[INFORMATIVE] The Threats to the Amazon Rainforest

The Threats to the Amazon Rainforest

By: Bella Duncan

The Amazon Rainforest is the largest in the world. However, it has been facing harmful threats in the past few decades. One of the biggest threats to the Amazon is cattle ranching, which causes a chain reaction in the ecosystem resulting in deforestation and biodiversity loss.

Cattle ranching is when ranchers use large amounts of land to raise herds of animals, such as cattle and sheep. Although, for ranchers to obtain this land, they have to clear away trees. Trees are the lungs of our planet, and according to a Sentient Climate article, ‘Amazon Deforestation: How Much of the Rainforest Is Left?’, Grace Hussain, the author states, “Cattle ranching is a leading driver of deforestation in the Amazon, accounting for around 80 percent of the destruction there and the release of 340 million tons of carbon per year.” Cattle ranching causes ranchers to cut down the trees, destroying many animals' homes. The Amazon is home to many unique and endangered species. These species find refuge in the rainforest's trees and agriculture; cutting down the trees displaces those animals and causes them to leave—or even die.

Therefore, with trees being cut down in the Amazon, animals' homes are being cut down too. The animals leaving or dying cause a biodiversity loss, which unbalances the ecosystem, causing some animal species to grow in population and some animal species to decrease. For example, jaguars have been misplaced due to deforestation in the Amazon. Without jaguars, capybaras, a species that jaguars are known for eating, will grow in population. If the capybaras were to grow in population, there would be fewer aquatic plants (plants near or in bodies of water), and since there would be fewer aquatic plants, the fish living in those plants would be displaced and eaten by predators. Biodiversity loss has an effect on a whole ecosystem and can cause unbalance. Cattle ranching, however, can be beneficial and is needed to meet population needs.

Cattle ranching provides tons of meat and milk per year. According to an Our World Data article titled ‘Meat and Dairy Production,’ the authors write, “Global demand for meat is growing: over the past 50 years, meat production has more than tripled. The world now produces more than 350 million tons each year.” A large portion of that meat comes from cattle farming. Meat, specifically meat from cows, is a very well-known meat, packed with protein and vitamins that are good for sustaining a healthy lifestyle. As the population increases, so will the need for meat and nutritious foods, and cattle farming can be a solution to this infinite issue.

A compromise to reduce cattle ranching in the Amazon rainforest is placing a limit on how many animals are allowed in each cattle ranch. If there is a limit on how many animals are allowed in each cattle ranch, ranchers won’t need as much space, and then trees may be replanted in the rainforest. A solution to eliminating cattle ranching in the Amazon rainforest is for the government of the rancher's country to set aside land that can be used for agricultural needs such as farming and ranching.


Citations
Hussain, Grace. “Amazon Deforestation - How Much of the Rainforest Is Left?” Sentient, 13 Oct. 2023, sentientmedia.org/amazon-deforestation/#:~:text=Almost%2020%20Percent%20of%20the,breaking%20point%3A%2025%20percent%20deforestation.

Ritchie, Hannah, et al. “Meat and Dairy Production.” Our World in Data, 2 Jan. 2024, ourworldindata.org/meat-production.