1. Seminar on the topic
Amazon Rainforest
Miss. Priyanka Deepak More
Presented by
2. Points to be covered
Introduction
Biotic factors
Location
Natural History
Climate
Population
Culture
Problems of tribal people
Deforestation
Amazon rainforest wildfires
Solutions
3. Introduction
Amazon is the biggest
primary forest on the earth
containing greatest biodiversity
on the planet.
The Amazon rainforest is also
known as Amazonia, Amazonas
or the Amazon jungle.
It is the result of many
tributaries that flow into the
Amazon river.
Cont....
4. These are often referred to as the ‘Lungs of the Planet’.
The Amazon has an incredibly rich ecosystem-there are around
40000 plant species, 1300 bird species, 3000 types of fish, 430
mammals and a whopping 2.5 million different insects!
Due to the thickness of canopy, the Amazon floor is in permanent
darkness.
There are approximately 3000 fruits that grow in the rainforest
that are edible.
Due to deforestation, it is estimated we are making more than 137
species extinct every day!
10. Location
Being largest rainforest in the world, it covers about 5.5 million
sq. Km area. (www.worldatlas.com)
It represents over half of the worlds remaining rainforests.
Most of it is in brazil however significant areas of 8 other
countries are all covered by this forest; Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador,
Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.
11. Green area indicate the Amazon rainforest and
orange area shows the political boundaries of
different countries
Map showing delineated area of Amazon drainage
basin in blue and Amazon rainforest in white
12. Natural History
The rainforest likely formed at least 55 million years ago, during
the Eocene era.
It appeared following a global reduction of tropical temperatures
when the Atlantic Ocean had widened sufficiently to provide a
warm, moist climate to the Amazon basin.
The rainforest has been in existence for at least 55 million years,
and most of the region remained free of savannah type biomes at
least until the current ice age. When the climate was drier, savannah
more widespread.
13. Climate
Climate is hot and humid.
Temperature ranges between 22oC to 34oC
It rains throughout the year.
The rainforest receives intense precipitation of about 80 inches
annually and in some areas more than 430 inches per year.
In 2005, Amazon basin experienced worst drought in 100 years.
14. Population
Amazon rainforest is the
ancestral home of 1 million
Indians. (survivalinternational.org)
They are divided into 400 tribes,
each with its own language,
culture and territory.
Most of them live in settled
villages by the river and grow
vegetables and fruits. They also
hunt fish. Only few tribes are
nomadic.
15. Culture
The large number of tribes
have their own codes and
customs.
Music is the heart of tribal
ceremonies and is common in all
tribes.
Tribes have developed
extensive knowledge regarding
the plants and animals to
produce drugs.
With respect to religion, there
are many myths and legends.
16. Problems of Tribal People
Outsiders either want the
lands of tribal people or
something on or underneath it
Diseases
Missionaries
Colonists and loggers
17. Deforestation
Between 1991 and 2000, the total
area of forest lost in the Amazon rose
from 415,000 to 587,000 km².
As Amazon biome is known as the
world’s largest carbon dioxide sink,
deforestation is extensively
considered by climate change
experts.
deforestation in the Amazon is not
uncommon, but the way it is
increasing is a concern.
19. 2019 Amazon Rainforest Wildfires
Brazil’s National Institute
for Space Research reported
72,843 fires this year, an 80%
increase from last year.
More than 9,000 of those
fires have been spotted after 15
August.
7200 sq miles where in flame.
It rarely burns, and
the ecosystem is not adapted to
deal with fire.
Cont….
20. Smoke from Amazon wildfires was captured in this satellite
image taken by NASA. (www.nationalgeographic.com)
21. Locations of fires, marked in orange, which were detected
by MODIS on August 22, 2019
22. Political Factors Influencing Deforestation
Jair Bolsonaro made promises to restore the economy by exploring
the Amazon’s economic potential.
He has cut the budget of the nation‘s environmental enforcement
agency by $23 million relaxing environmental controls and
encouraging deforestation.
Bolsonaro fired the director of Brazil’s National Institute for Space
Research.
He reneges on hosting UN Climate talks, also refused to accept $20
million anti-fire fund from G7.
23. Results of fire
A tool to absorb carbon
emissions disappears
When trees are cut or
burned, they release the carbon
they were storing
Threat to biodiversity and the
people who use that
biodiversity
Climate changes
24. Undertake social media awareness
campaign
Support the waste recycle campaign
Tree plantation
To help reforest parts of the world,
contribute to the Rainforest Trust and
Rainforest Alliance.
Use products from farms that met
standards for sustainability.
Stop using animal based products.
Solutions