What once was a symphony of bird songs has been interrupted by a band of crackling flames. Smokes obscure the canopy as trees stand ablaze. This is what the Amazon rainforest’s residents see, all creatures alike.
Over the summer, the world’s eyes were on Brazil and the beloved rainforest as news spread of the ecosystem being on fire. According to the BBC News staff, conservationists believe that the fires were caused by illegal methods of deforestation, considering the relationship between mining and logging industries and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. He is actively accused of being lenient on environmental protection in the Amazon, allowing the cutting of trees in order to make room for farms.
The Washington Post’s Terrence McCoy reported that “the amount of fires that have destroyed the Brazilian area of the rainforest have drastically decreased from “roughly 31,000 fires” to “20,000 fires” during September, as given by Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research. This could be due to government intervention and rainfall. Despite the “35 percent drop” in the number of fires since August, this does not satisfy those who fear for the Amazon. It is evidenced that rainforests are crucial elements in fighting the world’s climate change battle. Deforestation, especially in the Amazon, worries climate scientists.
The World Wildlife Fund, as reported by CNN’s Leah Asmelash, explains that the ecosystem is known for its great possession of carbon, containing between “90 to 140 billion metric tons.” If all of this was to be released into the Earth’s atmosphere, there would be “devastating results.” Experts agree that the sheer number of fires that have occurred in the region leaves the Amazon with a future that will require centuries of recovery to even get close to mending the damage.