Amazon Deforestation - BBC News

BBC News
1 Jul 201904:35
EducationalLearning
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TLDRSince President Jair Bolsonaro's election in Brazil, there has been a marked increase in Amazon deforestation, with an area the size of a football pitch being cleared every minute. This rainforest, crucial for regulating Earth's climate and producing 20% of the atmosphere's oxygen, is under immense pressure due to the push for development. Bolsonaro's promise to exploit the Amazon has accelerated the conversion of forest into farmland, primarily for cattle grazing, which is in high global demand. Environmental officials, concerned about the rapid loss of forest, are silenced by the government. The consequences of this deforestation are not limited to Brazil but impact global temperature regulation, emphasizing the importance of the Amazon's preservation.

Takeaways
  • 🌳 Deforestation in the Amazon has aggressively increased since President Jair Bolsonaro's election in January.
  • 🔢 An area the size of a football pitch is being cleared every minute, indicating the rapid pace of deforestation.
  • 🌍 The Amazon rainforest, which is crucial for climate regulation, covers an area 20 times the size of Britain.
  • 🌿 The rainforest absorbs billions of tons of carbon dioxide annually and produces 20% of the world's oxygen.
  • 🐾 The Amazon is home to a tenth of all species in the natural world, highlighting its biodiversity.
  • 🛠 Deforestation is primarily driven by the creation of new farmland, with trees being knocked down by bulldozers.
  • 🌱 The push for development and agriculture expansion is a significant factor behind the increase in deforestation.
  • 🚫 President Bolsonaro has banned environmental officials from publicly expressing concerns about deforestation.
  • 🐄 Cattle farming is the main reason for deforestation, as land is cleared for grazing to meet global demand for Brazilian beef.
  • 🏢 Industrial farming has reached the Amazon, and the government aims to further weaken forest protection laws.
  • 🌡 The loss of trees in the Amazon has global implications, as it affects the fight against climate change and global temperature rise.
Q & A

  • What has been reported by Brazilian officials to the BBC regarding deforestation?

    -Brazilian officials have reported an aggressive increase in deforestation since the election of President Jair Bolsonaro in January. An area of Amazon rainforest the size of a football pitch is being cleared every minute.

  • What role does the Amazon rainforest play in global climate regulation?

    -The Amazon rainforest plays a vital role in regulating the Earth's climate. It covers an area 20 times the size of Britain, absorbs billions of tons of carbon dioxide every year, and produces 20% of the oxygen in the atmosphere.

  • How does the deforestation impact the biodiversity of the Amazon?

    -The Amazon rainforest is home to an amazing tenth of all species in the natural world. Deforestation is leading to the loss of habitat for many of these species, threatening biodiversity.

  • What is the current situation regarding the conservation efforts in the Amazon?

    -Decades of conservation efforts are being reversed as the deforestation is accelerating. The rich greens of the most vibrant habitat on Earth are being wiped out, and the site of birth and dead trunks is becoming more common.

  • What is the primary driver behind the increased deforestation in the Amazon?

    -The primary driver behind the increased deforestation is the creation of new farmland. The demand for Brazilian beef, which is in high demand worldwide, is a significant factor contributing to the clearing of trees.

  • What is President Jair Bolsonaro's stance on the exploitation of the Amazon rainforest?

    -President Jair Bolsonaro was elected on a promise to exploit the Amazon rainforest. He has expressed that too much of the forest is being protected and has banned environment officials from speaking publicly about the issue.

  • How is the Brazilian government's approach to deforestation affecting environmental officials?

    -Environmental officials are deeply worried about the government's approach to deforestation. They are being silenced by the government, with one official meeting in secret and altering their voice to discuss the issue.

  • What is the scale of deforestation being described by the environmental official in the script?

    -The scale of deforestation is staggering, with an area the size of a football pitch being cleared every minute, which translates to over 2,000 pitches vanishing every day.

  • What is the impact of deforestation on the global climate?

    -Deforestation in the Amazon is impacting the global climate by reducing the forest's ability to absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, which are essential for mitigating the rise in global temperatures.

  • What is the local perspective on the expansion of agriculture in the Amazon?

    -Local farmers, like Wanderlei Vecina, are supportive of the expansion of agriculture in the Amazon, as they believe other countries have already cut down their forests and see it as a path to economic growth.

  • What is the international concern regarding the deforestation in the Amazon?

    -The international concern is that the deforestation in the Amazon is not just a local issue but has global implications, as the Amazon rainforest is crucial for climate regulation and biodiversity conservation.

