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Amazon rainforest inhabitants share plan to save their home
Inhabitants of the Amazon have created a comprehensive plan to prevent climate and ecological collapse, focusing on ending fossil fuel subsidies and securing Indigenous land rights.
In short:
- The Pan-Amazon Social Forum (FOSPA) gathered Indigenous and local communities to discuss strategies to protect the Amazon rainforest.
- Participants criticized international climate talks and emphasized the need for direct action and local knowledge.
- The proposed plan includes ending fossil fuel subsidies, securing land rights and prioritizing biodiversity hotspots for conservation.
Key quote:
“We are being suffocated by large enterprises.”
— Vanuza Abacatal, leader of a Quilombola community in Para, Brazil.
Why this matters:
The Amazon rainforest plays a critical role in regulating the global climate, and study after study have shown that Indigenous communities with secure land tenure have the best conservation outcomes, even compared to national parks. However, the rainforest faces unprecedented threats from deforestation, illegal mining and oil extraction. Indigenous leaders argue that continuing to support fossil fuel industries through government subsidies only exacerbates these threats, accelerating the pace of ecological destruction and climate change.
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Credit: 1photo/Big Stock Photo
Tracking the hidden origins of Amazon beef in global markets
Journalist Marcel Gomes has revealed a complex global supply chain connecting Amazon deforestation to beef in U.S. and European markets.
In short:
- Marcel Gomes of Repórter Brasil traced beef from JBS, the largest meat processor, back to Brazilian ranches involved in illegal deforestation.
- His investigative work led to major European retailers halting their purchases of JBS beef, though tainted products remain on shelves.
- Gomes emphasizes the need for better tracking systems in Brazil to prevent "cattle laundering" and ensure cleaner supply chains.
Key quote:
“We need to change the system in Brazil, to find a new way to trace the cattle moving between farms and to stop cattle laundering.”
— Marcel Gomes, investigative journalist
Why this matters:
For consumers worldwide, especially those conscious of their dietary choices' ecological impacts, this connection raises concerns about the sustainability and ethics of the beef they consume. It also places pressure on regulatory bodies and governments to enforce more stringent standards on multinational corporations like JBS to ensure they uphold environmental commitments and prevent further illegal deforestation.
Peter Dykstra: “I could lose five pounds just writing down why I’m a climate-writing, meat-eating, climate-destroying hypocrite.”
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Credit; Hans Schwarzkopf/Pixabay
Forests versus cattle: which is more profitable for the Amazon?
A recent shift in the Amazon rainforest could see trees outcompeting cattle ranching as a more profitable use of land, thanks to the burgeoning carbon credit market.
In short:
- Companies like Re.green are buying large tracts of Amazonian land for forest restoration, aiming to sell carbon credits rather than engage in traditional cattle ranching.
- This new approach involves planting native trees on degraded pastures and maintaining them permanently to store carbon.
- Skeptics exist, especially among local ranchers, but the worsening effects of climate change might push more to consider this alternative.
Key quote:
“We are killing pasture that a lot of farmers need."
— Josias Araújo, a former cowboy who now works in reforestation
Why this matters:
The transformation of degraded pastures into forested land represents a potential shift in economic priorities from cattle to carbon credits and serves as an important strategy in combating climate change. Protecting and restoring the Amazon could provide significant ecological and economic benefits, encouraging sustainable practices that could extend beyond local communities to global markets.
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Credit: Annie Spratt/Unsplash
Disguised ownership helps Amazon deforesters evade penalties
Land grabbers in the Amazon use front people to avoid environmental accountability, complicating enforcement efforts by authorities, reveals a new investigation.
In short:
- Amazon land-grabbers like José Carlos Bronca, a Brazilian agribusinessman, employs fronts, typically relatives or unsuspecting individuals, to register land to circumvent fines and legal consequences.
- These tactics significantly hinder environmental agencies, such as Brazilian's IBAMA, from prosecuting offenders, often leaving fines unpaid and crimes unpunished.
- Bronca's manipulation of land titles and registration obfuscates his involvement, even as authorities increase efforts to tie deforestation back to him.
