The results of a new study shows that over the last two decades, more than a third of the Amazon forests have been “destroyed” due to human activities and drought.
According to the research published in the science magazine, the extent of destruction of the Amazon is much higher than previously estimated.
Most of the previous studies have only focused on deforestation and logging in the Amazon region.
But in this new research, scientists have investigated the impact of fire, deforestation, drought, and environmental changes in the rainforest.
The new research shows that between 2001 and 2018, human activities destroyed more than 5.5% of this ecosystem, equivalent to 364 thousand square kilometers.
if we also consider the effects of massive drought in the rainforest, the destroyed area increases to about 2.5 million square kilometers, which is equivalent to 38% of the size of the Amazon forests.
Logging, mining, animal husbandry, and agriculture, especially in the Brazilian Amazon, have continued enormously to meet the growing demand of the world’s population for more than a century.
The research highlights that there is a risk that there will be much more widespread fires in the future.
Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, the new president of Brazil, has pledged to stop deforestation in this country’s Amazon region by 2030.
The research highlights that the necessary measures and policies to prevent a catastrophic future are recognized and must be implemented as soon as possible.
Ignoring the Amazon is ignoring our planet and its consequences are dangerous for the entire humanity.
