Amazon Rainforest Research Paper

* Located in South America, the Amazon Rainforest spans over the Amazon basin of South America, stretching over 2.1 million square miles. * The Amazon Rainforest spans over nine countries, including Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. * 60% of the Amazon Rainforest is contained within the borders of Brazil. * The map coordinates of the Amazon Rainforest center is 3° 9′ 36″ S, 60° 1′ 48″ W. * The region has an average temperature range of 68-93 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year, and rarely moves outside that range. * The average humidity range of the region varies between 77-88%, depending on the season * The region is near the equator, so sunlight is above average.
However, only 3% of actual sunlight makes it to the lowest levels of the forest. * Average rainfall per year in the Amazon Rainforest is in excess of 100 inches. * The biodiversity is amongst the highest of any ecosystem in the world.
* The region is home to roughly 2.5 million insect species and some 2,000 birds and mammals. * So far, more than 40,000 plant, 2,200 fishes, 1,200 birds, 427 mammals, 428 amphibians, and 378 reptiles have been identified in this region.(1) * It is estimated that one square mile of the region may contain more than 1,000 different species of tree. * The region is also abundant in species that are predatory. This includes jaguars, cougars, and anacondas. In the river, electric eels, and the forest contains many species of poison frogs and vampire bats. * The Amazon Rainforest has long been home to many indigenous people that have learned to live in the ecosystem and live off its renewable resources. * Many of the world’s medicines and antibiotics come from the rainforest. * Unfortunately, the impact of humans on the Amazon Rainforest and other rainforests through deforestation has been devastating. Deforestation has caused some rainforests to disappear completely, and it is estimated that over 3 million hectares of forest are eliminated each year from the region. Brazil accounts for 27% of all accounted for
deforestation. * The consequences of our actions are large. As we continue to eliminate mature trees, more carbon is added to atmosphere are we lose the ability to convert it to oxygen through photosynthesis. Climatic conditions can be altered, affecting temperatures across the world, and we continue to lose more land and topsoil to erosion. In addition, plant species that we have never discovered become extinct as we wipe out entire areas of rainforest. It may be years before we realize the full effect of deforestation has on our climate in the world. * Despite the new technologies that have shown the damage humans are doing to the rainforest, deforestation has failed to slow. The continued deforestation and continued consequences resulting from it will likely mean the end to many rainforests across the world. I fear (and predict) from my studies that much of the Amazon Rainforest will eventually disappear. * The consequences of this prediction coming true would be dire at best. The continued emission of greenhouse gases, and the further increase of carbon in the atmosphere could have a dire effect on the human race, and many believe that it is too late to save the Amazon Rainforest even if we put stop factors into place now. * We need to make every effort to save the Amazon Rainforest. This includes the immediate ending to deforestation in the area. Over one million acres have already ready been saved by governmental agencies stepping in. * Advance technologies to find out the depth of the damage we have done. In addition to current technology (infrared, etc), we must start measuring the damage we have done so that we can start coming up with creative and practical ways to circumvent the damage and save not only the Amazon Rainforest, but our planet. * We must make the move to maximize recycling, using only 100% post-consumer recycled products. The more we utilize this, the less we need trees for consumer needs such as paper products. * Research the companies that we do business with. Force companies to go “green” and make them all put plans in place to supports conservationism or prevent them from doing more damage to the ecosystem. * Support and learn from organizations such as Green Peace.