5 reasons why the Amazon fires affect us, no matter how far away we are

Until not long ago, it seemed that the gradual destruction of the Amazon was a problem of the indigenous natives, of certain environmental organizations and of the singer Sting, who already in the 80s of the last twentieth century accused “the industrialized countries” of causing a natural disaster in the Amazon. But no one paid too much attention to the matter… Until now.

This summer, it seems that the Amazonian cause has finally become fashionable. The reason is the hundreds of fires that punish the jungle with an unusual virulence and much more publicized than usual. And that, although “_CO2 emissions caused by fires have been higher than in the last seven years, they are lower than in the 2000s.” Or, at least, that’s what reliable sources like the University of Sheffield or the University of Sheffield say.

Copernicus Program.

Be that as it may, this time the entire planet has reacted, and the media, national governments, international organizations and environmental organizations, have made a pineapple to denounce the problem. In addition, Sting is no longer alone: celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio, J Balvin, Cara Delevingne or Eva Longoria have joined the cause, denouncing the seriousness of a fire that not only affects Brazil, where 60% of the jungle is, but also Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriman, Venezuela and, rebound, the whole world.

Next, we also contribute our grain of sand, trying to explain the causes for which you should worry about the fate of the Amazon rainforest, even if it is from a purely selfish prism. Thus, if we become aware of what affects its destruction, we may worry about the Amazon all year round and every year, not only when dictated by the barometer of trends.

1 We’re going to breathe much worse

The Amazon rainforest produces one-fifth of our planet’s oxygen

This does not have to be explained too much. It is evident that without oxygen we cannot breathe, and if the so-called “lung of the Earth” is burned, and we lose an important part of its plants and trees, the entire planet will suffer the consequences. In other words: the Amazon generates 20% of the world’s oxygen, so if this percentage is reduced considerably, we will all breathe much worse, whether we live in Brasilia, New York, Moscow, Madrid or Shanghai.

2 Climate change is accelerating

Researchers at the University of Colorado have analyzed satellite images of the fires, estimating carbon dioxide emissions based on burned vegetation masses. And their conclusions are very pessimistic. The rainforest stores 100,000 tons of carbon, the loss of which will lead to further climate change. The carbon dioxide that emanates from the thousands of fires that hit the Amazon acts by intensifying the greenhouse effect, which causes the average temperature to rise. Thus, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a fundamental program to curb climate change, will be drastically affected.

3 We will lose a biodiversity that could save our lives

The Amazon rainforest is home to 10% of the world’s biodiversity. Fires can mean that endangered species disappear forever. This irreparable loss affects us all, since it diminishes the animal and plant wealth of the planet. It’s no joke: among the 30,000 species of plants in the Amazon, many have food and medicinal properties that could save our lives in the future.

Likewise, the planet will lose some of the 2,500 species of fish, 1,500 species of birds, 550 species of reptiles, 500 species of mammals and 2.5 million species of insects that the Amazon hosts, according to sources from the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (OCTA). Not to mention the impact of the fires on the lives of the 34 million people who live there, including three million Indigenous people from 420 tribes.

4 Smoke from fires will pollute the entire atmosphere

The Amazon fires are so many, that they generate an immense amount of smoke. A smoke that does not sit still, but travels without haste or pause until it reaches very distant regions, due to the action of global atmospheric dynamics. The Amazonian smoke has already covered millions of square kilometers in South America, and the lungs of the inhabitants of areas such as Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero or Salta are suffering. And the thing goes further.

According to Santiago Gassó, a researcher at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, “the smoke from these fires will move and end up going around the globe,” settling in the stratosphere for months. Aftermath? Alteration of clouds, increase in pollution and increase in temperatures, among other disasters.

5 We will kill ourselves for fresh water

20% of the fresh water entering the oceans comes from the Amazon.

The fires would affect the global hydrological cycle, as that water helps maintain the delicate balance in the marine currents that distribute cold and heat throughout the planet. And not only fires: a recent study conducted by WWF Brazil and Imazon, concludes that the Amazon loses 350 km2 of surface fresh water every year also as a result of the construction of hydroelectric dams, deforestation or climate change. According to the UN, if the largest water reserve on the planet falters, it is very likely that wars will break out between different countries to control this essential asset for life.

Source: The Newspaper