Learning about the Amazon rainforest was an area of curiosity that I always had; however, each year my class would watch a nature documentary about the forest, and the same powerful but haunting question would arise: do we have enough time to protect our forests?
Recently, the New York Times stated that, "By 2050, as much as half of today’s Amazon forest could be at risk of undergoing [...] degradation". So how did we get led into this crisis and what can we do to help?
The Role The Amazon Has In Our Weather
Being the largest rainforest in the world, the Amazon is a crucial player in our global weather patterns through absorbing solar radiation (regulating temperature) and releasing large amounts of water vapor into the atmosphere (transpiration). Additionally, since there is such an abundance of vegetation, the rainforest acts as a sponge, absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and ultimately regulating this greenhouse gas amidst global warming. This rainforest, and many others, are essential to the "checks and balances" that our atmosphere holds.
What Are Some Ways It Is In Critical Danger?
Deforestation efforts that, according to the Climate Policy Initiative, have already led to "20% loss of the Amazon's original area". This leads to stored carbon being released into the atmosphere, worsening the presence and severity of greenhouse gases.
Worsened wildfires and droughts due to global warming. In the first ten months of 2024 alone, PBS reported that "37.42 million acres" of the Amazon burned. Most of the incidents were traced back to man-made fires that were intended for deforestation and pasture practices.
As global demand for food rises, many acres of the rainforest are being removed to establish crop plantations. Additionally, through developments such as hydropower dams, mining sites, and roads, more and more acres of the Amazon are being removed, endangering native plant and animal species.
What Does This Mean For Us?
With one-third of the Amazon being degraded just through human activities alone, scientists across the globe believe that the Amazon's ecosystem could be reaching its tipping point anytime soon. In fact, the situation is so dire that many officials have expressed that when the tipping point arrives is only a matter of how rapid response is, and the amount of people behind it.
One reason the Amazon isn’t fully protected is that many people believe the economic benefits from its natural resources outweigh the need for conservation.
My Take
Whenever I learn more about the Amazon rainforest, I feel both a sense of fascination and frustration. With each passing year, the balance within this crucial and diverse ecosystem becomes increasingly more fragile. I can't help but feel an empowering and also unsettling sense of urgency. Not only do the actions of corporations and developments induce a ripple effect onto the rainforest, but the delicate situation we have been placed in is a direct result of our collective inaction.
Reading and researching the Amazon rainforest in the 21st century reminds me that the environment isn’t a far-off issue reserved for scientists or activists. What happens in the Amazon affects us all—through our weather, our food supply, and our health. Instead of feeling hopeless, I believe we should use this period to reflect and act within our communities. It’s easy to overlook the urgency of these problems because some of us may be far away from the Amazon, but the risks they pose to our daily lives make climate change an undeniable reality—one we must face before it’s too late.
Ultimately, the Amazon’s survival depends not just on policies or pledges, but on people—each of us—deciding that it’s worth fighting for. The haunting question isn’t merely “do we have enough time?” but rather, “will we act before time runs out?”
We all have a role to play. Donate or fundraise to the many organizations that have been involved in fighting for the preservation of the Amazon rainforest (WWF, Amazon Watch, and Rainforest Action Network)Raise awareness and advocate towards bringing positive change through social media (Amazon Aid, Rainforest Alliance, Greenpeace) classroom discussions, and especially elected officials. Most importantly, educate yourselves. Challenge yourself to think critically about the environmental impact of human activity. The Amazon's future is far from written—but it depends on what we choose to do today. Every voice, every choice counts.
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