The Amazon rainforest is one of the natural wonders of the world. It is expansive, covering 1.4 billion acres throughout parts of Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. Accounting for over half of the worlds remaining rainforest, the Amazon is a source for plant, animal, mineral, and geological resources that are both tapped and untapped by mankind.
 |
| http://bit.ly/KWEuGZ |
Over the course of time, South Americans have exposed many of the Amazon forests resources, and severe deforestation occurred. In a lecture given by José Araruna, an environmental engineer at PUC-Rio, our class learned about Brazilian environmental issues including sanitation, food production, de/reforestation of the amazon, hydroelectric power plants, and natural resources such as oil, iron and gas production.
In the last decade, the rate of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has fallen nearly 80 percent. Major efforts have been made on behalf of the reforestation effort that once loggers remove 3 trees, they are required to plant 10. Reforestation of the Amazon is proving to be a major success.
During our lecture, Mr. Araruna described the root of the deforestation issue being cattle farming, not logging. As a Midwesterner, I found this to be somewhat of a random statement. I knew Brazil was a large cattle exporter, but due to lack of fertile land in the urban areas, the Amazon was where these ranchers relocated. When meat exports took off during Brazils rising economy, deforestation was an unfortunate result.
Brazil implemented various laws that require a license to log and a certification to sell lumber. In addition to these laws, the Amazon is monitored via satelliteimaging. Since these programs have been implemented, in addition to the reforestation effort, deforestation has slowed, and the goal is to achieve a zero net deforestation by 2020.
In the last decade, the rate of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has fallen nearly 80 percent. Major efforts have been made on behalf of the reforestation effort that once loggers remove 3 trees, they are required to plant 10. Reforestation of the Amazon is proving to be a major success.
During our lecture, Mr. Araruna described the root of the deforestation issue being cattle farming, not logging. As a Midwesterner, I found this to be somewhat of a random statement. I knew Brazil was a large cattle exporter, but due to lack of fertile land in the urban areas, the Amazon was where these ranchers relocated. When meat exports took off during Brazils rising economy, deforestation was an unfortunate result.
Brazil implemented various laws that require a license to log and a certification to sell lumber. In addition to these laws, the Amazon is monitored via satelliteimaging. Since these programs have been implemented, in addition to the reforestation effort, deforestation has slowed, and the goal is to achieve a zero net deforestation by 2020.
 |
| CEDAE Water treatment plant in Rio de Janeiro |
Environmental hazards exist all over Brazil, as well as the rest of the world. Brazilians are becoming more aware of the effect they are having on the environment, and are trying to take steps to correct the wrongdoings of the past. The government provides chlorine tablets to the small Amazonian villages to sanitize the water for drinking, and 92% of all Brazilian people have access to treated, sanitized water. Waste management has been improved in Brazil, with only 10% of the population not receiving services, and sewage is obviously the next obstacle to be tackled. With only 70% of the population being served for sewage management, It would be a great feat if Brazil is able to increase that number by an additional 20%.
No comments:
Post a Comment