 billion tons of carbon.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Amazon Rainforest
💡Deforestation
💡Biodiversity
💡Carbon Sequestration
💡Indigenous Tribes
💡Slash and Burn Agriculture
💡Climate Change
💡Ecosystem Services
💡Illegal Resource Extraction
💡Wildfires
💡Rainwater Transpiration
💡Sustainable Development
Highlights
The Amazon rainforest is the world's largest tropical rainforest, covering an area of 6 million square kilometers.
It spans across Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Guyana, Suriname, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and French Guiana.
The Amazon is larger than the next two largest rainforests combined.
Over 30 million people and one-tenth of known species on Earth call the Amazon rainforest home.
The ecosystem is extremely diverse, with around 40,000 plant species, 3,000 types of fish, and 1,300 bird species.
There are 430 mammal species, more than 380 reptile species, and 2.5 million different types of insects in the Amazon.
Approximately 500 indigenous tribes live in the Amazon, with over 50 of them having no contact with the outside world.
The Amazon has more than 390 billion trees and absorbs 2 billion tons of CO2 per year.
It transpires about 7 trillion tons of water per year, recycling 50 to 75 percent of annual rainfall.
The Amazon stores up to 140 billion tons of carbon, playing a crucial role in preventing climate change.
Hundreds of prescription drugs have been derived from the Amazon rainforest, including 70 plants with anti-cancer properties.
Deforestation from poorly planned infrastructure, illegal resource extraction, and agricultural expansion are major threats to the Amazon.
In 2019, over 906,000 hectares of forest were lost to wildfires, often deliberately set for slash and burn agriculture.
Rainfall has declined across 69% of the Amazon forest since the year 2000.
If current deforestation rates continue, 27% of the Amazon will be without trees in 10 years.
The Amazon has already lost 20% of its size in recent years due to deforestation.
The construction of the Trans-Amazonian Highway has led to the continuous clearing of 1.5 acres of vegetation every second.
Experts predict that without action, the Amazon rainforest could be completely logged by 2060.
Transcripts
the amazon rainforest is the world's
biggest tropical rainforest
occupying the drainage basin of the
amazon river in northern south america
it covers an area of 6 million square
kilometers 40
of south america spanning across brazil
bolivia peru guyana
suriname ecuador colombia
venezuela and french guiana
and it is larger than the next two
largest rainforests combined
it's home to more than 30 million people
and one tenth of known species on earth
amazon has an extremely diverse
ecosystem
there are around 40 000 plant species
3 000 types of fish 1 300 types of birds
430 mammal species more than 380 species
of reptiles
and a whopping 2.5 million different
types of insects in the amazon
rainforest
around 500 indigenous tribes call the
amazon rainforest home
over 50 of these tribes have never had
contact with the outside world
amazon has more than 390 billion trees
due to the thickness of its canopy only
one percent of the sunlight makes it to
amazon's ground
and it takes around 10 minutes for the
rainwater to reach the ground
the amazon also transpires about 7
trillion tons of water per year
into the atmosphere recycling 50 to 75
percent of annual rainfall
amazon absorbs 2 billion tons of co2 per
year
which is 5 of annual global emissions
and it stores up to 140 billion tons of
carbon
making it an essential part of
preventing climate change
we rely on amazon's resources for food
and medicines
hundreds of prescription drugs have come
from the amazon rainforest
and 70 of plants with anti-cancer
properties are found in the rainforest
with an area that's this important we
should be protecting it at all costs
but the amazon faces many threats
including deforestation from poorly
planned infrastructure
illegal and unsustainable natural
resource extraction
extensive cattle ranching and
agricultural expansion
and climate change it is estimated that
over 906
000 hectares of forest have been lost to
wildfires in 2019.
these fires are often deliberately set
as part of slash and burn agriculture
farmers and cattle ranchers cut down and
burn forestland to clear it for crops
and livestock
if this continues all the stored up
carbon would be released into the
atmosphere
and fuel climate change both amazon's
forest and freshwater systems are under
threat
rainfall has declined across 69 of the
amazon forest since the year 2000.
if the current rate of deforestation
continues 27
of the amazon will be without trees in
10 years
amazon has lost 20 percent of its size
in recent years
due to deforestation to construct the
trans-amazonian highway
a massive amount of 1.5 acres of
vegetation is cleared constantly
for cattle grazing and crop production
every second
experts predict that the rainforest
could be completely lodged by 2060
if no action is taken to solve the
[Music]
problem
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