Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest is caused by logging, agriculture, clearing land for livestock, and mining. It has short term effects like soil erosion and changes in precipitation, and long term effects including climate change, loss of plant and animal species, and damage to agriculture. Possible solutions include companies adopting zero-deforestation policies, consumers boycotting companies with bad environmental practices, and governments protecting forests and promoting renewable fuels and efficient farming.

1. Causes, Effects & Possible Solutions
AMAZON
RAINFOREST DEFORESTATION
Photo Courtesy: www.oneworldeducation.org
Ibrahim Janjua

2. What is Deforestation
 Destruction of naturally occurring forests, primarily due to logging, agriculture,
clearing land for livestock, mining and much more...
 Forests cover 30% of Earth’s surface — 15.5 million square miles, but each year
78,000 square miles of land is cleared
Data source: conserve-energy-future.com, environment.about.com Photo Courtesy: nationalgeographic.com

3. Facts about Amazon
Data source: www.softschools.com, www.amazonswim.com

4. Deforestation Causes
Data source: ownforest.com, mongabay.com, geographicalconcepts.wikispaces.com

5. Effects
Short Term Effects
Soil Erosion
Change in precipitation
Long Term Effects
Climate change / Global warming
Loss of plant & animal species
Agriculture Damage
Economic Effects
Short lived boom
Data source: Broadbent, E.N., G.P. Asner, M. Keller, D.E. Knaoo, P.J.C. Oliveira, and J.N. Silva 2008 Photo Courtesy: worldwildlife.org,
americantraditions.org

6. -
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Statistics / Did you know
Data source: graida.no, UNEP 1999; La Rovere 2000; Cramer 2004
-
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000
-
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000
Annual Deforestation in Sq. KM
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
CO2 Emission Million Tonnes
High Estimate
Low Estimate

7. Possible Solutions
Companies
Introduce zero-
deforestation policies and
make minimum
environmental impact
a priority
Consumers/Individuals
Boycott companies with bad
environmental practices
Politics
Protect forests
And focus on renewable fuels
Efficient farming
Data source: greenpeace.org Photo Courtesy: blogs.ubc.ca, greenpackaging365.com, worldtourismplace.com

8. Forests are the world’s air conditioning system,
the lungs of the planet, and we are on the verge of switching it off
— Prince Charles
Photo Courtesy:
wwf.org