Amazon Rainforest on fire
BURN. With the Amazon rainforest on fire, it will not only negatively impact humans, but it will be detrimental to the animals that live in the rainforest. Dendropsophus marmoratus, also known as the marbled tree frog, is one of the many creatures that will be affected by this fire. “The fire could also change water chemistry to the point that it isn’t sustainable for life in the short term,” said Mazeika Sullivan, associate professor at the Ohio State University’s School of Environment and Natural Resources.
The Amazon rainforest was set ablaze roughly a month ago with still no sign of change. Brazil’s environmental minister Ricardo Salles, tweeted that the fires were caused by wind, heat, and dry weather. On the other hand, CNN meteorologist Haley Brink reported the fires are “definitely” caused by humans and that these fires would not happen because of natural causes like lightning strikes.
Many environmental organizations and researchers agree that the forest fire is due to cattle ranchers and loggers, who are being encouraged to clear and use the land by the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
“If I were the citizens of Brazil, I would be pushing for a regime change in Brazil and put pressure on the government to get their act together,” said Ron Hochstrasser, the AP Environmental teacher at SHS.
Bolsonaro cut the budget for the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) by 34 percent in April this year.
The fire was so bad that the smoke traveled for 1864 miles all the way to Sao Paulo.
“This situation is frustrating because you have to realize it’s not the Brazilian government itself that is the problem, it’s Bolsonaro, he is putting up blockades to stop people from fixing the problem,” said Sekani Cole 11, who took AP environmental last year.
For those who are interested in helping the Amazon rainforest, you can visit organizations like Rainforest Alliance, Rainforest Action Network, and the Rainforest Foundation U.S.
“There’s only so much you can do from here, to help the rainforest you have to be apart of the activist organizations or you could help by donating,” said Hochstrasser.
