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The Destruction of the Amazon

I. The Scope of the Problem

• A. Amazon rain forest takes up about 7% of land surface of Earth (2.9 million sq mls)
• B. 50% of world's plant and animal species found there
• C. 205,000 square miles lost from 1978-1997 (about the size of Minnesota). By 2006, 207,000 sq.m.
• D. 6400 sq miles lost in 1998, again in 1999. About 5000 in 2006. Worst year was 1995 - about 12,000 sq miles.
• E. Slash-and-burn agriculture, ranching the key culprits
• F. Gold mining important in North - has had devastating effects on indigenous population
• G. Logging and burning make Brazil a major source of greenhouse gases
• H. Recently (2008) the Brazilian government has  suggested the rate may be increasing
• I. Long-term potential
  • 1. At current rates, forest will be gone by 2050
  • 2. Will result in desertification in Brazil (already happening)
  • 3. Will shift weather patterns - wetter in North Atlantic, dryer in tropics
  • 4. Contributes to greenhouse gases as trees no longer taking up carbon dioxide

II. Brazilian Nationalism and the Military

• A. 85% of the Amazon basin is in Brazil, representing 60% of Brazil's land area
• B. Brazilian Military has long seen Amazonia as a problem
  • 1. Huge jungle frontier indefensible
  • 2. Danger of infiltration by guerilla groups, narco-traffickers
• C. Also see it as resource
  • 1. Military government that came in in 1964 saw opportunity to solve economic problems
  • 2. Initiated TranAmazonica road system to exploit region 
• D. The danger from the North
  • 1. Falklands, Iraq, Kosovo made military feel threatened
  • 2. See environmental concerns, drug war, human rights issues as cover for "internationalizing" Amazonia
  • 3. See U.S. efforts in Colombia as potential wedge leading into Brazil
• E. Nationalist attitudes have led to conspiracy theories and hoaxes regarding U.S. plans

III. Chico Mendes

• A. Head of rubber-tappers union in 1980s
• B. Rubber trade depends on access to virgin forest
• C. Campaigned vigorously to protect forest, indigenous people
• D. Murdered by ranchers in Feb. 1989

IV. Population and economic obstacles to change

• A. Population pressures in cities and costal areas force many into Amazonia
• B. Slash-and-burn agriculture led to almost 25,000 fires in 1997 alone
• C. Brazil has enormous debt, unemployment -- despite wealth, few resources
• D. And its not just Brazil - Peru is moving to open up more Amazonian land to development

V. The Good News

• A. Some Progress has been made
• B. In alliance with World Bank and World Wildlife Fund, Brazil set aside 10,000 sq miles in 2000
• C. New radar system (SIVAM) will look for fires, illegal logging, drug traffic, guerrillas
• D. $490 million project for policing Amazonia will cut down on illegal logging, etc.
• E. Panara Indians given land back in 2000
• F. More and more land being put into permanent preserves
• F. 2005-06 showed significant drops in deforestation

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