Issues With Deforestation of Amazon Rainforest in Brazil Term Paper

Amazon Rainforest in Brazil is under attack from a variety of sources. The Rainforests are not only integral to the Brazilian economy, but to the world as well. The Rainforest provides a rich source of natural and generative resources to the country as well as serve as one of the largest natural carbon deposits, or carbon sinks, on the planet. The country is home to nearly half of Earth's rainforests, gobbling up 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide every year -- a third of the United States' 2010 greenhouse gas output (Editorial Board, 2012). There are three primary themes that emerge in this trend.

The first is that deforestation is threatening the vitality of the Earth's regenerative systems through soil degradation as well as the loss of carbon sinks. Another theme is that the use of the forest is not being used to its economic potential. Environmental issues aside, burning forest to make room for farms or livestock is not a viable economic solution as it creates enormous amounts of waste. Finally, despite the natural resources that have a local impact, the rainforests have a global impact in their role in regulating the carbon cycle. This could have substantial ramifications for the Earth's climate as well as initiate a feedback process that would accelerate the damages being done to the Earth's ability to regulate its energy balance.

It is not only the rainforests of Brazil that are being threatened, Brazil's Salto Morato Nature Preserve is a haven for scientists studying the dwindling Atlantic rainforest, an area less renowned than the Amazon forest but just as biologically diverse and equally threatened by human encroachment (Aziakou, 2012). All of these issues have made domestic political fodder for both sides of the isle. There is a tough balancing act between economic development and environmental preservation that politicians must constantly try to juggle.Recenlty Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has vetoed nine articles of a new forestry code approved by Congress that environmentalists said would lead to further deforestation in the Amazon rainforest (Associated Free Press, 2012). However, this has set off a wave of outrage from many leaders of industry in agriculture. High quality global journalism requires investment. Furhtermore Brazil has already been under intense pressure to prove its environmental credentials from members oof Rio+20, the UN conference on sustainable development, when world leaders met in Rio de Janeiro in June (Pearson, 2012) .

It is not only a domestic issue. Many foreign nations and other organizations are also trying to sway the debate. For example, Norway's $650 billion sovereign wealth fund has started asking companies it invests in to minimize their impact on rainforests (Doyle, 2012). This fund will scrutinize companies supply chains to ensure they are in compliance with the environmental regulations as well as promote good stewardship by rewarding sustainable partners with more access to capital. However, important this may be to international investors, such organizations have little influence on the subsistence farmers who are clearing rainforest to as their only means to provide for their families. Despite the tough domestic enforcement issues, local farmers still brave the risks because it is their only means to make a living.

The clearing of rainforests is also having vast implications for the biodiversity found in the region. For example, just recently an interesting specimen, brachycephalus tridactylus commonly referred to as a three toed frog, was found at an altitude of around 900….....