The Effect Of Stricter Policies On The Amazon Rainforest

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There are many ways the Brazilian Government can protect the Amazon Rainforest. While it would be ideal to stop the destruction completely, if they were to pass and enforce stricter laws on the amount of deforestation that can occur in a certain amount of time, it would greatly lengthen the life expectancy of the Amazon, and allow for a sustainable deforestation process. An article in Newsweek found that “Between 2005 and 2010, Brazil’s greenhouse gas emissions plunged by 39 percent, declining faster than in any other country. Brazil accomplished this by slashing its deforestation rate by more than three-quarters, mostly in the Amazon basin.” (Schiffman 2016). By implementing and enforcing policies regulating deforestation, Brazil accomplished …show more content…
Distributing farmers to old farmlands rather than swaths of rainforest will greatly impact the need and motive to destroy them. If the government can also pass stricter laws and policies on when and how much deforestation can occur, then the amazon will have time to replenish itself and there will be less of a toll on it. Couple this with a cleansing of the corruption in the government that roadblocks progress and the rainforest will have a lengthy, prosperous existence. As a consumer, there are steps one can take to prevent deforestation of the amazon when choosing between products. Supporting products from the brands that are more environmentally friendly and part of the Rainforest Alliance, which is a group of certified sustainable brands, can reduce the impact on the rainforest. Examples of some name brands that are part of the Rainforest Alliance are Dole, Charmin, and Patagonia. Another way one can make an impact on the deforestation is to reinforce and vote for environmental protection agencies and policies that are designed to reduce deforestation. Even if it is not directly related to the Amazon, it will set precedents for other leaders to follow. If we continue to destroy it at the current rate, the consequences could be immense. Rita mesquita is a senior researcher at Brazil’s National Institute for Research in the Amazon. She states, “I don’t like to look at the Amazon forest as something that could be gone in 30 or 40 years, but that may be where we are headed if we don’t change course.” (Schiffman 2017). To destroy such a beautiful and necessary part of our world would be tragic. The Amazon Rainforest is not a luxury we can afford to lose and everything

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