Ririe

McKay Ririe

Mr. Anderson

LA 12B

2/9/17

Deforestation in the Amazon

I have always enjoyed my time in the forest. Time away from the world to achieve peace

and fresh air is all I strive for. Today I will be talking about deforestation in the amazon forest. I

chose this subject because I believe that we are slowly killing important animal species and

decreasing the air quality the more we cut down the planets trees. As I address this topic, I will

touch on twelve different causes and effects with their respective pros and cons while suggesting

what society needs to change.

The main contributors to the decrease of trees in the amazon are deforestation criminals

that break the law for their own selfish gain. These criminals defy the law by clearing vast acres

of protected land and sell the tress they bring down. Newsweek, an American weekly news

magazine, has covered this topic and stated that, (Schiffman, Richard, Page 3) There have been

some high profile efforts to crack down the criminal networks that control the booming trade in

contraband timber. This suggests that there are others that have seen the destruction these

criminals are causing and are willing to take a stand and do something about it. Many are

recognizing that now is the time to act. With each passing moment society is losing more trees

and will continue to do so. Unfortunately, with a lot of good comes an equal amount of

resistance. This problem wont go away, its going to get bigger.

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If we allow these types of individuals to visit the amazon, they will continue to take down

the trees and soon there will be nothing left of the forest. To make things worse, the Amazon has

already been impacted by a drought. By drought, I am referring to a natural disaster that we have

little to no control of the outcome. Yet in this case we do have control but we arent being wise.

A newspaper from the New York Times mentioned that (Robbins, Jim, Page 3)In the last year

alone some two thousand square miles of the amazon... Were lost to clearing for raising cattle

and planting soybeans... Which is about twenty percent of the Amazon is gone and degraded

already. Twenty percent! If I knew the number was so big I wouldve done more to resolve this

issue myself. No wonder there is so much contention on the topic and heated discussions on

climate change.

Now you may be thinking, But McKay, you keep saying deforestation is a bad thing.

But how is it bad? USA Today, a popular news and media company, explains how (K, Nina,

Page 1)the Amazon teams with birds, reptiles, insects, monkeys and jaguars. Dolphins and

manatees swim the river waters, and more than one thousand species of butterflies flutter among

the trees. I argue that as society continues to destroy and cut down trees, the more society will

pushing different species into extinction. As carbon dioxide increases, the plants, trees, crops and

any other life will struggle to stay live because of the elimination of the Amazon.

Mongabay, an environmental science and energy website, has mentioned on its website

that although deforestation continues, it has started to slow down gradually over the years. In the

article, the reader is shown a pie chart that clearly indicates the percentage of the Amazon that

each country has lost over the years. The report states that,( Butler A. Rhrett, Page 3) the annual

rate of loss slowed by seventy five percent since the early two thousands. Yes, things have

started to improve but to make it last society must come to the same understanding that
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deforestation is causing irreparable damage. Its unfortunate that these criminals have and will

always find a way to get what they want. The U.S. government has been making new laws and

made it harder to take wood outside the amazon forest. Since this change we have slowed it

down but others should help and stop this problem by increasing security if needed.

New chopping businesses are arriving at the Amazon forest and they claim to be

environmentalists not extremist. These businesses can be compared to wolves in sheeps

clothing. To make matters worse these individuals are saying things like, Its not like before

because its being finished off. Even the workers are saying it themselves. Its unfortunate that

although these individuals know that what they are doing is wrong, they are following through

with the crime to support their families. It is wrong and cruel to hire others to do this type of

dirty work.

Thus far I havent gone in depth on what some causes include deforestation. Its not only

forest loggers but world wildlife experts state that wildfires and fuel harvesting can play a major

role in the scheme of things. Out of those two options I think wildfires are the most problematic.

Every year millions of acres are burned up and lost to fire. Fire can be used as a technique to

clear land for crops but sometimes the fire can burn out of control and scorch the structure of

land, potential species, and the livelihoods of others who live nearby. I wish there was another

way to help farmers. As I have spoken to farmers and learned about their work, I have come to

recognize that crop fires are great ways to create better soil.

As I previously mentioned, criminals will do anything to get their money. Amazon forest

trees are a gold mine if you get them out. However, there are consequences if you get caught.

BBC News, a website responsible for newsgathering and production, says that (Davies, Wyre,

Page 3)Those that are caught risk arrest, their camps are set alight and their machinery,
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including expensive tractors and other equipment, are destroyed on the spot. Its my opinion

that these consequences are soft. With the trespassing law, not only should you get arrested but

fined as well. If you are damaging a national forest, you should be locked up for a long period of

time and not released until theyve learned the seriousness of their crime. Why should these

individuals get let go when you know that they will be back in a few weeks?

Its not only the U.S. Government trying to make a difference but the residents near the

forest. Many live to keep the land safe, and many die to preserve what is left. A woman was

asked what the future of the forest has. She replied, Her whole family lives off forest reserves

like these. She then starts to cry, We struggle so much to defend the land, we fight so hard, we

die, so many have died to defend what you see here. This is a war that we are losing. Many

fight with guns and shoot logger gangs because they care for the forest. If only there were others

who cared as much as they do.

