Sustainability

The people of the Amazon region have a lot to be proud of. they have a beautiful culture full of food, laughter, and importance. One of the most important things to the Amazon region is the rainforests. They show the true beauty of the region. This is a major sustainable area. Sustainability is when the functions and processes of an ecosystem can be maintained while meeting the needs of the present and without compromising the needs of future generations. Humans all over the world depend on the Amazon rainforests for not only its goods, but its beauty.

Tropical rainforests only cover 2% of the earth. The Brazilian rainforests hold more than 30% of the world's remaining tropical rainforests. It provides a diverse variety of plants, oils, nuts, and latex. The land has provided excellent crops for dense populations overtime. It was said that more land was being cultivated when Colombus arrived than today. The problem has been that deforestation is constantly high, and that does dangerous things to the Amazon. The Brazilian government stated that the amount of land being deforested or degraded rose from 1% in 1970 to 16-20% in 2005. the process of clearing the trees is often achieved through large scale burning. In Brazil, this shows for about 75% of Brazil's greenhouse gas emissions. The fires can also change weather patterns by increasing temperatures and decreasing the amount of rain. Much of the world's biodiveristy would be lost if the burning continues at the rate it is goingThere are factors that need to be taken into consideration. First, people need to support the land and resource rights and economies of the native people. They know much more about their land than we do and have inhabited rainforests for ages without destroying them. they can educate others on how to use the forests without causing any damage. There are medicines, foods and unknown treasures that can be harvested without creating trouble for the future. Keeping the native cultures alive is key to saving the rainforest. People from countries, like the United States, have much to learn from the indigenous people in terms of our relationship with the Earth. If we respect their culture, they can lead the way towards a true, stable utilization of this bountiful resource. If they choose to utilize it in any commercial way at all, we have the potential of achieving true sustainability. As far as managing and sustaining the rainforests, there are many solutions. In Living in the Environment, it says, "We can sustain forests by emphasizing the economic value of their ecological services, protecting old-growth forests, harvesting trees no faster than they are replenished, and using sustainable substitute resources".

"Through agroforestry and floodplain orchards, outright destruction of rainforests can be avoided, while improving economic efficiency and providing a source of income for rural poor.About 60 percent of rainforest deforestation is caused by the shifted cultivator, who is usually pushed to marginal lands through lack of other suitable land. In some areas these farmers may be forced into the forests as a result of population growth and by landowners who hold large tracts of farmland. In many countries wealthy landholders—who have the most political clout—control the most productive lands, leaving the small farmers little choice but to clear a homestead from the forest. In Brazil, 10 percent of the population owns almost 90 percent of the fertile land. In many countries, the politically expedient way of dealing with this skewed land distribution has been to open up "unused" wildlands for poor farmers, rather than confront large landowners." By reducing the amount of trees cut down in the Amazon, there will be more sustainable materials left for people to use.

Christiana V.
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/1002.htm