Outlines
00:00
🌳 Aggressive Deforestation in the Amazon

This paragraph highlights the alarming increase in deforestation in the Amazon rainforest since the election of President Jair Bolsonaro in January. It emphasizes the Amazon's crucial role in climate regulation, absorbing billions of tons of carbon dioxide and producing 20% of the atmosphere's oxygen. The report by BBC's science editor, David Shukman, reveals how conservation efforts are being reversed, with the forest under unprecedented pressure due to the push for development. The paragraph also discusses the impact of agriculture, particularly cattle farming, which is driving the need for more farmland and contributing to the rapid deforestation.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Deforestation
Deforestation refers to the large-scale removal of trees and forests, typically to make way for agriculture, development, or other human activities. In the context of the video, deforestation is aggressively increasing in the Amazon rainforest since the election of President Jair Bolsonaro, which is a critical environmental issue as it contributes to climate change and biodiversity loss. The script mentions that an area the size of a football pitch is being cleared every minute, illustrating the rapid pace of deforestation.
💡Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest is the largest rainforest in the world, known for its rich biodiversity and its role in climate regulation. It covers an area 20 times the size of Britain and is crucial for absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. The video script emphasizes the importance of the Amazon in maintaining the Earth's climate and the devastating effects of its deforestation.
💡Climate Regulation
Climate regulation refers to the natural processes by which ecosystems, such as forests, help to mitigate climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. The Amazon rainforest plays a vital role in this process, as highlighted in the video, by absorbing billions of tons of carbon dioxide every year and producing 20% of the world's oxygen.
💡Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the variety of life in a particular ecosystem, including the number of species and their genetic diversity. The Amazon rainforest is home to an astonishing tenth of all species in the natural world, as mentioned in the script, which underscores the importance of preserving this habitat to maintain the variety of life on Earth.
💡Conservation Efforts
Conservation efforts are the various activities and strategies aimed at protecting and preserving natural resources and habitats. The video discusses how decades of such efforts are being reversed due to increased deforestation, indicating a setback in environmental protection.
💡President Jair Bolsonaro
Jair Bolsonaro is the President of Brazil, elected in January and known for his stance on exploiting the Amazon for economic development. His policies and promises have led to an aggressive increase in deforestation, as he encourages agricultural expansion in the Amazon, which is a central theme in the video.
💡Environmental Officials
Environmental officials are government representatives responsible for overseeing and implementing environmental policies and regulations. The script mentions that these officials are deeply worried about the deforestation but are banned from speaking publicly about it, indicating a suppression of environmental concerns.
💡Cattle Grazing
Cattle grazing is identified in the video as the biggest single reason for deforestation in the Amazon, as trees are cleared to create grazing land for cattle. This is driven by the high global demand for Brazilian beef, which in turn is linked to the destruction of the rainforest.
💡Agricultural Expansion
Agricultural expansion refers to the increase in the scale of farming activities, often at the expense of natural habitats. The video script discusses how the Brazilian government, under President Bolsonaro, is pushing for more agricultural expansion in the Amazon, leading to further deforestation.
💡Industrial Scale Farming
Industrial scale farming is a large-scale, intensive farming operation that often involves the use of machinery and chemicals to maximize crop yields. The script mentions that this type of farming has already reached the Amazon and is being encouraged by the government, contributing to the destruction of the rainforest.
💡Global Temperatures
Global temperatures refer to the average temperature of the Earth's surface, which is influenced by various factors, including the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The video script highlights that the deforestation in the Amazon is contributing to the rise in global temperatures by reducing the forest's ability to absorb carbon dioxide.
Highlights

Aggressive increase in deforestation since President Abbas on arrow's election in January.

Amazon rainforest area the size of a football pitch is cleared every minute.

The Amazon rainforest plays a vital role in regulating the Earth's climate.

The Amazon covers an area 20 times the size of Britain.

Nearly two-thirds of the Amazon rainforest is in Brazil.

The Amazon absorbs billions of tons of carbon dioxide annually.

The Amazon produces 20% of the oxygen in the atmosphere.

Conservation efforts are being reversed due to increased deforestation.

The Amazon is home to a tenth of all species in the natural world.

Deforestation is increasing with the creation of new farmland.

Brazil's new president, Jaya bolson ro, was elected on a promise to exploit the Amazon.

Brazil's president has banned environment officials from speaking publicly about deforestation.

The government is allegedly trying to cover up the loss of the forest.

Cattle farming is the biggest single reason for deforestation in the Amazon.

Brazilian beef is in high demand globally, contributing to deforestation.

The government aims to expand agriculture in the Amazon, which could increase deforestation.

Efforts to industrialize farming in the Amazon are already underway.

The government is seeking to weaken laws protecting the forests.

The Amazon's trees are crucial in holding back the rise in global temperatures.

Transcripts

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Amazondeforestationclimate changebiodiversityBrazilPresident Abbasrainforestconservationagricultureglobal warming