Their home is burning!
These beautiful creatures and about 10 million other species of plants, animals, and insects call the Amazon Rainforest home.
As seen in the news lately the Amazon Rainforest is on fire. These are human set fires. Though burning the Amazon Rainforest to clear land is not new, it is happening at a strikingly high rate. There have been 72,843 fires in Brazil this year, an 80% increase compared to this time last year, according to the National Institute for space research in Brazil (INPE).
Photo from pixabay.com
Forests are a vital part of the entire world’s ecosystem. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. The Amazon Rainforest is one of the world’s largest forests. It absorbs a large amount of CO2 and produces about 20% of the earth’s oxygen. When you burn down a forest the trees release the CO2 that they have absorbed into the atmosphere. According to WWF deforestation continues to undo the delicate balance of the world’s ecological systems.
What can you do?
Most of you probably don’t live anywhere near the Amazon….. but you can still help!
To start, you can stop eating beef or limit the amount of beef you eat. Herds of cattle produce a large amount of methane (a greenhouse gas), they also take up a lot of space. One main reason for deforestation is to clear land for cattle farms and planting crops.
Below are 3 ways you can help protect the Amazon Rainforest from the World Wildlife Fund’s website. See the link at the bottom for more information.
What else?
Below are 3 ways you can help protect the Amazon Rainforest from the World Wildlife Fund’s website. See the link at the bottom for more information.
1. Let your voice be heard. Educate your family and friends about the importance of the Amazon, which is home to 10% of the known species on Earth. Then ask them to speak out for protecting the Amazon. Act now.
2. Become a discerning consumer. Ask how your food and other purchases have been produced. Is your furniture, for example, made of wood from the Amazon? One of the best ways to protect forests like the Amazon so that wildlife thrives is to buy products that have the FSC® label.
3. Reduce your use of fossil fuels and your impact on the planet. The less fossil fuels used, the less impact climate change will have on the Amazon and other important natural areas. Support and demand renewable energy to be part of the grid in your area. Turn off electric appliances when you’re not using them. Choose green energy providers for your household. Take public transport or ride your bike to work.
https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/3-ways-you-can-help-protect-the-amazon
Eye of the Wild Photography 