Some shocking news this week, deforestation in the Amazon is up by 190% based on the same time period last year.
The Guardian explains further on this issue:
"Satellite data indicates a 190% surge in land clearance in August and September compared with the same period last year as loggers and farmers exploit loopholes in regulations that are designed to protect the world’s largest forest.
Figures released by Imazon , a Brazilian nonprofit research organisation, show that 402 square kilometres – more than six times the area of the island of Manhattan – was cleared in September.
The government has postponed the release of official figures until after next Sunday’s presidential election, in which incumbent Dilma Rousseff of the Workers’ party faces a strong challenge from Aécio Neves, a pro-business candidate who has the endorsement of Marina Silva, the popular former environment minister .
But the official numbers are expected to confirm a reversal that started last year, when deforestation rose by 29% after eight years of progress in slowing the rate of tree clearance ."
Forests and trees have such an important role in the fight against dangerous climate change. Trees absorb and store carbon, when these forests are cleared the carbon is released as green house gas.
The World Preservation Foundation explains:
"Deforestation has been found to be responsible for 20-25% of global warming, due to the massive release of CO 2 that had been captured and stored in the trees. To get a picture of just how much CO 2 is being released, deforestation releases as much CO 2 into the atmosphere in one day as would 8 million people flying from London to New York.
According to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization’s 2007 report, “Livestock’s Long Shadow”, 70% of total Amazon deforestation, and over 90% of Amazon deforestation since the 1970’s, is due to clearing land for pasture and for growing soya bean crops to be fed to livestock."
So how can we help from home?
As consumers we have massive power to influence change through the way we spend our money
1. Our lives are full of stuff we don’t need, and each thing has an environmental cost. Be thoughtful when buying – quality over quantity, slow over fast, always asking ‘Do I really need it?’.
2. Become an informed and conscious consumer by researching the environmental, health and safety attributes or problems of the things you want to buy before you go shopping. Using an internet search engine is an easy way to find consumer advice and endorsements from reputable sources including ethical businesses, government agencies and community-based environment and consumer advocacy groups. A great one is WWF's Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN).
3. Always beware of generalised environmental claims such as ‘eco-friendly’ or ‘climate neutral’ unless they very clearly explain the benefit being claimed and have it independently verified.
4. Check out advocacy groups making a difference in this area like Friends of the Amazon .