Key quote:
“You go to look for the assets that are in the citizen’s name and you don’t find anything, and that’s all there is to it.”
— César Guimarães, superintendent of IBAMA in Rondônia
Why this matters:
Using fronts to register land enables significant deforestation with minimal legal repercussions for the true landowners, undermining environmental conservation efforts. This tactic dilutes the effectiveness of legal sanctions and frustrates efforts to hold violators accountable.
Be sure to read EHN’s 2020 coverage: Massive, vital ecosystems that have existed for thousands of years could breakdown in just a few decades, according to a new study.
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Credit: Kate Stone Matheson/Unsplash
Rainforests might survive after all, says new study
A new study shows that while rainforests continue to face threats, certain areas are seeing a decline in deforestation, offering a glimmer of hope for their future.
In short:
- Tropical forests lost more than 9 million acres last year, equivalent to 10 soccer fields per minute, with deforestation primarily driven by agriculture.
- Recent declines in forest loss in Colombia, Brazil, and Indonesia highlight the impact of effective laws and governance in protecting these critical ecosystems.
- The World Resources Institute's analysis points to a stubborn consistency in the rate of primary forest loss, stressing the need for continued vigilance.
Key quote:
"We have the opportunity again of being a champion on climate, and Lula has promised to do that."
— Ana Paula Vargas, Brazil Program Director at Amazon Watch
Why this matters:
Rainforests, often dubbed the lungs of the Earth, are under significant threat from deforestation, a process that not only affects biodiversity but also has profound implications for local communities. These ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots, hosting over half of the world's plant and animal species in their dense, green canopies. When trees are cut down, it doesn't just result in habitat loss; it also disrupts intricate ecological networks, pushing numerous species towards extinction.
Are you a coffee drinker that cares about your environmental footprint? Buy shade-grown coffee, brew it by French press, and dispose of the coffee grounds in compost.
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Credit: Renaldo Matamoro/Unsplash
Brazilian special forces fight back against Amazon deforestation.
In Brazil's Amazon, a small, specialized unit takes bold steps to protect Indigenous lands from illegal miners.
In short:
- Armed environmentalists of the Specialized Inspection Group (G.E.F.) are combating illegal mining in the Amazon, led by Felipe Finger.
- Their operations, supported by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, target the destruction of miners' camps and equipment to protect the Yanomami territory.
- Despite their efforts, illegal mining persists, fueled by high gold prices and sophisticated equipment, including Starlink systems for coordination.
Key quote:
"Wherever they go, the miners destroy everything, entire river systems. And they do it at the expense of these highly vulnerable people."
— Felipe Finger, leader of the G.E.F.
Why this matters:
Brazil has experienced a 34% drop in Amazon deforestation under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's leadership, indicating a positive shift toward environmental preservation. However, challenges such as the El Niño phenomenon, which increases the risk of forest fires, remain. Lula has also pledged to end net deforestation in the Amazon by 2030, emphasizing the need for law enforcement and investment in sustainable, community-managed productive chains to support conservation efforts.
Be sure to read our 2020 coverage: Massive, vital ecosystems that have existed for thousands of years could breakdown in just a few decades, according to a new study.
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Credit: teresa cotrim/Pixabay
Solar energy brings a new dawn for Amazonian communities
In the depths of the Ecuadorian Amazon, solar panels are casting light on new sustainable lifestyles for Indigenous communities.
In short:
- Solar panels have been installed in 12 villages within the Ecuadorian Amazon, allowing for advancements such as eco-friendly solar boats and improved school resources.
- Indigenous technicians are trained to maintain solar technology, fostering economic development and educational opportunities.
- The introduction of solar power has significantly reduced dependence on gasoline for electricity, enhancing daily life and environmental conservation.
Key quote:
"We cannot talk about the fight against extractive activities if we are consuming fuel. Just as the sun makes life possible on the planet, it also allows the Achuar to keep their culture alive."
— Nantu Canelos, Indigenous leader
Why this matters:
This shift to solar energy reduces the reliance on fossil fuels, decreases environmental contamination, and preserves biodiversity.
With solar leading the way, clean energy capacity growth is helping the planet avoid billions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
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