- Link: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-01-24/news/sns-rt-brazil-amazon-exclusive-pixl4n0at7d2-20130124_1_deforestation-amazon-rainforest-research-institute
-Picture Link: http://www.earthcool.com/deforestation.htm
The article
"Deforestation appears to rise again in Brazil's Amazon" by Paulo
Prada talks about the rising deforestation rates in Rio de Janeiro. It can be
found in the Chicago Tribune on
January 24, 2013.
As many of you
know, the deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest was a big problem in the world
a few years ago. For a couple of years the deforestation has been reduces
because it was causing too many problems in the environment. Data shows that in
July of 2012 the deforestation rate reached a record low for 4 consecutive
years due to stricter environmental laws. In the recent year the levels of deforestation
of the Amazon Rainforest are starting to rise again and are causing more
problems.
To soybean growers, cattle ranchers and others,
deforestation is good because they use the cleared land to farm. Some people
want to tap the Amazon’s rivers with “hydroelectric dams – a process critics
say lures people to areas that would otherwise remain untouched.”
Francisco Oliveira, the director of policies against
deforestation at Brazil's environment ministry said, "It's too early to
sound an alarm.” Government officials and researchers say that they can’t
confirm a complete reversal of the reduction of deforestation in the past few
years because they don’t have enough data.
Tracking deforestation is a very hard science because it
requires satellite data and on-the-ground reconnaissance. Imazon, a private institute
in Belem that tracks deforestation, uses satellite imagery. More precise data takes
higher- resolution visuals and on- site inspections by scientists. Marina
Silva, a former environment minister and longtime Amazon activist, warned
Reuters about the increase in deforestation last year.
“If the increase continues, it would confirm fears raised by
scientists and ecologists that changes to Brazil's environmental policies,
growing inroads by developers and government-backed infrastructure projects are
eroding gains in the fight to protect a region that has about 12 percent of the
planet's fresh water, is an abundant source of oxygen and is home to an untold number
of plant and animal species.” The rainforest is a huge resource to the whole
world and if was cut down we would all be affected.
I believe that although some people do benefit form
deforestation, most people, animals, and plants do not and something needs to
be done about it. In Biology this year we learned about vernal pools and food
chains. In vernal pools and food chains every level relies on the next so if
one level was removed it would wipe them out. If all the trees were removed from
the rainforest, the organisms that rely on them will be wiped out.
I agree with the government in this article because they
believe that the rainforest should be preserved. Preserving the rainforest is
important because it supplies oxygen to the whole world and provides shelters
for animals and plants. If people really
work towards ending deforestation we could save many animals, plants and
humans.
Great job, Lauren! Your title really caught my attention and made me want to read more. I definitely agree that the rainforest needs to preserved because the deforestation could become an even bigger issue in the environment than it already is. The lack of oxygen being distributed to the rest of the world and the lack of shelter for rainforest animals and plants could definitely create big problems for everyone and everything everywhere. I found this blog/article extremely interesting because I have never thought about the long term effects that the deforestation could have on the rest of the world.
ReplyDeleteLauren,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post! I thought your title was very creative and it really grabbed my attention. I thought you did a really good job of relating this to what we've been learning in class about food chains. You also presented the information in an interesting way that was also easy to follow. The reminded me of The Lorax and how the Once-ler came in and chopped down all the trees at the expense of all the organisms who needed them for his own selfish reasons. One thing I would do if I were you however would be to read this over again just because there were a few spelling and grammatical errors here and there. Other then that, I found this a very interesting topic and I thought you did a very good job!
Your title really caught my attention, Lauren. I really liked how you talked about the benefits and harms of the situation. It was a very interesting topic to write about, and your picture really got the message across. The only thing I would suggest would be to proof read one more time. Great job overall!
ReplyDeleteLauren I think you wrote a very interesting article on a rather controversial topic. I was roped in right a way by your title, it being a topic of interest to me. I only agree with you to some extent that the rainforest must be preserved. I am not saying plow down the entire rainforest. I think it would be very beneficial to the people of Brazil to build hydroelectric-dams in the Amazon river. This would cut down on the use of fossil fuels and we would be able to push the amount of years that fossil fuels will be available to us. I do not think preserving the rainforest %100 would be a wise economical choice. This would only put off the problem of lets say cattle ranchers or soy bean farmers that are in need of land. But I do agree that there should be some areas of the rainforest that should be left untouched.
ReplyDeleteI also feel like deforestation is a big problem because the tress and rain forests are very important. When you cut down a big tree in the rainforest it might ruin a whole ecosystem, but i also agree to a point. For example i understand that Brazil can use it for a hydroelectric dam, but you dont need to cut down the whole forest. I think you should just cut a proportion of it because it seems like a valid agreement on this topic. Once again i really liked your topic and the title really caught my eye.
ReplyDeleteGreat job with your post. The title was very catchy and I love how you use a pun in the title, that got my attention right away. You did a great job relating this to what we been learning. I agree that the deforetation of the amozon is a very serious problem, and people should do something about it. It is also very relatable to the Lorax and the onceler. Overall, I thought you did a very good job
ReplyDeleteLauren, your picture really caught my attention and I thought your post was very interesting. I agree with you when you say that even though deforestation can benefit a few people, so many more are affected by the consequences that arise. I think your title was also very creative, and you did a good job tying it into what we have learned about in class. Good job overall.
ReplyDelete