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Belen Guerrero

English III

5 December 2018

Brazil: A New Beginning for the Amazon rainforest

J.R.R. Tolkien once stated in his book The Silmarillion, "These folks are hewers of

trees and hunters of beasts; therefore we are unfriends, and if they will not depart we shall afflict

them in all ways that we can." Humans have been around for quite some time they have made

drastic changes to the natural ecosystem, nature has suffered from changes not only made by

nature itself but also by humans. One of the multiple natural resources we have in the planet is

called the Amazon rainforest it is located in Brazil but it also extends into Colombia, Peru and

other South American countries. The overall population is not the only problem that the Amazon

faces because of the critical effects they do on the environment but also the government, after

all a huge part of the Amazon is located in Brazil. The Brazilian government is in charge of the

Amazon rainforest but the government is more concerned about the country's economy then it's

own natural habitat. During October of this year Brazil had elections to elect a brand new

president. Brazil's new president is Mr. Jair Bolsonaro, the future of the Amazon rainforest now

lays on his hands, according to some interviews he has promised to make some life changing

decisions to benefit his country. The Amazon rainforest does not only depend on the

government but also on its citizens, Brazil's population should also be worried about taking care

of it's own natural habitat.

To begin with Brazil's citizens and Brazil's new elected president Jair Bolsonaro has

been warned by scientists about the problems of the Amazon rainforest. "Scientists warn that

Brazil's president- elect could push the Amazon rainforest past it's tipping point." The

Associated Press. ​Scientists Warn Brazil President May Smother Rain forest​.The New York
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Times, 2018. Jair Bolsonaro's government has been critiqued after he announced that he will be

making major changes to the government but those changes don't necessarily benefit the

Amazon rainforest, after Mr. Bolsonaro's win at the 2018 elections he stated that the

environmental policies are "suffocating the country". Brazil's new president is more concerned

about the demand on resources by other countries than the environment. While the Amazon is

being affected by its own citizens after the "grileiro" or land-grabber law was legalized almost

6,200 acres of land were taken illegally, the public used the land for their own use. Mr.

Bolsonaro does not exactly believe that the citizens who violate the laws should be greatly

punished so he decided that he "would reduce penalties."(Somini Senquipta. ​What Jair

Bolsonaro's Victory Could Mean for the Amazon, and the planet​ . The New York Times, 2018.)

The Amazon has some new obstacles "as Brazil's National Institute for Space Research

reports that deforestation rates increased again in 2015, 2016, and 2017." Global Issues in

Context Online Collection. ​Brazil: Amazon Rainforest Destruction and Reforestation Policies.

2018.Deforestation has been a major problem for the Amazon Forest the INPE has detected an

increase in deforestation during the past years, although deforestation is a huge problem for the

Amazon rainforest it is not the only conflict, after the 20th century deforestation was not the only

conflict that affected the Amazon it was now "mining" after Brazil decided to let its citizens build

farms/ranches the problems just piled up for the Amazon rainforest because more and more

citizens decided to build and benefit themselves with the land they could buy. The demand of

food has also increased and with it farming has become more and more popular, various

countries are asking for more product that comes from the farms that are located in the Amazon

Rainforest on selected areas.(Philip Fearnside and Richard Schiffman, 23)The Amazon is being

affected by all of this factors, Brazil is not doing enough to protect what is considered "the
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world's largest tropical forest, sometimes known as the lungs of the Earth." Somini

Sengupta.​What Jair Bolsonaro's Victory Could Mean for the Amazon, and the Planet.​2018.

Brazil has been aware of the conditions of the Amazon and they have also been aware

of the problems that the Amazon is facing, the government has been an active participant of

trying to save the Amazon and they are trying to keep the Amazon on the best conditions

possible. Brazil's new president Jair Bolsonaro will be making drastic changes to the

government there have been suggestions of retreating from the Paris Climate Agreement (an

agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) but Mr.

Bolsonaro announced that they will stay in the deal by doing this not only does he benefit the

government's reputation but it also benefits the Amazon Rainforest. Mr. Bolsonaro has promised

to protect the environment by doing everything in his power, he just hopes it does not get in the

way of his economy.(The Associated Press, 12) Mr. Bolsonaro's priorities are set on the

economy of his country but he also want to protect his environment since his country now

depends on him. Mr. Bolsonaro will begin with major action after taking office starting by

creating more farming opportunities but he describes it as "an economic obstacle" to protect the

Amazon Rainforest. Although Mr. Bolsonaro is not very strong on protecting the Amazon he is

at least trying to solve some conflicts and he is not staying with crossed arms some people call

Mr. Bolsonaro "tropical Trump" due to some similarities to the current president of the U.S.

Brazil is an active participant in the landmark Paris Agreement, the whole nation of Brazil

pledged to work together to try and avoid "global warming" it might not be a huge deal but at

least some of Brazil's citizens are willing to save the environment they live in, more specific the

Amazon Rainforest.

To finalize the only conflict left to fight and fully protect the Amazon Rainforest is the

citizens that might not be fine with protecting the Amazon either because they do not care or
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they abuse it and use it to their own advantage but as citizens of Brazil they should create more

conscience and think about their home because either way you look at it they depend on their

own natural habitat. The Amazon provides one of "the largest reserve of carbon dioxide on the

surface of the earth" this shows that the Amazon Rainforest is not just an ecosystem that exist

in Brazil but it also provides into everyone's everyday life. Even if the Amazon is being affected

in some major ways Brazil is still trying to find new ways to protect it's natural ecosystem since

they depend on it. Brazil is doing anything in its power to be able to save the Amazon Rainforest

"Global Witness" is also cooperating with the new environmental policies, but saving the

Amazon is not just a one man job everyone in Brazil should be cooperating.
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Works Cited

Brazil:Amazon Rainforest Destruction and Reforestation Policies

“Brazil:Amazon Rainforest Destruction and Reforestation Policies.” Global Issues in Context

Online Collection, Gale, 2018. Global Issues in Context.

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?resultListType=RELATED_DOCUMENT&searchType=ts

&userGroupName=rale84535&inPS=true&contentSegment=&prodId=GIC&docId=GALE|CP320

8520125&it=r

Accessed 26 November 2018

The Amazon on the Brink

“The Amazon on the Brink.” Philip Fearnside and Richard Schiffman.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/26/opinion/amazon-climate-change-deforestation.html

Accessed 29 November 2018

What Jair Bolsonaro’s Victory Could Mean for the Amazon, and the planet.

“What Jair Bolsonaro’s Victory Could Mean for the Amazon, and the planet.” Somini Sengupta

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/climate/brazil-election-amazon-environment.html

Accessed 27 November 2018

Scientist Warn New Brazil President May Smother Rainforest

“Scientists Warn New Brazil President May Smother Rainforest.”The Associated Press

https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/11/26/science/ap-us-sci-brazil-amazon-peril.html

Accessed 28 November 2018