The Amazon Rainforest: A Ticking Time Bomb for Our Planet
In a bold move, the world's largest tropical rainforest, spanning across nine countries, is set to host its inaugural COP conference in Belém, Brazil. This symbolic choice underscores the Amazon's pivotal role in safeguarding global biodiversity and our planet's climate. Jhan-Carlo Espinoza, a researcher from France's Institute of Research for Development (IRD) and a member of the Science Panel for the Amazon, sheds light on the critical situation.
The Amazon, a treasure trove of biodiversity, covers an astonishing 6.9 million square kilometers and is home to over 34 million people who rely on its natural resources and the mighty Amazon River for their livelihoods. However, despite Pope Francis' dream of preserving its natural beauty, the Amazon is inching closer to a catastrophic 'point of no return'.
'This is already a reality in the southern Amazon Basin,' warns Espinoza. 'Forests in regions like Bolivia's Amazon are experiencing severe and prolonged droughts, resembling the Brazilian Cerrado savanna.' He highlights the record droughts of 2023 and 2024 as a stark reminder of the urgency.
Scientists have identified critical thresholds to avoid, with deforestation estimated to reach a tipping point at 40%. Alarmingly, Espinoza notes that 'between 17 and 20% of the Amazon forest has already been cleared, an area equivalent to France and Germany combined.' Additionally, another 17% has been degraded by human activity, and the past two decades have seen record-breaking temperatures.
The consequences of this massive deforestation are devastating. Not only has it reduced the Amazon's carbon absorption capacity, but it has also disrupted the region's water cycle. 'Half of the rainfall in the Amazon is returned to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration by trees,' explains Espinoza. This process not only maintains humidity within the ecosystem but also influences regions far beyond, including the tropical Andes, southern parts of the continent, and even more distant areas.
As deforestation continues in Brazil, it directly impacts the water availability in neighboring countries like Bolivia and Peru, threatening their food security. Espinoza, as a member of the Science Panel for the Amazon, proposes national policies aimed at achieving zero deforestation to prevent reaching this critical point.
However, he emphasizes that Amazonian deforestation is driven by global market forces, particularly the soy and gold industries, and cannot be solely attributed to Amazon countries. Scientists also call for an end to dam construction and infrastructure projects that disrupt the connectivity between Amazonian forests, rivers, and the Andes.
'The Amazon begins in the Andes, at over 5,000 meters above sea level, where most of the sediments that sustain Amazonian biodiversity originate,' Espinoza explains. He further stresses the importance of protecting Indigenous territories and their inhabitants, whose stewardship is crucial for maintaining the climatic balance.
This proposal aligns with the demands of Indigenous organizations across the Amazon Basin, who, following an international meeting in Brasilia, called for greater representation and direct access to climate financing. As COP30 approaches, these issues will be at the forefront of discussions, with the world watching to see if meaningful actions will be taken to save the Amazon and our planet.
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