The AmazonThe Amazon

By Omar MadridBy Omar Madrid

What is it?What is it?

Is the largest rain Is the largest rain forest in the world.forest in the world.

Largest river and Largest river and fresh water in the fresh water in the world.world.

One fifth of free One fifth of free flowing fresh water flowing fresh water in the world. (world in the world. (world wildlife)wildlife)

What is it?What is it?

Home to thousands Home to thousands of species. 1 of 10 of species. 1 of 10 in the world.in the world.

Still discovering Still discovering more and more more and more species.species.

3 species found 3 species found every 3 days (wwf).every 3 days (wwf).

What is it?What is it?

More than 20 percent of worlds air is More than 20 percent of worlds air is produced in this rain forest alone. produced in this rain forest alone. (Amazon rainforest)(Amazon rainforest)

Were is it?Were is it?

It is located in It is located in South America.South America.

It is shared by 9 It is shared by 9 countries.countries.

60 percent of it is 60 percent of it is in Brazil and covers in Brazil and covers almost half the almost half the country.country.

3.4 million sq. 3.4 million sq. miles.miles.

ProblemsProblems

Deforestation is a Deforestation is a big problembig problem

August of 2006-August of 2006-July2007 the July2007 the government government reported that reported that deforestation had deforestation had fallen for the third fallen for the third consecutive year. consecutive year. (Amazon (Amazon rainforest)rainforest)

ProblemsProblems

With in that time period the Brazilian With in that time period the Brazilian government reported that more than government reported that more than 2.7 million acres had disappeared.2.7 million acres had disappeared.

This is equal to about 4 football fields This is equal to about 4 football fields per minute.per minute.

Scientist predict that by 2030 we will Scientist predict that by 2030 we will lose 55% of the Amazonian rain lose 55% of the Amazonian rain forest. (wwf)forest. (wwf)

ProblemsProblems

But animals live there too!But animals live there too! According to the World wild life fund According to the World wild life fund

a report has shown that 1,200 a report has shown that 1,200 species were found with in the species were found with in the periods of 1999-2009.periods of 1999-2009.

But as deforestation continues that But as deforestation continues that number will start to fall.number will start to fall.

ProblemsProblems The burning of the forest is The burning of the forest is

a problem with the locals a problem with the locals that own the land.that own the land.

According to the WWF we According to the WWF we lose a football field a day lose a football field a day because of fire.because of fire.

Other problems are Other problems are incorrect farming, mining incorrect farming, mining that contributes to soil that contributes to soil erosion and water erosion and water contamination, oil pipe contamination, oil pipe lines, road project, lines, road project, population growth, Dams population growth, Dams for hydro-electrical power, for hydro-electrical power, oil and gas explorationoil and gas exploration

How is it affecting us?How is it affecting us? The Amazon has still yet to be fully The Amazon has still yet to be fully

discovered. New plant life and animals are discovered. New plant life and animals are found every day. found every day.

Currently according to (rain tree) the Currently according to (rain tree) the western world uses about 25% of plants in western world uses about 25% of plants in Pharmaceuticals.Pharmaceuticals.

U.S. National Cancer Institute “3,000 U.S. National Cancer Institute “3,000 plants that are active against cancer cells. plants that are active against cancer cells. 70% of these plants are found in the 70% of these plants are found in the rainforest. 25% of the active ingredients in rainforest. 25% of the active ingredients in today's cancer fighting drugs come from today's cancer fighting drugs come from organisms found only in the rain forest”organisms found only in the rain forest”

How is it affecting us?How is it affecting us? Deforestation is also driving away or killing the Deforestation is also driving away or killing the

indigenous people of the Amazon. Many of which indigenous people of the Amazon. Many of which have the knowledge of the plants for medicinal have the knowledge of the plants for medicinal purposes.purposes.

According to (rain tree) Every time a medicine According to (rain tree) Every time a medicine man dies it is as if a library has burned down. Or man dies it is as if a library has burned down. Or if he doesn’t pass down his knowledge to the next if he doesn’t pass down his knowledge to the next generation its like losing thousands of years of generation its like losing thousands of years of irreplaceable knowledge about medicinal plants.irreplaceable knowledge about medicinal plants.

There were more than ten million Indians five There were more than ten million Indians five centuries ago, today there are less than 200,000. centuries ago, today there are less than 200,000. (rain tree)(rain tree)

SolutionsSolutions

Educating the public can help a lot. With Educating the public can help a lot. With knowledge every one knows what they knowledge every one knows what they should do and don’t.should do and don’t.

The Local government should also take the The Local government should also take the effort to take care of the rain forest. To effort to take care of the rain forest. To see that there is more profit to be made see that there is more profit to be made with the keeping of the forest, than to cut with the keeping of the forest, than to cut it down, as well as the companies that it down, as well as the companies that want to destroy it.want to destroy it.

Solutions in placeSolutions in place

There are many organizations that There are many organizations that are fighting to keep the rainforest.are fighting to keep the rainforest.

Some governments are already Some governments are already trying to preserve the rain forest, trying to preserve the rain forest, and stop companies from tearing and stop companies from tearing them down.them down.

ConclusionConclusion

We must respect the land that we We must respect the land that we are given and leave things the way are given and leave things the way that they are.that they are.

Education in how these natural Education in how these natural wonders will help in keeping the rain wonders will help in keeping the rain forest.forest.

BibliographyBibliography Raintree.com 2006Raintree.com 2006 Worldwildlife.org 2010 world wild life fundWorldwildlife.org 2010 world wild life fund Amazon-rainforest.org 2004 Amazon-rainforestAmazon-rainforest.org 2004 Amazon-rainforest Mongabay.com 2010 mongabay Mongabay.com 2010 mongabay Projectamazonias.org 2009 project AmazoniansProjectamazonias.org 2009 project Amazonians