Case study: Amazon Rainforest

Question 1

Location

Answer 1

Central S. America
5.5 million km2
1/5 of all carbon in planets biomass

Question 2

Role of carbon in Amazon

Answer 2

Holds 80-120 billion tonnes of carbon
Key to offsetting rising atmospheric CO2
Losing its capability

Question 3

Role of water in Amazon

Answer 3

A closed system loop
The Amazon river
Discharged into Atlantic (15% of all freshwater entering)
2300mm annual rainfall (some 6000mm)
50% of rainfall re-evaporated
30% rainfall reaches the sea

Question 4

Drivers of change in the Amazon

Answer 4

Deforestation - 20,000km2/yr
Slash and Burn techniques
Moisture from deforested areas form cumulous clouds that don’t rain
Conversion from rainforest to pasture - (11% more solar radiation - increases soil temp.)

Question 5

Climate change

Answer 5

By 2050 - 2-3 degrees hotter
Mean increase 0.26 degrees every 10 years
Extreme weather
No significant rainfall change

Question 6

Soil changes

Answer 6

Rainforest has 4-9 kg of carbon in the topsoil
Pasture has about 1 kg
30-60% of carbon lost if rainforest burnt
When deforested - soil exposed = higher runoff`

Question 7

River changes

Answer 7

Reduction in overall discharge
Increased sedimentation downstream
Increased flash flood risk
Freshwater ecosystems could be destroyed
Indigenous populations at risk (Guarani tribe)

Question 8

Mitigation organisations (3)

Answer 8

Latin American Technical Cooperation Network - watershed management

TARAPOTO - forest sust. development

Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation - promote development

Question 9

Other mitigation techniques

Answer 9

Nation park schemes - (Para reserve - 15 million hectares)
Reforestation
Native species