Clearing the Amazon forest is addicting. To some it is a game. If they dont get caught

doing illegal things, then the thirst to go back gets stronger. Because this is such a difficult task,

these criminals create the most efficient plan possible. Their strategy is, to obtain as much profit

in the available timeframe, leaving many damaged areas that will take years to recover. Its

sickening that people care more about money and personal gain rather than the surroundings.

Money does not buy you happiness. I believe trees do. I dont want to sound like a tree hugger

but I truly find happiness in the mountains and a deep forest with lots of trees.

Luckily as technology improves, it is becoming easier to find illegal loggers. Our

satellites can use GPS signals and track down suspects of illegal logging. With these tools, we

have real proof that this amazon crisis is actually affecting the people. The campaigner for the

UK said, For years, illegal loggers felt safe in the rainforest, far from the prying eyes of the
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world. Those days are over. Im happy to hear that these criminals can no longer operate in the

secrecy but instead where everyone can watch. As we trace these people with GPSs, we will see

where they are going and whom they are getting

business from. If we keep this up, there will be no one left to go search for because we have

caught them all.

There are rumors that the Brazil President is going to allow companies to build a freeway

straight through the middle of the Amazon forest. Not only that but build several dams to make

electricity. She claims that these upgrades are economic growth but in reality it is weakening

the environment and increase the amount of illegal tree logging. As our society cuts down trees,

it decreases moisture to the south and makes a drought. Which scientists claim, you will end up

with a permanent drought, not just a one-year thing. This is slowly killing not only the forest

but also the community.

The last article I researched comes from a website called The Two Way. Interviewers

were asked why deforestation is going up and they had some great views I would like to

mention. One individual said, (Domonoski, Camila, Page 3) That the loggers have better

equipment than they do. How could you fight a war if the opposing side is better than you in all

ways? Another man said, Hampered by poor radios with a maximum range of 1.3 miles the

exhausted Ibama agents were too often chasing shadows. If you are chasing someone without

help from others covering space near you, most likely you wont be successful. This is why

logging is such a struggle in Brazil. They dont have resources like we do to help things go

faster.
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I have learned so much just researching this topic. Its my invitation that as you reflect on

these words that you will change your perspective on the importance of trees to our environment.

There are many questions that I have yet to answer. For example, why do people do these

harmful things even though they know the consequences of their actions? or If this is such a

important topic why arent more people involved to help? In closing, its my hope that you

learned to be brave enough to stand up for what you truly believe to be right. When times get

rough know that you are not alone in your opinion and that if we stand together, we can make a

difference. When you think you may stand alone, recognize that others are fighting the same war

as you. Try and get others to become aware of deforestation, and be someone who makes a

difference.

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Works Cited

Butler A. Rhrett. Deforestation declines in the amazon rainforest Mongabay 6 Oct.

2015 <news.mongabay/2015/10/deforestation-declines-in-the-amazon-rainforest/>

Carrington, Damian. Activists use Gps to track illegal loggers in brazils amazon

rainforest. The Guardian 15

Oct.2015 <theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/15/activist-use-gps-to-track-

illegal-loggers-in-brazils-amazon-rainforest>

Davies, Wyre. Brazils amazon wilderness at risk from organized crime BBC News

<bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-33449810>

Forero, Juan. Guess whos chopping down the amazon now? NPR 6 Sep. 2012

<nrp.org/2012/09/06/160171565/guess-whos-chopping-down-the-amazon-now>

K, Nina. How loggings affects the amazon rain forest USA Today

<traveltips.usatoday.com/logging-affects-the-amazon-rain-forest-107955.html>

Lilijas, Per. Deforestation in the Brazilian amazon is easing up Time 26 Nov. 2014

<time.com/3608454/deforestation-brazil-amazon-second-lowest-level/

Nauarro, Lulu Garcia. Deep in the amazon, an unseen Battle over the most valuable

trees NPR 4 Nov. 2015 <npr.org/2015/11/04/452555878/deep-in-the-amazon-an- unseen-

battle-over-the-most-valuable-trees>

Prada, Paulo. Amazon Deforestation spikes in brazil, according to photos from countrys

space agency Huffington Post 10 Sep. 2013 <huffingtonpost.com/20213/09/11/amazon-

deforestation-n-3902692.html>

Robbins, Jim. Deforestation and Drought NY Times 9 Oct. 2015

<nytimes.com/2015/10/11/opinion/Sunday/deforestation-and-drought.html?r=0>
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Schiffman, Richard. Amazon Deforestation takes a turn for the worse. Scientific American

1 June. 2015 <scientificamerican.com/article-amazon-deforestation-takes-a-turn-for-the-worse/>

Schiffman, Richard. Brazils Deforestation rates are on the rise again. Newsweek 4 Apr.

2015 <newsweek.com/2015/04/03/brazils-deforestation-rates-are-on-the-rise-again-315648.html>

Smith, Julian. Reforesting the Amazon The Nature Conservancy April 2016.

<nature.org/magazine/archives/april-may-2016-issue-reforesting-the-amazon.xml>