Amazon forest fires: are they marking the beginning of the end ?

For many years we have been hearing about the near end of the planet as a collision with a meteorite and other gossip. But this news has left only mocking reactions perhaps to our knowledge that they are nothing but words arranged for a comic goal, especially since there are no specialized sites that documented the news scientific evidence. But in the past few days we've seen social media outrage anger and sadness, showcasing images of the Amazon forest fires, which has caused concern and perhaps panic in many of us, leaving us with a lot of questions and questions. What's the reason? how did that happen? How widespread are these fires? Is the Amazon forest really supplying the earth with this huge amount of oxygen? Is it possible that these fires are the beginning of the end of the planet? The most important question is what are the consequences of these fires on us?

In this article we will answer most of these questions, but before that we must review information about the Amazon basin.

Amazon basin



The Amazon basin is an important part of our planet's life process. It is the lungs of the earth with its vast forests. Located in the continent of South America, occupying 40% of its total area, and an area of 1.2 million acres. It also extends to several countries, such as: Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. However, the bulk of it is in Brazil, where it reaches 60%.

The importance of the Amazon forest

• The Amazon forests produce 50-75% of the region's rain, and their impact extends beyond the Amazon basin. The rains and rivers of the Amazon feed the regions responsible for producing 70% of South America's GDP. In addition to the humidity affecting rainfall away from the western United States and Central America.

• Carbon storage: The large Amazon forests help absorb and store vast amounts of carbon, estimated at 86 billion tons, a third of the carbon stored by tropical forests around the world. This is very important in regulating global warming.

• Biodiversity: The Amazon forest has a rich and diverse ecosystem, comprising 30% of the world's species of flora and fauna. Which is a wealth for humans where it can be used in food and medicine.

• Local benefits: In addition to its global importance, it is the lifeblood of the local population, where it plays a major role in transport, and is a source of livelihood through fishing, which is a huge source of protein, agriculture based in the floodplains and industry, in addition to air purification and fire risk slightly (not stop Final).

What is the cause of the Amazon fires?

While the Amazon rainforest is known for its natural humidity, in the summer season (July - August) each year it is exposed to natural fires caused by dry climate, and these fires are considered a form of natural balance needed to regenerate the soil. But 2019 has not been the same as in previous years. Since the beginning of the year, there have been frequent fires caused by human attacks (more than 74,000 fires from January to August, and more than 9,500 fires since Thursday, August 15, mostly in the Amazon) by farmers. Livestock owners artificially disinfect land and use it in agriculture and livestock, especially as they are the largest source of livestock in the world, they contain nearly 200 million head of cattle. Some conservatives have accused Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro of forest fires, pointing out that he incited farmers to clean the land.

Spread

You may be wondering whether this huge forest was engulfed in flames? The answer is: No, fires did not reach all areas, the most affected areas is the Brazilian north, which has seen a large proportion of fires compared to the last four years (2015-2018). Roraima saw an increase of 141%, Acre by 138%, Rondonia by 115%, Amazonas by 81%, and the South by 114%.

wrong information

But what about oxygen? What will happen to us when 20% of the planet's oxygen is cut off?

It has recently spread with the burning of the Amazon forest that these forests provide the globe with 20% of oxygen, which is wrong information, perhaps the purpose was to dramatize the news and provoke panic in the hearts of people. Jonathan Foley (former executive director of the California Academy of Sciences and founder of the Climate Change Research Project Project Group) has stressed that it is impossible to enable the Amazon forests to supply the globe with such a high oxygen content, perhaps the result of all tropical forests (including those in Africa and Indonesia). "The burning of all the Amazon forests is not a threat to the atmosphere. Earth's oxygen resources are the result of long-term geological forces such as tectonic plates, not oxygen from photosynthesis." But this is no excuse for recklessness, nor does it mean that these fires will not pose a threat in other respects.Amazon forest is a natural treasure and any disruption will have significant impacts on climate, biodiversity and local populations.

The effects of the Amazon fires

The Amazon fires have left many traces, the effects of which may now only be felt on the local population, but in the long run these effects will affect every organism on the planet.

At the local level: this fire ended the lives of many living things, and threatens the lives of those who remain. The Amazon forests are home to about one million people whose lives have been severely affected by the fire that has affected their crops, animals and rivers, which form the backbone of life in the region, as well as the health damage caused by the inhalation of toxic gases from the fire such as carbon monoxide.

Globally, forests around the world absorb 2.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually from the atmosphere, and the Amazon has the largest share of the process, removing a quarter of that amount and replacing it with oxygen. Climate change and the difficulty of controlling temperatures below 3.6 degrees, according to the Paris climate agreements. Fires also pose a threat to biodiversity in the region, home to 30% of the world's plant and animal species.

After all, perhaps we should finally recognize the universality of what we live, especially disasters. Prosperity can be monopolized by a few, but catastrophe affects everyone.