Case Study: Amazon Rainforest

• Amazon Rainforest context :

  . 5.5 million $km^2$

  . 300 billion trees 🌴= dense veg

  . Pop : 30 mill

  . 1 million plant 🌱 species

  . Endangered : Black Caiman🐊 , Amazonian Manatee
• Amazon Rainforest Water Cycle :

  . 2300mm annual rainfall

  . Basin drains into Amazon river & tributaries

  . 28° = high evaporation = high precipitation 🌦️

  . dense canopy = increased interception (1/2) = less RD

  . species adapted to high humidity & rainfall
• Amazon Rainforest Carbon Cycle :

  . Sink : absorbs 2.2 billion tonnes annually = stored in veg/soil

  . ⬆️ atmospheric $CO_2$= ⬆️ photosynthesis= ⬆️biomass

  . $CO_2$sequestered = important store (17% global terrestrial carbon stock)

  . becoming less efficient at trapping
• Amazon Rainforest Climate Change :

  . increased temp🌡️ + decreased rainfall = droughts (2005,10,15) = adapted species die & forest fires 🌳🔥= increased atmospheric $CO_2$

  . 4 ° temp rise = 85% forest killed = C released and less taken in
• WWF : 27% of the Amazon Rainforest will be gone by 2030 at the current rate
• Amazon Land Clearance for...

  1. Agriculture (soy & cattle 🐄)
  2. Logging (timber 🪵)
  3. Road Building 🛣️ ( amazonian highway)
  4. Mineral Extraction ( Brazil mines : iron)
  5. Energy Development (150 dams = displacement & flooding)
  6. Settlements & Pop Growth (Parauapebas)
• Amazon Deforestation effect on Water Cycle :

  . no canopy interception = more runoff = flooding (slow infiltration)

  . reduced evapotranspiration = less clouds = less rain = drought 🏜️
• Amazon Deforestation effect on Carbon Cycle :

  . no roots = nutrient rich top layer washed away = C in soil transferred to hydrosphere

  . more atmospheric $CO_2$ = enhanced greenhouse effect
• Attempts to limit Human Impact in Amazon :

  1. Replanting 🌳🌴🎋
  2. Selective Logging
  3. Environmental Law
  4. Protection
• 1)Replanting 🌳🌴🎋

  Peru : 115 acres (same type replanted=variety kept=cycles return)
• 2)Selective Logging

  oldest cut = structure kept & soil not exposed = forest regenerates easily = cycles not greatly affected
• 3)Environmental Law

  . Laws banning use of wood from forests not sustainably managed

  . Banning excessive logging

  . To control land use

  eg: Brazil Forest Code : land owners keep 50-80% forest
• 4)Protection

  . National Parks & Nature Reserves = damaging activities monitored & prevented

  eg: Central Amazon Conservation Complex : Brazil , $490000km^2$protects biodiversity