One of the planet’s most biodiverse ecosystems, the Amazon rainforest spans nine South American nations and a total size of over 6.7 million square kilometers. Numerous indigenous people live in the forest, which is also an important factor in regulating the climate of the planet. But since the 1970s, the area has been threatened by illegal logging, which has seriously harmed the ecosystem and sparked social unrest.
When Brazil’s military administration pushed settlers to arrive in the area to clear the forest for agriculture and cattle ranching in the 1970s, illegal logging in the Amazon region began. Large tracts of forest were decimated as a result, which contributed to extensive deforestation. When the Brazilian government put policies in place to encourage the development of the Amazon, such as constructing highways and hydroelectric dams, the situation deteriorated in the 1980s and 1990s. Because highways made it simpler to reach isolated parts of the forest, illicit logging increased as a result.
One of the most popular techniques employed by loggers in the Amazon is clearcutting, which involves removing all of the trees in a specific region. The practice has benefits and drawbacks. Clearcutting has the potential to be more efficient and economical than selective logging, which entails only cutting down specific trees. However, it has the potential to seriously harm the forest ecosystem through increasing carbon emissions, biodiversity loss, and soil erosion.
In the Amazon, loggers take part in a variety of pursuits, such as mining, manufacturing charcoal, and gathering wood. They frequently operate in isolated parts of the forest that are challenging for law authorities to keep an eye on. They frequently operate without permits or environmental impact studies, in violation of the law. Large tracts of forest, including protected areas and indigenous lands, have been destroyed as a result.
One of the main effects of logging in the Amazon is deforestation. 20% of the forest has been lost since the 1970s, primarily as a result of human activity. Soil deterioration, biodiversity loss, and increased greenhouse gas emissions are just a few of the detrimental effects of deforestation on the environment. The livelihoods of indigenous tribes that depend on the forest for survival are also impacted.
There are many factors that contribute to illegal logging in the Amazon, such as lax law enforcement, corruption, and poverty. Because they lack other means of support and because logging generates significant earnings, many loggers work illegally. In addition, corruption is rampant in the area, and some government representatives collaborate with illegal loggers to shield their activities from legal repercussions.
In conclusion, since the 1970s, illicit logging in the Amazon has been an issue, resulting in severe environmental harm and societal unrest. One of the most popular techniques employed by loggers is clearcutting, yet it has advantages and disadvantages. One of the main effects of logging is deforestation, which has a variety of detrimental effects on the ecosystem and indigenous cultures. Ineffective law enforcement, corruption, and poverty are the main contributors to illegal logging. Governments, public society, and the corporate sector will need to work together to promote sustainable development and save the Amazon rainforest in order to address these concerns.