Amazon Rainforest
By: Lauren Schondau
Challenges the Amazon Rain Forest is facing:
Deforestation
The Amazon Rain Forest is facing deforestation,its ultimate problem. The trees are being cut down by workers to create more living space for urban areas. Because of this problem animals are loosing their homes and many endangered plants are being cut down. People have been working on this problem for many years. By recognizing this problem the deforestation rates are reducing, but this still remains a problem for the Amazon Forest.
Climate Change
The climate in the Amazon changes drastically every year. Each time this happens about 75% of the rainforest struggles to stay alive. We cannot help the climate, so this problem continues to challenge the rainforest
Water Shortage
Over the past year the amazon has experienced two droughts that have lead the Amazon to a water shortage. Animals and plants need the water to survive. Without the water animals and Plants are dying out.
Important Facts:
Fact #1
The amazon rainforest has a rich ecosystem- there are about 40,000 plant species, 1,300 bird species, 3,000 types of fish, 430 different mammals, and 2.5 million different insects!
Fact #2
The immense natural beauty of the amazon rainforest is referred to as the " lungs of the Earth". This is because the rich vegetation takes in our carbon dioxide and produces more oxygen. In fact, It produces 20% of the worlds oxygen!
Fact #3
The Amazon is the worlds largest rainforest! It covers 5.5 million square kilometers and could fit into the UK and Ireland 17 times!
Summary:
I have learned many things about the Amazon Rainforest. Did you know there were 2.5 million insects in just the Amazon Rainforest?! I was also surprised to find out how important the rain forest is to the Earth. It produces 20% of the worlds oxygen! The amazon is very important to our ecosystem. To help make sure the Amazon stays out of deforestation, the Greenpeace foundation helps raise awareness. They are trying to stop deforestation in the Amazon by 2015 and deforestation globally by 2020.