Amazon rainforest | Ecosystems

Incredible Earth

9 Sept 202003:30

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

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🌳 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

The Amazon Rainforest is the world's largest tropical rainforest, covering a vast area in South America. It is integral to the Earth's biodiversity and climate regulation, as it is home to a significant portion of the world's known species and plays a crucial role in carbon sequestration. The rainforest is under threat from deforestation and climate change, which have severe implications for global ecosystems and the fight against climate change.

💡Deforestation

Deforestation refers to the large-scale removal of trees and forests, often for the purpose of converting land for agricultural or pastoral use. In the context of the Amazon, deforestation is a major threat, leading to habitat loss for countless species and contributing to climate change by releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere. The script mentions that the Amazon has lost 20 percent of its size due to deforestation.

💡Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, including the variety of species, ecosystems, and genetic diversity within species. The Amazon Rainforest is renowned for its high biodiversity, hosting a multitude of plant and animal species, many of which are unique to the region. The loss of the Amazon's biodiversity would have profound ecological and environmental impacts.

💡Carbon Sequestration

Carbon sequestration is the process by which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and stored in natural reservoirs, such as forests. The Amazon Rainforest is a significant carbon sink, absorbing billions of tons of CO2 each year and storing up to 140 billion tons of carbon. This process is vital for mitigating global warming.

💡Indigenous Tribes

Indigenous tribes are the native peoples who have lived in a particular region for many generations. The Amazon Rainforest is home to around 500 indigenous tribes, more than 50 of which have had no contact with the outside world. These tribes have a deep connection to the rainforest and are often its most effective stewards.

💡Slash and Burn Agriculture

Slash and burn agriculture is a method of farming that involves cutting down and burning forests to clear land for crops or livestock. This practice is mentioned in the script as a cause of deforestation and wildfire in the Amazon, contributing to the loss of habitat and the release of carbon into the atmosphere.

💡Climate Change

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperature, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions on Earth, largely due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. The Amazon Rainforest is both a victim of climate change and a potential mitigator, as its destruction can exacerbate global warming.

💡Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans obtain from ecosystems, such as food, water purification, and climate regulation. The Amazon Rainforest provides numerous ecosystem services, including the production of food and medicines, many of which have significant pharmaceutical applications.

💡Illegal Resource Extraction

Illegal resource extraction involves the unauthorized harvesting of natural resources, such as timber, minerals, or wildlife. This activity is a threat to the Amazon Rainforest, leading to habitat destruction and the depletion of species.

💡Wildfires

Wildfires are uncontrolled fires that occur in the wild, often with devastating effects on ecosystems. The script mentions that over 906,000 hectares of the Amazon were lost to wildfires in 2019, which are often deliberately set as part of slash and burn agriculture, further threatening the rainforest.

💡Rainwater Transpiration

Rainwater transpiration is the process by which water is taken up by plants and then released into the atmosphere through the process of transpiration. The Amazon transpires about 7 trillion tons of water per year, contributing to the water cycle and highlighting the rainforest's role in global climate regulation.

💡Sustainable Development

Sustainable development refers to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The script implies the need for sustainable development practices in the Amazon to prevent further deforestation and protect the rainforest's invaluable resources and biodiversity.

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.