The Amazon is an incredibly distinctive place. It’s the world’s largest rain forests and river system, and also the most biologically diverse place on Earth. It contains countless species, most of them still undescribed.
Both the Amazon’s forest and freshwater systems are at risk. Since the year 2000, rain has declined across 69 percent of the Amazon forest. Protecting and saving the Amazon isn’t a simple undertaking, but WWF has been working to save this important place.
Know more about this special area:
1. What creatures Reside in the Amazon?
It comprises one in 10 known species on Earth, 40,000 plant species, 3,000 freshwater fish species, and more than 370 kinds of reptiles. Over 2,000 new species of plants and vertebrates, such as a fighter that resembles a cat, have been described since 1999.
2. How many countries do the Amazon span?
This Huge region, about two-thirds the size of the US, crosses eight countries: Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and the international territory of French Guiana.
3. What kind of birds can you find in the Amazon?
House to over a million different species of birds like hummingbirds, Channel-billed toucans, hoatzins, and macaws, the Amazon is one of the most varied areas for birds in the world. Macaws, an icon of the Amazon, are highly intelligent and social, residing in flocks of 10 to 30 birds. They mate for life and may live up to 60 decades. Some species can even mimic human language. However, macaws are under threat from deforestation and the illegal pet trade.
4. Why is Amazon important?
More than 30 million people, including 350 indigenous and ethnic groups, live in the Amazon and rely on nature for agriculture, clothes, and traditional medications. There’s also a clear link between the health of the Amazon and the health of Earth. The rain forests, which contain 90 billion to 140 billion metric tons of carbon help stabilize the local and international climate. The Amazon also pumps about 7 billion tons of water each year to the atmosphere, and its woods recycle 50%-75% of yearly rain back into the atmosphere.
5. What threats does Amazon face?
The Amazon faces numerous dangers, such as deforestation from extensive cattle ranching and agricultural growth, poorly planned infrastructure, illegal and unsustainable natural resource extraction, and climate change.
6. What is WWF doing to safeguard Amazon?
WWF has been working to safeguard and conserve the Amazon for over 40 years. WWF works to confront both the drivers of deforestation, like soy farming, cattle ranching, hydropower, illegal and unsustainable logging, and infrastructure.
7. What’s the Amazon Region Protected Areas program?
WWF and our partners established a strategy named Project Finance for Permanence from Brazil to protect 150 million acres of the Brazilian Amazon. We joined private and public entities to increase $215 million to make, merge, and maintain a community of 114 safe regions. The network, known as the Amazon Region Protected Areas program, is nearly 3 times bigger than most US national parks combined.
Now WWF is analyzing the same approach for the protected area systems in a lot of other countries that are important for conservation, including Peru, Bhutan, and Colombia.
8. How can climate change influencing the Amazon?
Warmer temperatures and less rainfall have produced droughts of historical proportions. Extended dry spells wither crops, decimate fisheries and lead to forest fires. This may lead to significant shifts in the makeup of ecosystems and a loss of species.
9. How do you help protect Amazon?
It is possible to educate your family and friends about the importance of this Amazon. It’s possible to turn into a discerning client: inquire how your food and other purchases are produced, and buy products with the FSC label. You can reduce your usage of fossil fuels, and your impact on Earth. It is also possible to speak up for Amazon individuals by sharing their stories and talking about environmental concerns.
