Last summer, we were outraged by the deliberate burning of the Amazon rainforest.
Trees which have stood for hundreds of years were chopped down
and devastating fires were lit to clear the grounds.
Yet this year, it could be even worse.
In this film, we're going to look at why the Amazon is so important
for our planet and how we can help stop its destruction.
The Amazon is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.
It's well known for its incredible array of wildlife.
In fact research shows that on average a new plant or animal species
is discovered in the Amazon every three days.
It’s also home to roughly 34 million people
and over 350 indigenous groups who rely on the forest for their survival.
It's also vital in our fight against the climate crisis.
The Amazon is a major carbon sink.
It stores around 5% of global carbon emissions,
but lately the amount of carbon being absorbed year-on-year has been decreasing, as deforestation increases
In the last 30 years alone, we've lost 17 percent of the Amazon.
That's roughly the size of France!
We're at risk now the Amazon becoming a carbon source
rather than a carbon sink
and this increases the threat of a climate crisis.
Without the world's forests, the battle to keep to 1.5 degrees
and avoid dangerous climate change will simply be impossible.
We must not let this happen. We need an intact large and healthy Amazon rainforest.
But what's causing these increased rates of deforestation?
We know that the main threats to the Amazon are logging, agriculture, cattle ranching
and infrastructure development.
But there's a new threat emerging in the form of policy setbacks.
While the world is focused on this global pandemic
new laws are being proposed by the Brazilian government
which would threaten the rainforest with further destruction.
Encouraged by this illegal land grabbers are grabbing more and more land
from protected areas and indigenous communities.
With law enforcement being at reduced levels because of COVID-19
the illegal grabbing of land is ramping up massively
and making it far easier for land grabbers to steal what isn't theirs.
But now these invaders are spreading COVID-19 to
with potentially devastating impacts
for the Amazons indigenous groups and local communities.
These are communities who have lived and cared for the Amazon
for generations, playing a vital role in the rain forest protection.
The combination of COVID-19 and the thick smoke from the fires this year
are only going to make matters worse.
To put this in perspective the scale of devastation,
we're losing an area of rainforest greater than the size of three football pitches every minute in the Brazilian Amazon.
Just think how much land has already been deforested since you started watching this film!
If we lose just 5% more a tipping point could be reached.
This is where the rainforest can't produce the moisture
and other conditions it needs to sustain itself.
And if this happens, we could lose the Amazon as we know it forever!
We protect the Amazon. We can and here is how.
WWF is working with indigenous groups
and local communities to help them protect their rights.
We're also providing the tools
and technology to prevent further destruction.
Supporting them is not only the right thing to do.
It's vital for the Amazon survival.
So by donating to WWF, you'll be playing a crucial role in helping us to help them.
But this isn't just a distant problem. We can't shy away from the fact that some products sold
right here in the UK are driving demand
for deforested land and fueling fires across the globe.
Our government can be part of the solution.
New laws can guarantee that products being sold here in the UK
aren't fueling destruction of nature across the globe,
but they'll only active enough of us speak up.
We hope you found this video informative
and please do comment below about what topics you'd like to hear about next.
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