For decades, the pristine lungs of the world, the Amazon jungle, have been under attack by human encroachment. Millions of acres of virgin rainforest were slashed and burned for timber, development, and cattle grazing land. Palm oil plantations added a huge additional burden, robbing wild species of their home, and putting tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. Not that the Amazon is free and clear now, but it is finally getting some help, with a huge new reforestation project announced by Conservation International and the Brazilian Ministry of Environment. The effort plans to plant 73 million trees in the Brazilian Amazon by 2023, which amounts to over 74,000 acres. Make no mistake, this is just a drop in the bucket for the Amazon and other rainforests that have seen massive habitat loss. Countries like Indonesia continue slashing and burning their pristine jungles for cheap palm oil plantations. But it is a step in the right direction.
The Amazon is home to the largest diversity of plants and animals on the planet. Who knows the unknown cures for diseases that the biodiversity holds, let alone new animals. Here’s a stat that sheds some light on the wonder of this place. Via My Modern Met:
Some 400 new species discovered in the Amazon between 2014 and 2015 alone.
Details via MMM:
To make a lasting impact, Conservation International has researched a well thought out process to ensure they hit their targets. It’s a new, more efficient planting technique known as muvuca, in which hundreds of native tree seeds from a variety of species are planted over every inch of the deforested land.
